The Goodison club yesterday confirmed their interest in the 23-year-old, who has been identified by their manager, David Moyes, as the goalscorer who can improve his side's chances of reaching the Champions' League group stages at the expense of Villarreal next week.

Everton must register Baros before midnight tomorrow to play him in the third qualifying round and had hoped to reach a deal worth £6.5m. They have since learned their rivals will not yield on their £7m asking price and must decide whether to break their transfer record for a second time this year, having paid £6m for Southampton's James Beattie in January.

Everton need new recruits after a summer when, in the striking department alone, they have been unable to land either Mickael Forssell, Craig Bellamy or Andrew Johnson. But even if a formal bid was made, Baros would still need to be convinced about becoming the first Liverpool player for 13 years to move to Goodison Park.

Alan Stubbs, the former Everton captain, has become Sunderland's seventh signing of the summer in a one-year deal with the Premiership newcomers.