efc1111

That's exactly what I think would benefit him. Shame that Wigan seem to be set up for the new season because to go somewhere like that, where they're expected to be competing at the top of the table, would probably do him the world of good. I see to recall that Mick McCarthy was an admirer; wonder if Ipswich would be an option?

I rate this lad too and think he would be the perfect addition to the squad. The Independent and the Express are both reporting today that Newcastle are interested in him now, and the Indy article says that although Wigan value him at £20m, both Newcastle and Everton believe he can be signed for "significantly less". http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/wigans-james-mccarthy-next-in-line-with-bafetimbi-gomis-on-verge-of-newcastle-switch-8744474.html http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/419427/Newcastle-looking-to-see-off-Everton-for-Wigan-s-James-McCarthy?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-sport-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Sport+Feed%29

SSN are reporting that he's going to talk to Seattle Sounders who say they're looking for a big signing before their deadline next week, but their head coach has played down specific talk of Dempsey. Anyway, he flew into San Francisco as our team was moving on to LA

Same here. I like the video clips, his age and experience, skill on the ball and apparent workrate, and the price seems to be in the right ballpark. Would be quite pleased if we can add him to the squad.

Ha, they're clearly a bit strapped for cash until Gareth is sold.

I'm not even going to mention "resale value"...

Seems to be speculation based on him being spotted, photographed, Tweeted etc in San Francisco airport at the same time as Everton were in town, although there's also talk that he's MLS-bound. I can't see him being Roberto's type of signing.

Great to see this one will kick off at 1am Sunday (UK time) so no matchsticks required this time.

The Guardian is reporting that Alcaraz needs a hernia operation and is likely to miss the start of the season: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/01/everton-antolin-alcaraz-hernia?

Sunday Mirror reckons Roberto is interested in Sevilla midfielder Gary Medel, a 25-year-old midfielder nicknamed 'The Pitbull'. Could be available for around £6m: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/everton-transfers-gary-medel-sevilla-2096255? Everton boss Roberto Martinez is trying to raise £6million to fuel a swoop for Chilean midfield general Gary Medel, writes the Sunday People. Martinez wants the Sevilla star to join his Latin quarter at Goodison and will go for him if he can generate the funds. Sevilla have been open to offers for their best players this summer, and Medel would be interested in coming to the Premier League. The aggressive, but skilful, 25-year-old is exactly the type of player Martinez wants - particularly if Marouane Fellaini leaves the Blues and Wigan’s James McCarthy proves too expensive. Medel is known as ‘The Pitbull’ because of his tackling and defensive ability and is renowned for his man-marking performances against Lionel Messi in recent La Liga battles. He would bring a new steel to the Everton midfield. New Toffees manager Martinez does not have that type of player at his disposal, and has been tipped off that the price will be within his reach if he can come up with the cash.

As one of the commentators said, it's almost like having two new signings because we've seen so little of them in the team previously.

We've been mentioned as having interest in the above, possilbly on loan. He's a 29-year-old CM for Real Zaragoza, who were relegated last year and he's apparently looking to move. Described as a 5ft 8ins hard-working playmaker and he scored nine goals in 32 games last season. http://www.eyefootball.com/news/14711/Everton-make-loan-offer-for-Zaragoza-midfielder-Apono.html There are also a few reports on Spanish sites linking us with him as far back as mid-June, e.g: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.fichajes.com/breves/apono-como-recambio-de-marouane-fellaini_59304&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dapono%2Beverton%26rlz%3D1C1GGGE___IM515IM515%26biw%3D1600%26bih%3D805 http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.todomercadoweb.es/mercado-futbolistico/exclusiva-tmw-el-everton-pretende-el-fichaje-de-apono-47393&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dapono%2Beverton%26rlz%3D1C1GGGE___IM515IM515%26biw%3D1600%26bih%3D805 This one suggests a transfer fee of 1.2m: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://news-futbol.blogspot.com/2013/06/el-everton-quiere-el-fichaje-de-apono.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dapono%2Beverton%26rlz%3D1C1GGGE___IM515IM515%26biw%3D1600%26bih%3D805

Can you imagine Paul Merson trying on Soccer Saturday?

