blueblood

We were linked with this lad towards the end of last season, and then put the bid in for Ramsey who went to Arsenal. This lad is a decent player (from what I've seen), scored a few good goals at the right time (FA Cup was a big one) and tbh when I saw that about someone making a bid I wondered if it may be us. However, according to reports we tracked him all of last season, sniffed around him for £4-5m and then ran for cover when they quoted £8m. Maybe DM has gone back in now that no-one else seems to be interested in joining us??? I'd hope that he's not going in for £8m now though as that would smack of panic purchase for that price. Also, would Cardiff be willing/ need to sell him after getting good money for Ramsey- they said they didn't need to sell when we last went looking. As much as we need bodies, I think this would be a massive come down from the players we have been linked with this summer. Moutinho- highly regarded all around Europe, Ledley, highly regarded in Cardiff. That's not to say I wouldn't welcome a midfielder with open arms...

Even though there are 2-3 weeks left of the window, we don't have a tean NOW! We may still have chance to bring new faces in but if we get off to a bad start, things will continue to look grim. There have been several statements concerning our first 5 games all being "easy" which I don't hold the same confidence for unfortunately. Yes, we play the newly promoted sides, but we haven't got a full strength- or even approaching full strength team. Add to that the first few games the newly promoted sides always play without fear and spring a few surprise results (I'm thinking Wigan drawing with Chelski amongst others) and we really could come unstuck. Had we started this season, even with just the same squad as last year, I'd be a lot more confident and expect at least 11 points from the first 5 games, however as I stated above, the lack of numbers in midfield worries me greatly. Looking at the players for Saturday Howard, Jags Yobo Lescott Valente/ Baines Neville Osman Arteta Rodwell Gosling/ Baines Yak This looks like a VERY lightweight midfield to me... who's going to win the ball before it reaches Neville????

Johnson is now an established Premiership performer. Very good player and will improve. Would be a great signing and a real coup if he chose us over Arsenal and the RS- both of whom have room for him in their sides and offer a more attractive package. Not sure if we're a laughing stock cos we simply will not be competing with the likes of Villa, Spurs, Pompey for 5th place this season. We have lost a first XI starter in Carsley, another first XI/ first choice sub in Fernandez, "impact player" (altho he never shoen it) in Gravesen, all from our midfield and then work horse AJ who played down the right allowing the 4-5-1 to divert to 4-4-2 if needed. That is 2 or 3 players from our starting XI and not replaced them. We already had a paperweight squad that proven towards the end of last season that wasn't strong enough to see through a full season... and we have weakened it. This is the simple fact. As for our youngsters, they are not ready yet, that is plain to see. Rodwell is the only one who I would even consider to risk at this stage, but not in a midfield partnership with any of the players we currently have. A lightweight midfield with a youngster who's not ready will see us swamped, even by average players. Overall, I see the lack of signings as an indication of real troubles within the club. Regardless of what DM and BK say, the new stadium looks to have a major bearing on transfer activity and now it's been called in we seem to have started making moves, however it seems too late. As a blue, it's very disheartening to see that, after our best all round season for 20 years, a season when we really should have pushed on, improved and pressed the top 4, we have made massive steps backwards.

I'd happily do it. Can't be any worse than the incumbent transfer negotiator could I?! I'd certainly not start with the opening gambit of "How would you like to come and play for the best manager in th Premiership" that is rumoured to have been the downfall in not signing players in previous seasons.

4 players snubbing us in 2 days makes you wonder what people are saying in the negotiations and whether they should be replaced for someone who has a clue?!?!?!

Is the £6m bid by Keane in additino to the £5m he's bid for Baines as stated in another post? Hopefully if we want rid of Baines and make the right noises to Warnock, Baines can go to the North East and Warnock will come to us

Don't footballers get 10-15% of any transfer fee as long as they don't ask for a transfer? 10-15% of £6m = £600-900k... anyone else on this site happy to pass that amount off? He's likely to be thinking that the more noise he makes about wanting to go will force their hand and he still gets his wedge. True what the last post said though, modern day footballer = money mad. This lad plays in France, there's no loyalty in football nowadays, certainly not from foreigners.

