Johnson chooses Everton

More than eight million will be paid up front for Johnson - currently on standby for England's World Cup squad - who will earn €60 000 a week on Merseyside.

"I have decided that my footballing future lies at Goodison Park", Johnson said. "I would like to thank both Wigan and Bolton...for being so courteous and professional during the course of our negotiations".

Johnson is expected to undertake a medical on Tuesday or Wednesday before completing the move.

Martin O'Neill is considering a contract offer from Middlesbrough to become one of the highest-paid managers in the Premiership.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson has drawn up a deal worth three million euros a year to tempt O'Neill into a return to football after quitting Celtic last summer to care for his ill wife.

O'Neill is Gibson's second choice after Terry Venables turned down the job on Friday. If unsuccessful, he will turn his attention to former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley.

O'Neill is thought to have been offered the vacant positions at former stamping ground Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, the club he supported in his youth.

Albert Luque has hit out at Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder over his omission from Spain's World Cup squad.

"The coach has always favoured others more than me, but perhaps if I had stayed at Deportivo I would still be in the squad", said the former La Coruña star, who has made only six Premiership starts in an injury-ravaged season since his move to the north east last summer.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has reportedly signed a new contract to keep him at Anfield until 2010... Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy has been linked with a move to Milan to replace Chelsea-bound Andriy Shevchenko...Pascal Chimbonda's agent has hit out at Wigan over its refusal to let the Frenchman leave for Tottenham Hotspur...Manchester City reject Danny Mills should join Premiership new boys Sheffield United in the summer.