Everton are considering a summer approach for CSKA Moscow midfielder and Liverpool target Keisuke Honda.

The Japan international will be out of contract with the Russian outfit in December and the club has confirmed the player ended all negotiations regarding an extension, and wishes to leave.

Keisuke Honda
Reuters

Recent rumours suggested Brendan Rodgers's side are looking to reach a pre-contract agreement with the 26-year-old but, according to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds' arch-rivals, Everton, have now joined the race for the highly rated playmaker.

Honda, known across Europe as a dead-ball specialist, generally plays as a central attacking midfielder but can also operate as a supporting striker or even a deep-lying playmaker. The report claims the Toffees have been watching him in action for CSKA and believe he would be an ideal fit for the Premier League.

The midfielder has scored 13 goals from 41 appearances for Japan and was one of the stand-out performers of the 2010 World Cup. Serie A sides Lazio and Fiorentina are also interested in Honda but it is understood the 6ft Asian star favours a move to England.

Moyes: Everton Running Out of Legs

Meanwhile, David Moyes believes Everton's recent poor run of results is because of the club's lack of strength in depth.

The Toffees have won just two of their last seven matches in all competitions. That run has seen the Merseyside outfit fall to seventh place in the Premier League, and their elimination from the FA Cup by Wigan Athletic last week.

"There has been criticism, but maybe our squad strength is catching up on us. If you rotate your squad in the early rounds and get knocked out, people ask why you have changed the team. I changed a couple at Leeds (in the Capital One Cup) and we lost, so I made the decision afterwards not to change the team too much. We are probably finding that out now and running out of legs a bit," the Scot said.

Everton can move back to fifth place with a win over Manchester City at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Japan