Atsu could sign by Wednesday

Lukaku up front, 4 across the midfield in Atsu, Barkley, Besic, Mirallas with McCarthy as the defensive mid in front of the back four. Now that sounds interesting.....

For my FIFA squad I’ll go with your lineup!

If we can wrap up the signing of Atsu as soon as possible so he's available for Leicester then great.

In any case, we need the added quality as soon as possible, I am not impressed by the energy or pace so far during preseason , maybe this lad will provide it.

Think he left his toothbrush there, after a night out .:-)

At last some goodish news, why is it every transfer seems to take forever to get over the line?

Don't know about these guarantees about how many games he will play, from what I've seen up to now, he should,if as good as we think he is, will play each and every one.

Wouldn't surprise me if they haven't included a clause, to make him permanent if a success.

I don’t think other foreign workers need to apply for work permits when they change jobs unless it is because Ghana is not in the European union.

You go for a driving job. "Have you got a licence?"
He's an African national. " Have you got a permit?"

Maybe he has an African Driving Licence.

He wasn't sure if he would be guaranteed a game.

Along with the youngsters beginning to emerge, the introduction of Atsu and maybe Henen could be a big boost and can only serve to keep the incumbants in certain positions on their toes.

Consistency, especially in the midfield department is the key to any successful side and one hopes that Barklay in particular as an attacking player can really step it up a notch this season because we all know he has a superb eye for goal.

Bear in mind, before they mugged us for £25m+ for Lukaku, he'd played a total of 15 games in 3 years for them, and not once hitting the net. (I'm not saying Lukaku's not worth it, but Chelsea use this as a way of softening the impact of FFP. They banked about £10m in loan fees on Lukaku, plus potentially £10m more than they paid in transfer fees).

I suspect he wont trouble our present wide players unduly.

As for Chelsea wanting him to have lots of playing time, he will have plenty if we do well in Europe. Come on, Blues, get him on board – pace is definitely in short supply.

Also he is going to be missing for about a month in January too.

He played for Ghana, while I can't be sure, if he played every minute of every game, he certainly played a role.

Personally speaking, I thought one of the best games I watched, was Germany(eventual winners) V Ghana, where the African side came so close to causing an upset. Atsu played in that game and was outstanding.

One of the other games I thought was good, Argentina V Bosnia Herzegovenia, the Bosnians, again so close to causing an upset, but for the brilliance of Messi. Another coincidence perhaps, but we ended up with their star player on the day, Mo Besic.

Things are not as bad as you may think, I just hope the lad is used more than we used Deulofeu, which I felt should have had more game time.

Re the work permit. These are not transferable. His current one for Chelsea cannot be transferred to us. However given he was at the WC getting a new one should not be an issue.

Then again, this is Everton and we hate doing things easily...

Also, I don't understand your response to Derek. Wales and Sweden didn't even make the group stages... does that make Bale, Ramsey and Zlatan shit?

The game Derek mentioned was a great, open, attacking game. Ghana should probably have won that one and Atsu was their standout player - he tortured Howedes and left him for dead about 7 or 8 times.

He may suffer from inconsistency, which is par for the course with wingers... There are very few consistent ones out there and they would cost in excess of £30m.

I think this is a great move, particularly if we get an option to buy.

Give the lad a chance, he can't possibly worse than the tired and ageing Pienaar and the awful unless its passing straight to the opposition McGeady

The club has nothing to lose with this signing, if the guys plays great then......great. If not then he goes back to Chelsea. By all accounts he'll be the quickest player at the club and given he's better than Pienaar, McGeady, Naismtith and Osman out wide, it can only be a good thing to bring him in.

All in all, I think Chelsea will regret letting him come to us this season, just like Lukaku last season. I hope there is an option to buy him come next year (or even January).

Like Harold alluded to before, he does possess similar skills to Del, with his speed trickery etc. but also possesses something that Del was lacking a bit, and in that I mean team play.

He will also track back, and if he loses the ball, he will try harder than Del to get it back, and as Harold also said he often succeeds with his tenacity and quick thinking.

Any more good news Phil ?

The club has nothing to lose with this signing,

I have to say though, I am completely mystified by the recent criticism of Pienaar; last season wasnt his best, but he was plagued with injury.

His partnership with Baines may have been forged under TGT, but it has been a source of great joy for the purist among the faithful... Baines didn't get near his best last season either. Wonder why?

More to come from these two.

Like others I believe Pienaar will have another fine season if used sparingly. He was the most fouled player in the premier league and that alone must take its toll over the years.

Atsu will be a very exciting addition and will need two defenders to control him which should leave gaps for others to exploit.

Besic in midfield and Atsu with Mirallas each providing threat down BOTH flanks I see more goals for us this season.

Barkley needs to score more often if he is to fulfil his budding potential. Lukaku should get more ammunition from both wingers and midfield areas so I can envisage a decent season for him too.