I read somewhere that we're playing in blue and they're wearing their red away kit.

Couldn't find a thread for him but he's just signed a two-year pro contract so guessing he deserves one of his own. Ty has been with the club since the age of ten and his now contracted to June 2015: http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2013/07/26/new-deal-for-browning

I'm hoping Vic will learn link-up and hold up play from Kone as he's shown signs that there's a good player in there, and he definitely had his moments last season, but at his age he really needs to build on his good spells of last season and produce those moments on a consistent basis.

In the same Daily Mail article that repeats the rumoured link with Austrian striker Philipp Hosiner, there's a mention of Rayo Vallecano left-back Jose Manuel Casado, who we are apparently 'monitoring'.<br /> <br />http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2378328/Everton-tracking-prolific-striker-Philipp-Hosiner-Jose-Manuel-Cassado-Leighton-Baines-replacement.html<br /> <br />He's 26 (27 next month) and has previously played for Sevilla and Barcelona 'C'. However, if this page is to be believed, he's currently out of contract and out of action until December because of a ruptured cruciate ligament..... http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/jose-manuel-casado/profil/spieler_58774.html<br /> <br />

I see Gary Hooper is now having a medical with Norwich after a fee was agreed. They had several bids rejected in January but looks like they've nipped in once QPR agreed a fee.

Interesting that he's described here as a no.9 striker who can also play in the no.10 role, which sounds like the type of player we should be looking for it Jelavic is sold: http://hereisthecity.com/2013/07/24/ld-five-facts-about-everton-target-philipp-hosiner/ An Austrian international who scored 27 goals in 27 games for Austria Vienna last season, making him the highest scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga. Did anyone here go to the match in Austria and happen to get a look at him?

He's been linked to us again in the Spanish press: There's a report in the Daily Mail from two days ago saying that Swansea had a £5m bid for him rejected. It says: "Moreno caught Laudrup's eye as a ball-playing defender in European leagues having spent four years at AZ Alkmaar and claiming a league title in Holland before heading to La Liga. He signed for Espanyol in 2011 and was their player of the season in his first campaign." Meanwhile yesterday's Mirror (Alan Nixon) says the bid was £7m and claims "cash-strapped" Espanyol are trying to offload him.

For me, the first out of the door should be Heitinga because of his contract situation, his less than impressive form, and the way he and his agent seem to tout him around to other clubs in every transfer window. Obviously we want as big a fee as possible but I'd be content to see the club to settle for any sort of fee to get his massive wages off the books. The other candidates I would expect to be close to the exit are Gueye and Naismith, unless they show the manager something we haven't seen so far. Nothing against either; they seem good guys, but Gueye doesn't seem to be making progress and at 23 a fresh start is probably the best thing for him, while Naismith looks better suited to a lower Prem/Championship side and his seat on the bench would be better taken by one of our up and coming youngsters.

Quick look on a Blackpool forum suggests that their fans are expecting Ince snr to leave if his son gets sold, and that he's only hanging on there to try to oversee a transfer. Ince snr has flown off to Spain or somewhere today for urgent talks with Oyston who (surprise) isn't stumping up transfer funds.

I've just watched a compilation of Ince's goals from last season. I knew he'd scored 18-20 with a similar amount of assists, but what's noticeable is his pace and speed of thought. He scores from all over the pitch but mostly cutting in from wide and I would gladly see him added to the squad, in place of Jelavic if that's how it has to be.

Yes, there was some controversial arrangement where he left his club in Portugal and ended up training with Man City, and City had to pay compensation for him. He played for City's development squad before he joined us on a free.

Harford has now turned down the Newcastle job to stay at Millwall. You're right, it just keeps giving! http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/223633.html