£12million test for Mikel Arteta

Atletico Madrid are ready to test Everton's desire to hang on to Mikel Arteta.

Arteta, 26, has said he would love to play for Atletico one day and the ambitious La Liga outfit can offer him Champions League football.

Manager David Moyes has always stressed how important the impish Spaniard is to his Everton side and handed him a five-year deal last summer, but his resolve would be tested by a £12million bid.

Atletico have money to spend after qualifying for the Champions League and are determined to better last season's fourth-place finish.

Moyes may find Atletico's offer too good to turn down as he looks to finance his own spending plans, and he's already eyeing up Real Zaragoza's £5m-rated Pablo Aimar, an ideal replacement.