Everton are in talks with Los Angeles Galaxy and United States striker Landon Donovan over a loan move to Merseyside.

Everton chief executive Robert Elstone said: "He is a player that manager David Moyes has identified as someone he would like to bring to the club.

"We are working to make that happen and hope we can reach agreement soon with all the appropriate parties."

The Toffees are confident of sealing a deal that will see the 27-year-old join the club in January.

Donovan is keen to join a European club at the end of the Major League Soccer season to maintain his match fitness ahead of next summer's World Cup.

The deal is similar to the agreement that will result in Galaxy team-mate David Beckham joining AC Milan in the new year.

Donovan's arrival would provide a much-needed boost to Everton's injury-ravaged squad as they look to move up the Premier League table, with the Toffees three points above the relegation zone.

Everton are currently battling a host of injury problems but the arrival of Donovan, who is eligible to play in the Europa League, will provide manager David Moyes with another option in attack.

He is the USA's all-time leading goalscorer, with 42 goals in 120 appearances, although he failed to find his best form in the German league during spells at Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.

If fit, Donovan is virtually a certainty to start for the US against England in his nation's first group match of the World Cup in South Africa next summer.

Everton have signed Los Angeles Galaxy striker Landon Donovan on a two-and-a-half-month loan deal.

The 27-year-old, who holds the USA's records for caps and goals scored, will join the Toffees on 2 January and is to remain on Merseyside until mid-March.

"He will come in and add pace, he's a good finisher and is captain of the USA national team so has that experience," said Everton manager David Moyes.

"He is the first of two or three players I want to bring in in January."

Donovan's arrival will provide a much-needed boost to Everton's injury-ravaged squad as they look to move up the Premier League table.

The Toffees are likely to be without Jack Rodwell for Sunday's match against Birmingham, with Joseph Yobo, Sylvain Distin, Dan Gosling, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan also injured.

Donovan has scored 42 goals in 120 appearances for his national team, although he failed to find his best form in the German league during spells at Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.

If fit, Donovan is virtually certain to start for the US against England in his nation's first group match at the World Cup in South Africa next summer.

On Wednesday, the forward said he had spoken to Everton's US keeper Tim Howard and was "very passionate" about a loan move.

The team-mate of David Beckham was speaking as he announced a new four-year deal with LA Galaxy that will keep him at the MLS team until the end of 2013.

"I've spoken to Tim Howard about Everton and I've heard from him, and others, nothing but good things," said Donovan. "You want to go where you are wanted.

"Everton have been incredibly professional and expressed their interest and I feel that is a place where I would feel very comfortable."