Everton close to Jo switch

Everton are poised to add Manchester City striker Jo to their squad before Monday's transfer deadline.

The clubs are understood to be in talks over a proposed loan transfer which would see 21-year-old Jo move to Goodison Park for the rest of the season.

Brazilian striker Jo joined City in the summer from CSKA Moscow but has struggled to find form for Mark Hughes' team.

The former Corinthians frontman had been a huge success in Russian football and City paid around £19million to bring him to Eastlands.

At the time that was a club record fee, since surpassed by the £32.5million City spent on Robinho, however Jo has only scored three times, and two of those came in the UEFA Cup against Omonia Nicosia.

Everton urgently need strengthening in attack, having recently had to rely on midfielder Tim Cahill playing out of position as a central striker due to an injury crisis.

Frontmen Ayegbeni Yakubu and Louis Saha are among the players who manager David Moyes has been forced to cope without recently, and the proposed move could benefit both Everton and City if Jo sees regular action.

Jo's most recent appearance for City came in the FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest on January 3.