Everton will reject loan bids for Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy in favour of permanent moves, according to reports.
The Liverpool Echo claim that approaches to take McCarthy away from the club on a loan move will be turned away as the club continue to find a place for the midfielder.
The report says that Everton boss Ronald Koeman is unlikely to let go of McCarthy this window and that only a sizable fee would be enough to take him away from the club.
Championship side Aston Villa and Newcastle are both said to be interested in his signature, with Toon boss Rafa Benitez already having brought in Irish striker Daryl Murphy to the squad last summer. Rob Elliot is another Irish international within the ranks likely to feature for Magpies when he returns to full fitness.
Upon his arrival, Koeman immediately added Idrissa Gueye to the club's first team midfielders, casting McCarthy's future in doubt at the club.
He has also regularly been at the centre of a failing out between the Rpeublic of Ireland management ticket Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane and Koeman.
Complaints over the fitness and condition of both McCarthy and Seamus Coleman when they join up with the international squad following spells with their club has time and again been criticised by the Republic of Ireland management.
James McCarthy was thrown into doubt with the arrival of Ronald Koeman at the start of the season. Image: Paul Harding / PA Wire/PA Images
McCarthy was a regular under former manager Roberto Martinez, but with a combination of injury and change in system, he is no longer considered a first choice player.
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