Everton’s new manager Roberto Martinez will return to former club Wigan Athletic to make Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz his first signings according to the BBC
Talks between the two clubs over a deal for striker Kone, who scored 11 Premier League goals last season, are moving towards a successful conclusion.
Paraguay defender Alcaraz is out of contract and will join on a free.
However, the future of Leighton Baines will be Martinez’s top priority when he starts work on Wednesday.
Manchester United had a £12m bid for the England defender rejected by Everton, but new boss David Moyes is expected to return with a better offer.
Baines has two years left on his contract at Goodison Park.
Leighto
Martinez spoke to Baines by telephone before news of United’s interest became public and is now expected to hold a further round of talks, during which the 28-year-old will be offered a lucrative new deal.
Baines has already spoken about how he was looking forward to working under Martinez, who in turn revealed how he wanted to make him a cornerstone of his plans after succeeding Moyes at Everton.
He is not officially scheduled to return to training until Monday after an extended break following international duty with England in Brazil, but Baines has been coming into Everton’s Finch Farm headquarters and talks could be held before the end of the week.
Martinez, meanwhile, is closing in on Kone and Alcaraz as he attempts to put his own stamp on Everton’s squad.
New Wigan boss Owen Coyle told BBC Radio 5 live that Kone had expressed a desire to join Everton and the Ivory Coast international, 29, will be reunited with Martinez who signed him from Spanish club Levante last season.
Alcaraz, 30, who joined Wigan from Belgium side Club Brugge in May 2010, is also expected to complete his move to Everton shortly.
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