Martinez will take his time over bolstering strikers

Martinez will take his time over bolstering his striking options

Roberto Martinez is set to lead his Everton FC squad through their paces tomorrow as the players report back for pre-season training – and will wait until next week to begin bolstering his strike force.

The Blues have been linked with a loan bid for Chelsea’s Demba Ba, a second temporary deal for Lacina Traore and even an ambitious swoop for Swansea’s £20m-rated Wilfried Bony.

But Martinez wants to assess his options before he wades into the market, with his chances of landing number one target Romelu Lulaku still up in the air, and talks ongoing with Monaco over Traore’s return.

The Toffees boss knows that persuading Lukaku to come back to Merseyside hinges on whether the 21-year-old can be convinced to postpone his ambitions to play in the Champions League in the forthcoming campaign.

Then he must see whether the Goodison coffers can stretch to a potential permanent deal for the Chelsea striker, who plundered 16 goals on loan last season but is also believed to be rated at least in the £20m bracket by Jose Mourinho.

However, in Everton’s favour would appear to be the news that Atletico Madrid – who have previously been touted as leading the race for Lukaku – making their move for Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic.

Bayern were today reported to have reached an agreement with the Spanish champions to sell them the 28-year-old striker.

“There is a verbal agreement between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, as well as between Atletico Madrid and Mario Mandzukic,” Bayern Sporting Director Matthias Sammer told Deutsche Presseagentur.

“Although nothing has been signed yet, I believe that we all will stay true to our words.”

Lukaku is unlikely to be short of alternative suitors but Martinez will hope he can persuade him that he can fulfil his dreams by returning to Everton, and will use the decision of Gareth Barry, who also had options to go elsewhere, as an example that the Blues are going places.

Martinez wants at least three senior strikers competing for a place in his starting line-up, and knows that area is a priority with Arouna Kone, who failed to find the net during his injury-hit debut season, and Steven Naismith his only current options.