The agent of former Everton winger Niko Vlasic says there was never a doubt about a permanent move to CSKA Moscow.

Despite interest from Newcastle United and Zenit St Petersburg, Vlasic signed with CSKA this week.

Tonchi Martic told Sport-Express: "CSKA has always been a very good option for Nikola - from the very beginning he liked Moscow, he respects the coach, teammates, fans. It was an easy choice for us.

"If he did not want to, he would not have signed the contract. Especially so early - today, only on June 20, many clubs were ready to negotiate further."

Martic added: "The current contract is the next step in development. I do not rule out that Everton could have offered Nikola a new contract if he had stayed."