AJ 'not for sale': Everton boss Moyes warns off Wigan, Boro and Sunderland

Despite having four years left on a contract only signed last season, Johnson's future at Goodison Park has been thrown into question.

Sunderland are believed to be keen on the England international, plus north-east neighbours Middlesbrough, while Wigan boss Steve Bruce has also been linked with the £8million-rated star, who played for the Latics chief at Birmingham.

Going nowhere: David Moyes said striker Andrew Johnson (right) is not leaving Everton

After an injury-plagued second season on Merseyside, Johnson has remained silent on the future. 

But Moyes, whose squad returns for pre-season training next week, has squashed the speculation flat, claiming the 27-year-old is going nowhere.  

'Andy Johnson is not for sale - it is that simple,' Moyes told www.evertonfc.com.   'He is a highly-valued member of my senior squad and I look forward to seeing him when the players report back for pre-season training.'

It is an unequivocal statement of intent from Moyes, even though the feeling was Johnson needed to be sold in order to finance his summer rebuilding plans.  

Instead, Moyes will search for the cash elsewhere as he continues what appears to be an unequal battle with the established top four. 

The size of the task facing Everton can be shown by figures released by UEFA this week highlighting the riches on offer in the Champions League compared to the UEFA Cup, which the Toffeemen will compete in for the second successive season.  

While Manchester United collected £33.9million from their Champions League triumph, Everton earned a paltry £400,000 as they reached the last 16 of the UEFA Cup, where they were knocked out by Fiorentina.  

With such a disparity in income, it is difficult to see how Everton can compete effectively.  

Little wonder therefore that chairman Keith Wyness has called for a rethink on the financial front.  

'If the current situation continues then clubs simply will not be able to compete and the gaps in domestic leagues across Europe will become larger and larger,' Wyness told the club's website.  

'That outcome would not only be dangerous but also be a disservice to supporters who follow their clubs home and abroad.  

'At Everton our aim is to bridge the gap in the Premier League. We certainly believe we are moving in the right direction following the progress the team has made over the last few seasons and are now calling on the football authorities in Europe to aid us in our bid.'

Struggling: Joseph Yobo, pictured right battling with Chelsea's Didier Drogba, has confirmed his long-standing ankle injury

Until such a move occurs, Moyes must carry on with what he has got. And his plans for the new campaign are not being helped by injuries to defensive duo Joseph Yobo and Tony Hibbert.  

Hibbert has been struggling with a knee injury picked up at the back end of last season, with the full-back still not sure whether he will need surgery.  

And Yobo could be missing as well following confirmation the central defender has been plagued by an ankle injury during Nigeria's recent World Cup qualifying programme.  

'I have had an ankle injury for a while,' confirmed Yobo.  

'I was supposed to rest it but we had crucial games to play and were short at the back so I just had to force myself to play.'

Yobo is now on an extended break and Moyes must hope the rest allows the player's injury to recover naturally.  

However, Hibbert is crossing his fingers surgery will not be required on an injury sustained at Arsenal last year which turned out to be far worse than he initially feared.

'When I did it, I felt okay,' he said.   'We didn't realise at first how bad it was. I have had tweaks in my knees before and it didn't feel anywhere near as bad.  

'But the scan was 10 times worse. I ruptured my medial ligaments. They have basically come completely off the bone at the top where the nerve endings are, which is why I wasn't getting much pain.'