Arteta on Villareal radar

Mikel Arteta will be offered a return to Spain with Villareal preparing an £8million bid.

The Primera Division outfit are on the hunt for a player who will organise their midfield following the £16m departure to Malaga of Santi Cazorla.

Arteta is target for Villareal

And after missing out on Real Madrid youngster Sergio Canales, who has joined league rivals Valencia on loan, coach Juan Carlos Garrido has turned his attentions to Everton midfielder Arteta.

Hotline revealed last week that the 29-year-old – who the Merseysiders value at £10m – is keen on a return home.

Everton fear the midfielder will miss the start of the Barclays Premier League season because of severe bone bruising suffered during their United States tour.

The Spaniard endured the injury during the 1-0 defeat against Philadelphia Union.

He has been ruled out of the friendly against Birmingham on Saturday and the trip to Werder Bremen next Tuesday.

Arteta has been plagued by knee and hamstring troubles over the past two seasons. His latest knock is a big worry for Everton boss David Moyes, who has no cash for a replacement.

The 29-year-old started out as a trainee with FC Barcelona but could not break his way into the first team and was eventually loaned to Paris Saint-Germain in the French league.

He was then signed by Scottish Premier League giants Rangers with whom he would win the domestic treble of the league, Scottish Cup and League Cup in the season of 2002–03.

After success in Scotland moved to back to Spain to play for Real Sociedad but failed to establish himself within the first team and was loaned to Everton for the remainder of the 2004–05 season. He would then sign a permanent transfer with the Toffees and has played for them since.

Meanwhile, Toffees centre-back Jagielka has long been a target for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and it is believed he will step up his interest in the coming days by making another bid.

It is unlikely the Gunners will match Everton’s £18 million valuation of the England international, but the new offer may be worth enough to trigger negotiations.

Goodison Park boss David Moyes is already making contingency plans for life without Jagielka and is thinking over a move for Blackburn Rovers central defender Samba, reports the Sunday Express.

Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, David Moyes, Everton, Goodison Park, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Primera Division, Villareal