YAKUBU TRANSFER UPDATE

Everton have moved a step closer towards securing the signing of Yakubu.

The Blues are waiting for a work permit to be granted as the Nigerian international switches from Middlesbrough to Merseyside.

An appeal hearing in relation to the work permit application will take place on Wednesday, and Club officials will be in attendance.

Yakubu doesn't currently meet the stringent criteria for the award of a permit after he chose to stay and play for Middlesbrough rather than represent his country in the 2006 African Cup of Nations.

Specifically, the criteria requires a player to have played for his country in at least 75 percent of their competitive games in which he was available for selection, during the two years preceding the date of the application for the permit.

Earlier this week, Everton agreed a club record £11.25m fee with the Riverside outfit for the services for the striker who is second only to Thierry Henry in the Premier League scoring charts over the last four years.

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