However, with Yobo tumbling down the pecking order at Goodison Park, the Super Eagles assistant skipper is thinking seriously of his options in the summer, as four clubs in England and others in central Europe are hot on his heels.
“The player is keen on regular football but it appears the once strong bond between Joe and Moyes has hit the rocks,” said a close associate of the striker-turned-defender.
“He still has a good contract at the club but we know from club hierarchy that a strong character like ‘Joe’ will not be content with a place on the bench.
“Very likely he will move and this time it is very likely that sentiments won’t come into play because they [Everton] stopped him from moving to Arsenal last season.”
Yobo has been a mainstay of the Goodison defence since arriving at the club in July 2002 from Marseille.
However, the 29-year-old defender has dropped in the pecking order at Everton in recent weeks, and was only in action against Stoke City last weekend, his first start for Everton since their Europa League defeat at Sporting Lisbon in February.
Yobo’s regular starting role has come under increasing pressure given Sylvain Distin’s impressive debut season, the return to fitness of Phil Jagielka and John Heitinga’s versatility.
Four English Premier League sides have now joined five other foreign clubs vying for the unsettled Nigerian star.
“Aside interests from England, clubs in Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia have since made enquiries about Joe,” sources from Liverpool confirmed.
The Nigeria international agreed a new contract last year as Everton sought to stave off reported interest from Arsenal.
However, it appears he could become a high-profile departure as Moyes looks to shake up his squad this summer, with the World Cup finals a likely shop window to impress potential suitors.
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