I'd take him. He'd add height and power to the middle of the park. Won't happen though.

A big no from me for the following reasons 1. Lescott has stated on several occassions he's a central defender and wants to play there 2. Baines is second choice left back 3. We paid in excess of £5m for him anyway so not massive profit 4. Baines adds a lot of pace to the side 5. Pienaar's injury means that Baines should now slot in as left mid- where I think he'll be very good 6. We've only got a squad of about 16 players when they're all fit. Keane is linked with all kinds every year, tell him to do one, unless we can replace for less. Personally I'd take Warnock if we were to sell, good player. However, I know that the fact he played once or twice for the RS means many on this site will think he's the worst player in the world and should not even be discussed by anyone... ever

This guy will end up at Arsenal, play 50 games, be amazing and win all kinds of awards. All because we failed to act on the link we had a month ago.

BBC website says papers have got Arsenal tracking him for £8m. I'd put a rival bid for that in on the basis that he'll expect to play every week after his last season and is more likely to get that with us. Bags of potential and would fit into out first XI immediately. Tried and tested at this level too which is always a bonus and tbh is one of my fears in tracking M'Bia and Cana, as great as they look in the French league, it's not the strongest in Europe. Happy to sign them both and watch them be world beaters though

We do need one of your players though!!!!!

I'd welcome a loan deal of this stature. Would give us a year to run the rule over the lad, see if he can cut it in the Prem and not adversely affect us making any other signings this summer by cutting our transfer budget. Get M'Bia or Moutinho in, Wagner Love on loan for definite and then any others from Cana/ 2nd keeper, cover as right back would be a Brucey bonus. Not happy with the timings of the signings as imo all signings should be done with a least 2 or 3 friendlies to spare, but in the true Everton way the business is only ever left to the last minute.

Anyone over nothing any day. Not sure where this lastest link has come from but it just seems to be yet an other diversion. I'd prefer to get one of the supposed targets in rather than keep getting linked with more and more players and sign nobody. The season is one week away, we've been awful in most friendlies, have a central midfield of Gosling and Rodwell who, as much promise as they show are not ready to start in the Prem regularly for a while yet. Have spent all summer running around for players but have only made one bid which, considering Arsenal and Man Utd had already had a bid accepted was a total waste of time... although is an annual event for Everton. We normally only bid AFTER the player has signed elsehwere though to be doubley sure we don't get them!!!

Considering we have failed totally in signing ANYONE so far this summer, have a wafer thin squad and desperately need cover in midfield I'd have thought it prudent to give the kid a trial BEFORE dismissing him out of hand. He's young, comes VERY highly rated, wouldn't cost much and fits the bill for what we need. Giving him a few training sessions can't hurt can it???

After watching that rubbish this afternoon 1 out of 3 would do. As average as Blackburn are they'll tear that starting XI to pieces next week

Benitez managed Sissoko before he took over across the park, so he was well aware of his abilities before DM shown an interest. It's all well and good finding identifying promising players but failing to sign them means sweet FA for the club doesn't it??? Anyway, we should have a scouting network for that, it's not DM's job

Blackburn will wrap up a deal for Ghanaian midfielder Anthony Annan after he impressed on trial from IK Start but they will miss out on a move for MK Dons captain Keith Andrews. (Daily Mirror) Weren't we linked with this player recently? If he was available to take on trial why on earth haven't we given him the chance? All reports seems to think he's quality, Blackburn are evidently impressed and have trialled him so are aware of what they're getting. Can't see the sense in this one, young player, midfielder which we clearly need, doesn't seem to be an issue with work permits, won't want the mega bucks some of our other 'targets' will expect...

