Sigurdsson is finally an Everton player

Wednesday, 16 August, 2017 92comments  |  Jump to most recent

Everton have completed the long-awaited signing of Gylfi Sigiurdsson from Swansea City in a deal reported to be worth a club-record £40m.

The confirmation comes after weeks of wrangling by the two clubs over the final fee, one that eclipses those paid by the Toffees for Michael Keane and Jordan Pickford earlier this summer and underlines the club's determination to land the Icelandic star.

Sigurdsson travelled to Merseyside last night and underwent a successful medical today before putting his signature to a five-year contract said to be worth £100,000 a week. He will wear the No.18 vacated by Gareth Barry.

Although he started his career at Reading and had loan spells at Crewe and Shrewsbury, Sigurdsson rose to prominence in England after he was signed by then Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas from German club Hoffenheim for £8.8m in 2012 after he had impressed on loan at Swansea.

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He would spend two seasons at White Hart Lane without ever being able to hit the heights that his more recent form back at Swansea suggests he should have. He made 58 Premier League appearances for Spurs and scored eight times but eventually returned to South Wales in a permanent deal in 2014 that saw Ben Davies go the other way.

His increasingly impressive performances over two years at Swansea attracted the attention of Ronald Koeman who tried to make him one of his marquee signings after becoming Everton manager in the summer of 2016. A reported £25m bid was turned down and Sigurdsson ended up signing a new contract at the Liberty Stadium instead.

Koeman and director of football Steve Walsh returned this summer, however, determined to land one of their top targets. Swansea's star man and Talisman, who was involved in more than half of their goals last season, Sigurdsson has been brought in to provide more ammunition for the Blues' forward line, with the club still on the lookout for another striker before the transfer deadline.

“Hopefully I will continue to create goals and score goals for the team and contribute to the kind of success we're seeking at the Club,” Sigurdsson told evertontv.

“This is an ambitious club and it is clear we are moving in a really good direction. The most important thing is that this team keeps winning games and climbing the table - and does that throughout the season.

“For myself, I would like to score as many goals as possible and create as many goals for my teammates as I can. These are my targets.

“But it is always the same thing: as long as the team is winning I will be more than happy.”

His new manager was pleased to see a deal a year in the making finally get over the line. While Sigurdsson won't feature in the Europa League first leg against Hajduk Split tomorrow, he could be in the frame to make his debut against Manchester City on Monday night.

“I'm really happy because the Board and especially our Chairman, Bill Kenwright, did everything to get him. It took some time but finally we have signed the player,” Koeman said.

“In my opinion, in his position he is one of the best in the Premier League. We have the player here and that's really good for the team.”

 

Reader Comments (92)

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Gordon White
1 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:06:13
So pleased about this signing. Been hoping this would happen since Koeman arrived. Over the moon!
His middle name is create! Woo hoo. Celebration time tonight .
Oh, and I've heard we may sign Dendonker. I'm in heaven. Somebody pinch me...
:-)
Brent Stephens
2 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:09:43
Get in. Happy to applaud this one. How soon before he starts, given the lack of game time??
David Chait
3 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:14:58
Welcome Gylfi. He is a very interesting signing and adds massively to the creative side. Losing Barkley not as big a deal now but will still be missed.

Well done Everton !

Rob Halligan
4 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:16:27
I'd be surprised if he starts against city next Monday, Brent. Ok he's been training with Swansea, but as far as I know, I don't think he's played one pre season friendly game.

Also, will he be eligible to play against Split next week, or was there some kind of deadline date to submit your squad for these qualifying games?

Jakub Kollar
5 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:29:40
The deal is done! Welcome Gylfi, välkommen till Everton!
Mike Gaynes
6 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:39:55
DAMN, he looks good in blue!!!
Paul Windrum
7 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:41:36
There's the photo - it's official.
Jay Wood
8 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:46:45
Well, what a kerfuffle!

Welcome (Z)iggy.

