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Wigan Athletic are prepared to slash their original asking price for James McCarthy as Newcastle United and Everton prepare to battle it out for the highly-rated midfielder.

Toon boss Alan Pardew is a massive fan of the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland star and would love to sign him.

We understand Newcastle made a discreet enquiry regarding McCarthy’s position before the end of last season, only to be told that Wigan were looking for at least £15million.

An expected move from Tottenham Hotspur has not yet materialised, leaving Newcastle and Everton the only clubs who have a realistic chance of signing one of the Premier League best midfielders last season.

But neither would be willing to pay that asking price.

Wigan would still be looking for at least £12million with add-ons, or a player moving in the opposite direction.

Everton would appear to be slight favourites, primarily because Roberto Martinez, now boss at Goodison, was the man who brought McCarthy to England from Hamilton Accies in Scotland four years ago, and they enjoy a good relationship.

Newcastle, however, have more money then their Merseyside counterparts and while spending £12m on one player is not the club’s current policy, if a deal could be pulled off it would be a huge coup and some positive PR for owner Mike Ashley and director of football, Joe Kinnear.

The £7m-plus transfer of Bafetimbi Gomis does seem to be nearing completion.

A frustrating summer for Newcastle fans would quickly see as a good one if Gomis, McCarthy and one other could be signed before the opening match at Manchester City.

Glasgow-born McCarthy qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents, and made his first-team debut for Hamilton days before his 16th birthday.

He is a regular for his international team, but didn’t play in last summer’s European Championship because his father was fighting cancer.