Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: Donovan Loaned to Everton - Again

Everton manager David Moyes has revealed he is hoping to bring in more new players after confirming the loan signing of Landon Donovan and a new contract for Ross Barkley.

It was announced on Thursday that USA skipper Donovan will return to Goodison Park in January for a second loan deal after a successful two-and-a-half-month spell in early 2010.

Then on Friday the club confirmed that talented youngster Ross Barkley had put pen-to-paper on a new four-and-a-half-year contract.

The news was of welcome relief to Everton fans after watching their side sell first-team players Jermaine Beckford, Yakubu and Mikel Arteta over the summer without signing any replacements.

The Toffees have subsequently struggled in the league, losing eight of their first 14 games to slide to within four points of the relegation zone.

Moyes admitted the news has put a spring in everyone's step at the club and hinted that he hopes to strengthen the squad further in the upcoming January transfer window.

"I've always said making progress at a club is really important," said the Scot. "I think today we have made a bit of progress in signing a young boy like Ross Barkley, making sure he is our player, and bringing in Landon, who did well for us in his last spell.

"We are working hard to bring in more (players) just now.

Promises

"There are never any promises but if Landon is the start we are hoping to do one or two more.

"Hopefully it filters through to the supporters and they are much happier and have something to talk about and look forward to."

Despite their well-publicised financial woes Everton have a reputation for producing talented young players.

Midfielder Barkley is the latest graduate of a Toffees Academy that has produced the likes of Wayne Rooney, Leon Osman and Jack Rodwell in recent years.

Moyes feels that despite the return of Donovan producing a great deal of excitement among the supporters, it is the new deal for Barkley that is of greater long-term benefit to the club.

"That is probably the most important because he [Ross] is one of our own," added Moyes.

"We are delighted Ross has signed and we will try to bring him on the way we have done with many others.

Develop

"The best news is always when you develop your own and bring them through and that is what Everton do.

"We all know he has a bright future ahead of him but he is going to need a bit of time to develop.

"But so did all the others; the Waynes (Rooney) and Jacks (Rodwell) of this world - even Leon Osman. We have to give him that opportunity to come along.

"No one could take him off us and we have a really good record of, when we get these boys, pointing them in the right direction and turning them into really good players.

"I didn't think there was any time when someone was coming to take him off me, we just couldn't sign him to a contract until he was 18."