Now show us some Stardust and 'Become the Special Man.'

Jason Broome
9 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:46:48
Now to go even bigger and nail that striker!
Roger Helm
10 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:48:21
Brilliant news. Now we need a proper Everton number 9 to convert his crosses and assists.
Joe Foster
11 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:49:52
This has come out of the blue. Great news.
Simon Bradley
12 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:51:55
Fantastic stuff. Now, having Lukaku in front of such a productive creator would have been fantastic, but we don't have that do we? So Mr. Walsh and Mr. Koeman - who do you have in mind?

I liked Lukaku - I think he would have score 30+ goals for us this season with the creativity we know have from midfield. He will obviously be successful at United, but we can not dwell on that, plus we got staggering money for him. So his replacement will have to be top class. We all know that and Walsh/Koeman certainly know that, so lets get it done. I'm 100% certain we will.

Who though. Benteke (divisive but would be fun to watch him succeed at EFC after failing at LFC) - worth a go? Costa? I wish. Don't particularly like him but he his class and is a prove PL goal scorer. Demberle?

Jon Withey
13 Posted 16/08/2017 at 20:57:27
Don't see how we can sell Barkley without a hamstring.
Brendan Fox
14 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:00:50
Welcome to the mighty blues Gylfi! Hopefully you can bring the energy, goals and assists with you.
Tony Abrahams
15 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:05:59
What's this dendonker like Gordon@1? Better than McCarthy, who will obviously leave if we sign him. A like for like replacement? a bit like Siggy, for Ross, and a total overall of the squad, for not that much expenditure really. Then onto a striker, the hardest players to find?
David Chait
16 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:11:40
Pity we weren't on top of our game last season. Having siggy with Barkley and Lukaku could have been worth another spot who knows.
Fran Mitchell
17 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:14:12
Excellent player. His stats at chances created are Second to one (only erikson has better).

How many times we have groaned in despair upon seeing a free-kick or corner Go to waste, well, we now have the best taker of set pieces since Beckham.

He can score, create and has football intelligence. In a way, the opposite type of no10 to Barkley, who is skill and muscle but zero intelligence.

I look forward to seeing what he will bring us. Now for a striker and a left back, and maybe a Winger/wide-forward.

John Smith
18 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:17:38
I want Gabriel Barbosa and Dodonker.
John Mckay
19 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:18:03
Great he signed let's move on to a striker new.
Dendonkor is a defensive mid can also play CB don't know what he is like but highly rated...
Gareth Clark
20 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:20:15
Yes boys!

Taken Barry's #18 jersey according to the Everton site.

Now to get in a decent #9 - I think we should go for Dolberg, well worth it if we can't get Giroud.

Colin Glassar
21 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:27:02
Welcome aboard Siggurdsson, about bloody time too.
Gareth Clark
22 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:35:26
Pickford
Holgate Keane Jags Baines
Idrissa Schneiderlin Davies
Sigurdsson Sandro
Rooney

Stek, Williams, Cuco, Besic, Klaassen, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin

I think this is our most likely / strongest line up.

I would LOVE Kenny to start at RB, but Koeman does not think he is ready - which I trust.

Williams & Jags will share the games this year & play based on their form. Jags looks in better form at the moment, so I'd go with him for now.

Lenny Kingman
23 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:36:42
Dubious CV but after such an outlay and £25 million in wages to come I hope the Icelander can conjure something special for the commitment made by our grand old club.
Gordon White
24 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:37:30
Tony #15
He's a really exciting prospect. Been likened to Matic. A step up from McCarthy. He can contribute with goals as well as being an anchorman. Is very well thought of in Belgium. At the price being quoted he's a steal - a good investment whichever way you look at it. And if he fulfills his potential, he'll be worth Siggy money!
Gordon White
25 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:43:08
Frank (#17), another important point is Gylfi got his assists with Swansea whereas Eriksen's where with Spurs. So I think that makes Gylfi better.
Andrew Heffernan
27 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:51:50
Net spend, player assessments aside, this squad is a massive improvement on the one many blues under their early 30s have ever seen bar a decent striker, which to be fair, before Rom, you had to go back to Cottee to think natural goal scorer.