I seem to recall Everton signing Ibrahima Bakayoko on the basis of a compilation video of his best bits and he hardly turned out to be a legend did he?!!! To be fair to Smith, he was good at Leeds at scored goals at United when played up front- which wasn't very often- but I just don't think he will add the right dynamic to Everton at this time. To push the club on and move forward we need a top class midfielder and a top class forward, this is 2 players, not one player who is a make shift midfielder and reasonable forward. He'll cost a lot in wages, even if taking a massive drop too. Saying this, if we sign him for £2m ish I'd be delighted to be proven wrong and see him do well. I just can't see it unfortunately.

Fletcher for £3m or Smith for £1.5 - £3m depending on which source you check????? All of the teams around us battling for 5th/ to break into the top 4 have strengthened, Villa have made some really good signings in my opinion yet all we've done is weaken our already lightweight squad. Now as the start of the season approaches we're nowhere near getting anything like enough bodies of sufficient quality to take us forward and the players we're linked with has gone from Moutinho to Smith!!!!! I say it every year but any signings made this late in the window are panic buys, all players really wanted are signed by now- unless clubs are reliant on selling before they can buy... which depressingly looks as though this is the case for us this year. It wouldn't be so bad if the board came out and said, regardless of the successful fifth place last year, good run in Europe and Sky TV money increasing, we've got sweet FA to spend unless we sell. It would be hard to take when everyone around us manages at least £10-15m, but at least we wouldn't have a summer of hoping only to end up with nothing. End up with nothing and have BK come out and say "We tried to sign all of these big names"... which is rubbish. Making bids we know won't be accepted for players with no intention to move EVERY YEAR. The club treat the fans like idiots and if we struggle this season, which is perfectly possible with the low numbers we have then the blame will lie squarely with the board.

He'd be like another Olivier Dacourt, loads of ability but the refs over here will jump on him immediately and he'll get booked for even looking at the wrong players. This would take something away from his game which seems to be a massive part. Looks like he can play but can't see this happening to be honest.

We tried to sign Smith before he moved to Newcastle and he was more interested in the big bucks than playing for a club in Europe and challenging the top 4. He struggles with injury, discipline and form for another year and we go back in for him...? If this is true it looks like a poor decision, seems one of the annual desperation measure signings. Lacks quality to play for a top 5 team pushing the top 4. Unsure where you'd play him, forward with no height or pace, or midfield where he can't pass, kicks people all game giving away free kicks and booked/ sent off every other game. Where are the players BK said we were looking at that haven't made the papers yet? Are we waiting on the AJ £10m to sign the 5 or 6 players we need to make the squad competitive, let alone move forward???? The whole transfer window depresses me year in year out. Fill with optimism and then buy poor quality at the last minute so they're not prepared for the start of the season and are finding out how they play alongside their team mates in competitive matches. Piss poor preparation every time

On today's BBC round up of all the papers: Newcastle and Everton are battling for Tottenham full-back Pascal Chimbonda who will cost about £4m. (The Sun) Cameroon midfielder Stephane M'Bia is set to become Everton's first signing of the summer in a £4m deal from Rennes. (Daily Mirror) Good news to be linked with players in the positions that we need filling. Chimbonda was great getting forward the season before last but fell away last season. Not 100% on his defending though. There have been other posts on M'Bia, looks to be a big strong midfielder from others comments but I'm not aware of his abilities. Looks like Uncle Bill has sanctioned the purse to be opened at last though.

When did 28 become so old and decrepit that we shouldn't even look at players of this age, regardless of calibre?! Blimey I always thought that 31/32 was the age to start worrying about a players legs... 28 is when they should be in their prime. Saying that, not sure about Aimar, never wanted to leave Spain in previous years, when linked with "Big 4" clubs and no-one in Spain seems interested. Although any rumour that holds some weight is a welcome relief from the Championship Manager wish lists of Van Nistelrooy et al that was spouted a week or so back

Arshavin is sh!te, let's start the campaign to sign Fabregas... that's just as unlikely. Todays bbc website places us firmly back in the hunt for players that I expect us to be linked with: Everton are set to launch a £2m raid on relegated Leicester for teenage left-back Joe Mattock. (Various) Just what we need, a left back... teenager... playing championship football. Forget your superstars, bargain basement is where the action is