Everton accept Tottenham bid for Steven Pienaar
Everton have agreed a fee with Tottenham over the possible sale of South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar.
Confirmation of the agreement comes only days after a bid for the 28-year-old was also accepted from Chelsea.
Pienaar, who was left out of Sunday's 2-2 draw with Liverpool, would now seem to have a straight choice between Spurs and their London rivals.
He is out of contract at the end of the season and Chelsea are believed to have offered £3m.
The former Ajax star joined Everton from Borussia Dortmund on loan in 2007 before completing a permanent transfer for £2m in 2008.
Pienaar was voted the club's player of the season last term but his form during this campaign has not been at the same level.
The Toffees have decided to cash in now to avoid losing him for nothing in the summer. He has previously rejected a new contract at Goodison Park.
Tottenham had been considering trying to sign Pienaar on a pre-contract agreement, which would have ensured he moved to White Hart Lane for free in the summer.
But Chelsea's decision to attempt to bolster their squad forced Spurs boss Harry Redknapp to bring his plans forward.
If Pienaar makes a move during the transfer window, he will be the second player to leave the club in January.
On Thursday striker Ayegbeni Yakubu joined Leicester on loan with a view to a permanent deal.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to be drawn on a possible bid for Pienaar in his press conference following Saturday's 2-0 victory over Blackburn.
And speaking after the 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, Redknapp suggested the White Hart Lane club would be unlikely to match Chelsea's valuation of the South African - having had their initial bid of £2m turned down.
But it has been reported that a compromise figure of £2.5m might now have been offered.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/everton/9362164.stm