£200 for 7th, I see it as £200m for a a chance, yes a chance of closing the gap on teams that have out spent and out performed us for years.

Tony Abrahams
28 Posted 16/08/2017 at 21:54:41
I've heard that Gorden, so we are upgrading in most positions, and although this fella is overpriced, the overall,outlay still isn't that great.

That's if this Leo fella comes that is, and although I'm not sure we will,upgrade on Lukaku's goals, I just hope we can get a better allround footballer, to help the players around him score a few more?

Harry Wallace
29 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:04:10
Absolutely delighted!
Karl Parsons
30 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:05:34
Gareth #22

Slight amend to your team shape:

Pickford
Holgate Keane Jags
Baines Idrissa Schneiderlin Davies
Sigurdsson Rooney
Sandro

Now that's looking the dogs d's...

Sam Hoare
31 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:14:11
I think he's a good player that we've overpaid for. His set piece proficiency is his greatest asset but I wonder if we have the right players to benefit from it. I'm not sure he's as good from open play as many on here believe.

But he's a blue now so I will cheer and support him with all my heart. The defense looks solid, Wayne will buy some free kicks and Gylfi will slot them! COYB

David Barks
32 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:14:13
"Finally" is an understatement. Glad to have him, he's a damn good player.
Tom Cuffe
33 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:22:58
Fantastic news, finally Arteta replaced, can see him linking up well with Rooney, good times ahead
Jack Convery
34 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:29:28
Leader / Class / Goals / Assists / Team Player - whats not to like ?

Vardy and Van Dijk next please.

Colin Glassar
35 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:33:56
Right, so now onto a striker. My personal favourite is Dembele, closely followed by Dzeko but there's another player out there who no one has mentioned - Falcao.

Has premier league experience (bad, I know), scores goals for fun, is once again fully fit, has a point to prove here, would cost around £20m. What's to lose?

John Mckay
36 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:35:04
Starting to look like a really good squad, if we had Bolasie fully fit and Seamus and still had Lukaku would be a top 4 team for Sure.

Just need someone now to make that ball stick up front. I was impressed with Calvert-Lewin the other day at stoke, looked sharp, fast and still only young.

Player I am most impressed with so far Pickford, looks like the perfect goalie.

My team.

Pickford
Holgate Keane Jagielka Baines
Gana Davies/Schneid
Klaassen
Rooney Sandro/Calvert-Lewis Sigurdsson/Mirallas

Ray Smith
37 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:41:02
According to Craig Bellamy (The Debate Sky Sports tonight) Sigurdsson deal could have been concluded 3 weeks ago, but for Swansea trying to bump the price up and stick out for £50m, which wasn't going to happen.

I have been a critic of BK, but now accept I was wrong in assuming that BK was part of the problem. Sorry Bill.

However, Swanseas intransigence has caused unnecesary delays in getting Gilfi in. It will take 3-4 weeks to bed him in.

Never mind he's here now.

COYB

Lennart Hylën
38 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:43:57
Velkomið að Everton Gylfa
Kenn Crawford
39 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:44:16
Welcome to the best club in the world Ziggy.
Now weave your magic for us.
Great signing.
Martin Mason
40 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:44:23
One day BK will be given due credit for what he has done at the club.
Gordon White
41 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:46:28
Tony #28. By all accounts we are looking for a striker. I agree with Colin #35 regarding Dembele. But I have faith in Walsh and Koeman to get the right signings in before the end of the window. What is exciting is we are not just buying for this upcoming season but for the future.
Incidentally, I think the transfer window should close before the premier league kicks off.
Fran Mitchell
42 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:48:01
Dembele (Celtic), Werner (Leipzeig - unlikely) or Luan (Gremio) as striker would be my preferred options, with another older head to be a super-sub, a Llorente type (unlikely).

