Martinez confirms Atsu agreement

Roberto Martinez says Christian Atsu should join Everton on-loan from Chelsea by Thursday.

The Ghana international reportedly agreed to join the Toffees on a temporary basis last week following weeks of negotiations between the two clubs.

Atsu has yet to play for Chelsea since signing for Chelsea last summer, spending last season on-loan at one of their feeder clubs Vitesse.

Martinez is keen to add a winger to his squad and made Atsu his number one target, though talks did initially stall when Everton wouldn't offer Chelsea guarantees the 22-year-old would be a first-team regular.

An agreement has been reached though and Atsu is due on Merseyside for a medical and Martinez hopes a deal can be completed by tomorrow.

He said:

"We are hoping that the deal can be formalised and finalised by Thursday.

That would be a really good positive move to boost the squad. How ready he will be to have him in the team, it's too early to tell. But we want Christian to be part of the squad as soon as we can. We are really excited and are desperate to welcome him to Finch Farm to allow him to feel the Everton way quickly.

"Christian is a experienced young man and to be that experienced at a young age is incredible. He had a really good spell in Portugal then a big move and has played a lot of games in Holland. Playing in a World Cup with Ghana will give him a lot too.

"He can play on both wings, play through the middle and has appreciation of space. Technically he is a very gifted and will fit extremely well. He has the hunger and desire to want to show what he can do in the Premier League and we feel we are ready to give him that opportunity."