SPORTING HOPE TO KEEP MOUTINHO

Sporting want to keep Moutinho.

Sporting Lisbon president Filipe Soares Franco insists Everton target Joao Moutinho will not be leaving the club.

The Goodison Park club are known to be keen on signing the Portugal international midfielder, with reports suggesting that their latest bid had been rejected by Sporting.

But Franco is adamant that the highly-rated midfielder will not be leaving the Jose Alvalade Stadium this summer.

He told the Portuguese media: "The subject of Joao Moutinho is closed.

"If there is any real news then the club will speak, but until now there have only been rumours in the papers.

"We do not have an offer from Everton on the table."