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Everton expect to announce the permanent signing of Gareth Barry within the next 48 hours.

Barry, 33, has agreed a three-year-deal at Goodison Park, after a successful loan spell from Manchester City last term.

And by snapping up Barry for the £2.5million fee agreed as part of his original loan, Everton boss Roberto Martinez will now have more scope to strengthen his squad elsewhere this summer.

Martinez has not given up hope of signing Lukaku on a permanent deal from Chelsea but knows the player is keeping his options open until after the World Cup and would cost at least £25m, the majority of Everton's summer budget.

But the imminent signing of Barry is a major boost for Martinez, even through the club have had to offer an unusually long contract to a veteran player.

Barry had several other Premier League offers, most notably from West Ham, but he has been signalling his intention of joining Everton ever since a proposed move to City's New York MLS franchise was withdrawn, with Frank Lampard now set to join the new club when they begin

competing next year.

Everton had been monitoring Belgium forward Divock Origi, but the teenage Lille star has now agreed to join neighbours Liverpool, after impressing at the World Cup.