Everton could enter Bellamy race

Everton’s bid to sign Chelsea’s striker Mikael Forssell is on the point of collapse and that could persuade boss David Moyes to move for Craig Bellamy.

The Merseysiders now appear unwilling to match Chelsea’s £6m (€9m) asking price for the Finland international, for whom last season was wrecked by a serious knee injury.

Forssell’s loan spell at Birmingham was curtailed, and Everton are not prepared to meet Chelsea’s fee demands given their concern over the 24-year-old’s fitness.

Chelsea are believed to have rejected attempts to sign him on a season-long loan or on a pay-as-you-play deal.

An Everton source said: “We are not prepared to take a gamble in the circumstances on a player at that sort of money.”

Birmingham may now lead the bidding for Forssell, having liked what they saw of him before injury struck in his second loan spell at St Andrews, and a move could be concluded when Forssell returns from international duty later this week.

Moyes, who considered moving for Bellamy during the January transfer window, could now reignite his interest in the Newcastle striker who has spent the last four months on loan at Celtic.

Celtic want to keep the Welshman, but his wage demands may prove a problem.

Moves are also under way to complete the deal to bring Mikel Arteta to Goodison Park on a full-time basis after his loan spell from Real Sociedad.

Moyes has received verbal agreement that Duncan Ferguson, Leon Osman, Gary Naysmith and David Weir will sign new deals and that Kevin Kilbane – with one season on his current contract to run – will also sign a new offer.

But he is now expecting Alan Stubbs, Steve Watson and Alessandro Pistone to move on and wants to sign a new centre-back, although Everton have refuted claims from Wales that they are interested in Cardiff’s Welsh international Danny Gabbidon.