How about a move for Zlatan?

Mike Gaynes
43 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:48:03
Joe #11, nobody noticed your joke, but it was a good 'un!
Don Alexander
44 Posted 16/08/2017 at 22:55:23
Delighted as I am by this signing I just hope that the doubters among us realise that nobody in EPL history has scored directly from free-kicks more than Gylfi, nobody in it last season provided more goal-scoring passes from dead-balls than Gylfi and nobody in it ran more distance than Gylfi. Anyone with eyes can see that he has sublime passing ability, scores regularly from open play and he's not averse to meaningful tackling either. Coutinho, playing in a way better team than Swansea, has a worse goal per game ratio too but he's off to Barca for three times the fee for Gylfi.

I'd say we've made a killing.

Andrew James
45 Posted 16/08/2017 at 23:00:46
I've been watching his career from afar for several years as I've always had a soft spot for Reading and Iceland. When he was younger he looked like he'd be a top championship player yet graduated with Swansea, Hoffenheim and Spurs to becoming a Premier League regular.

In the last two seasons for Swansea and country he's gone up a notch. I still think the money is crazy but if you want comparisons, I think we've just bought the closest player to Mikel Arteta (pre-injury) we have had at the club. With better players round him, I hope he flourishes.

People go on about him not doing it at Spurs, well they're forgetting he was there during AVB and Tim Sherwood when they were firstly all about Bale and then secondly in trouble in the league and had brought in Eriksen with the Bale money and he plays where Sig does so not great circumstances for him.

Mind you, that experience must have helped him at Swansea in recent seasons!

Graham Mockford
46 Posted 16/08/2017 at 23:03:59
Not my joke but

Probably good for Wayne that we don't have a player nicknamed Gylf.

John Mckay
47 Posted 16/08/2017 at 23:13:59
I noticed Demebele didn't play for Celtic? Is he injured or about to be sold? Celtic won 5-0 so maybe they can afford to lose him if a good offer come in for him.

Siggy will be a great signing.

Kenwright has always had the best at heart for Everton in my opinion never agreed with the billy bullshitter comments. The man just didn't have the funds to compete. Turned us around since the Johnson days that's for sure well in BK

Mike Green
48 Posted 16/08/2017 at 23:14:36
Feels like a really important signing this, I'm chuffed, partly because I think there's another on its way - the man who's going to be sticking all those assist into the net. Who will it be? Given how we've gone about our business I'll be amazed now this is done we don't see a new No.9 by the end of the month, then it's down to Ron to get them working as a unit and knocking teams down one by one. We are going to a very difficult team to beat once this lot get their act together.
Andy Crooks
49 Posted 16/08/2017 at 23:16:25
John, we gave signed a good player, no need to rewrite history, though.
Derek Knox
50 Posted 16/08/2017 at 23:26:42
Glad he is eventually on board, the Goodship Goodison, I hope Koeman plays him, and the rest of the the squad, for that matter, in their strongest positions.

I appreciate that he has cost an astronomical amount, but believe, he will deliver, if the manager plays him correctly, and the other players too, it's inconceivable, to buy a player like him, and not compliment, with the correct players to feed off him.

Welcome Siggy!

And I no longer smoke!

Mike Gaynes
51 Posted 16/08/2017 at 23:28:02
John #47, Dembele pulled a hamstring in late July and isn't expected back until sometime in September. I'm guessing that's why all the transfer speculation about him has quieted down.
John Audsley
52 Posted 16/08/2017 at 23:41:53
Excellent signing.

We have no idea what part BK played in this transfer so best to leave him out of things.

Derek Knox
53 Posted 16/08/2017 at 23:54:24
Good shout Mr Gaynes, I know it would represent a bit of a gamble, taking his age into perspective, but although he has made his reputation in Scottish Football.

