Moyes still searching as Owen and Kuyt bids fail

Ken Gaunt

Former Liverpool star Owen declined a return to Merseyside from Real Real Madrid while Feyenoord claimed an Everton club record offer of £10million fell short of their valuation of Kuyt.

Moyes said the Dutch club insisted on £12.85million for Kuyt a price he was not prepared to pay.

Speaking about his moves to bring in quality players, the Everton boss said: "We have been in contact with Michael Owen's advisors.

"Unfortunately Michael doesn't see Everton as the club he would choose at this present time.

"We offered £10million for Dirk Kuyt and that was rejected by Feyenoord on August 1. I am trying to reassure our fans we are in for some top players. We do have people in mind and would like to bring them in before the window closes.

"We have money to spend if the right ones are available. It is a just a question of trying to get them in."

Moyes's priority is to find a replacement for defender Alessandro Pistone, who is sidelined from the Champions League qualifier against Villarreal tonight because of knee ligament damage.

The Italian is expected to be out for at least two weeks after suffering the setback in the victory against Bolton last Sunday.

With Gary Naysmith also injured, Moyes said: "We might have to try and get in a another left-back."

However strikers Marcus Bent and James Beattie could both be available for the third qualifying round game in Spain, where Everton will attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit.

Bent suffered an ankle problem at Bolton after scoring the winner while Beattie was ruled out of the game because of a toe injury.

But both travelled with the squad and Moyes is hoping at least one of them will be fit to play.

Moyes is quietly confident his side can make it through to the group stages.

"We are here on merit after finishing fourth in the league," he said. "Now we have to try and show we can overcome a team who finished third in the Spanish league.

"It will be difficult but our game plan will not be gung-ho.

"We will be forceful and try to keep them under as much pressure as much as we can in the hope of turning things around."

Villarreal's former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan is taking nothing for granted, despite the win at Goodison Park.

Forlan, who was the top scorer in the Primera Liga last season with 25 league goals, saw team-mates Luciano Figueroa and Josico score the goals which secured Villarreal's slender lead.

"We don't consider ourselves favourites, we know we can't be over-confident or sit back. If we do that, we could pay for it," said Forlan.

"What we have to do is go out to win the game as we always do.

That philosophy has been ingrained into us and we have to be true to ourselves."