Everton close in on Atsu

Ghana international, Christian Atsu is reported to be heading for Goodison Park after Everton manager Roberto Martinez was reported to be eyeing a loan deal for the young winger.

There were reports in the UK media last Wednesday that Sunderland had made an approach for Chelsea's Atsu, who appears out of the plans of manager Jose Mourinho for the coming season.

Atsu was excluded from Mourinho’s 26-man squad squad who arrived in the Austrian town of Velden last Monday afternoon for a two-week training camp.

But Sunderland manager, Gus Poyet, who is close to signing former loanee Santiago Vergini, has distanced the club from a move for the 22-year-old Ghanaian who spent last year on loan at Vitesse Arnhem in Holland.

With Everton sealing a £28m permanent deal with former loanee Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea,  the door looks open for Martinez to pounce on the Ghanaian youngster on loan, as English FA regulations prevent two players from the same club joining another club on loan.

Both Aston Villa and Celtic are interested in the player, but Everton will be hoping that the good relations between the two clubs will see Atsu move to Goodison Park for the 2014/15 season.

Atsu,  who was involved in Ghana's World Cup campaign in Brazil, spent last season in the Netherlands and Chelsea might want to send him out on loan in England in order to test himself in the top-flight of English football.