EVERTON face their final game of the season with a cloud still hanging over the futures of three of their veteran stars, who are at the end of their contracts.

Matteo Ferrari has revealed his bitter frustrations over the loan season at Everton, which has been ruined by injuries.

Italian defender Matteo Ferrari wants to talk to Everton about either extending his current loan for another season or making his move to Goodison Park permanent.

Everton 0 Tottenham 1

Jermain Defoe was handed a rare start for Tottenham as England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson looked on from the stands at Goodison Park.

Mikel Arteta is out of both of Everton’s matches over the Easter period and is struggling to be fit to complete the season after picking up an ankle injury in training.

Mikel Arteta is expected to reclaim his starting role for Everton at Charlton tomorrow.

Everton have doubts over Joseph Yobo’s fitness following the calf injury which ruled him out of last weekend’s 2-2 draw at West Ham.

Everton 1 Blackburn 0

Chelsea 4 Everton 1

CAPTAIN John Terry has set his sights on leading Chelsea out for the FA Cup final at the new Wembley. Chelsea take on Everton in their fourth round replay at Stamford Bridge tonight with victory setting up a relatively easy clash against high-flying League Two side Colchester in the last 16.

Everton may have defender Matteo Ferrari back in their squad for the FA Cup fourth round replay at Chelsea.

Everton are hoping striker James Beattie will have recovered from the calf strain that has kept him out of two matches in time for tomorrow’s clash against Manchester City.

Everton will be severely depleted against Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Goodison Park.

Matteo Ferrari is a major doubt for Everton’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to Chelsea on Saturday but the defender’s hamstring injury is “not seriously damaged”.

Everton 1 Millwall 0

Everton 3 Charlton 1

Everton could have Portuguese left-back Nuno Valente back for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership encounter with Newcastle at Goodison Park.

Everton will give their World Cup hero Tim Cahill a late fitness test on a groin injury before deciding on their side to face West Brom at the Hawthorns.

Everton are likely to field an unchanged side from the one which beat Birmingham last weekend for the visit of Middlesbrough.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce made two changes for the vital relegation clash with Everton at St Andrews.

Everton have a defensive crisis following another injury to a left-back, with Italian loan signing Matteo Ferrari added to the list and unlikely to be able to face Birmingham in the Barclays Premiership at St Andrews.

Tottenham 2 Everton 0

David Moyes does not need to look at the Premiership table to understand the hole Everton have found themselves in this season.

Everton 1 Dinamo Bucharest 0 (Dinamo win 5-2 on agg)

Everton striker Duncan Ferguson is doubtful for the crucial Barclays Premiership clash against Wigan at Goodison Park tomorrow.

Phil Neville is adamant that getting a positive result against Dinamo Bucharest in the UEFA Cup can kick-start Everton’s season.

Everton manager David Moyes expects Andy van der Meyde to be sidelined for another month.

Full-back Nuno Valente made his debut for Everton in the Barclays Premiership clash with Portsmouth at Goodison, less than 24 hours after arriving for his first training session.

Premiership clubs today stepped up their quest for new players as Newcastle, Portsmouth and Aston Villa all dived into the transfer market, with England striker Michael Owen poised for a big-money move to St James’ Park.

EVERTON have wrapped up the £1.5m signing of Portuguese international defender Nuno Valente. The 30-year-old left-back completed a move from Porto yesterday.

Everton have wrapped up the £1.5m signing of Portuguese international defender Nuno Valente.

Matteo Ferrari has joined Everton on a one-year loan deal from Roma with a view to a permanent transfer.

Roma defender Matteo Ferrari will play on loan at Everton in the 2005-06 campaign, according to the player’s agent.

CHRISTIAN VIERI’S rant at the Italian media on Sunday was misdirected.

Filippo Inzaghi is the notable omission from the Italy squad named for Euro 2004 by Giovanni Trapattoni today.

BARCELONA progressed to the fourth round of the UEFA Cup following a 2-1 (3-1 on aggregate) win over Brondby last night.