He is still young and I believe will improve, at the end of the day, he knows where the goal is, and they all have the same position, and dimensions, regardless of country!

I would also, now we are spending, go for Kasper Dolberg, who, from what I have seen of him, is like a young Denis Bergkamp, he turned out okay, unless anyone knows any different?

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, a versatile defender, left sided, or start playing Calum Connolly, if It's to be believed, he allegedly, was being offered to Swansea, as makeweight, for the £5M deficit, in the Sigurdsson deal, and that was when it was £40M being offered.

Over all, I am pleased with all our acquisitions, with the exception of Cuco, who I still maintain, is not bad, but not good either, going forward, but totally inept at defending, and he was brought in as cover for Seamus!

Peter Cummings
54 Posted 17/08/2017 at 00:50:21
i Just hope he turns out to be as good as his reviews – especially in the goalscoring department – now that Lukaku has gone. I'm looking forward to his debut.
Jamie Crowley
55 Posted 17/08/2017 at 01:15:41
I think Goodison should welcome him with a Viking clap.

If Barkley doesn't go (due to injury or whatever), does that mean the Club just stumped up 40 million for Siggy, plus his wages, and still has to pay Barkley's wages?

That's an investment if this crossed the line and the Brass knows we can't offload Ross.

Dan Davies
56 Posted 17/08/2017 at 01:47:52
Obviously still a sell to buy club. Barry to WB. Allowed us to splash 45 mil on Sig. Cheers Gaz!
Colin Gee
57 Posted 17/08/2017 at 01:54:40
That must have been what was the hold up, he wanted the No.18 shirt
Minik Hansen
58 Posted 17/08/2017 at 02:42:47
Meant to be a club record fee, the true toffee putting on the blue shirt. Will be as much motivated as Rooney. I sense good things coming, COYB.
Paul Ferry
59 Posted 17/08/2017 at 02:44:50
All suggested line-ups on here so far have Gueye alongside Schneiderlin.

If we ought to have learned anything recently it is that these two cannot be in the same eleven.

Wouldn't it be nice if we did back four and 1 holding-mid increasing, therefore, the potential for width, pace, and space (hate to day it but Man Utd on Sunday were a joy to behold with wide players and three in the middle).

From what we have now (and there is more incoming):

Pickford
Kenny
Keane
Jagielka
Baines
Gueye
Davies / Klaassen
Lookman
Rooney
Sigurdsson
Calvert-Lewin

Would love to be able to pick from the following:

Tierney
Chilwell
Sakho (forget about vvd)
Gray
Townsend
Dolberg
Giroud
Vardy
Dembele
Luan

Lenny (23): out of curiosity, why does Sigurdsson have a ‘dubious CV’?

Daniel Lim
60 Posted 17/08/2017 at 03:19:20
Will Colin still go out of the room to get a siggy during matches now that Siggy is right in front of him?
Daniel Lim
61 Posted 17/08/2017 at 03:20:55
Dan @56
Probably now it's because we want to get the room for the salary so waited for Barry to go to clear that up.
Jay Harris
62 Posted 17/08/2017 at 04:27:08
Martin you have a very short memory.

Can I just mention "other operating expenses" going up by 20m a year since Earle and Green were brought on board and 8m a year going to the BVI let alone "GP falling down so we had to move to Kirkby".

Yeah lets remember what BK has done.

Steve Bingham
63 Posted 17/08/2017 at 04:32:13
Jack @ 34 I think Vardy would be a good shout .
Jamie Sweet
64 Posted 17/08/2017 at 06:01:08
Big question is what type of striker do we now need to complete this particular puzzle. The speed of a Vardy or the aerial ability of a Benteke (just for example)?

Speed up front is something we appear to be lacking, but then again so is height to convert from our new set-piece master.

Given that Koeman has seemed to historically favour a big unit up front, my money is on someone in the Benteke / Giroud mould.

I will watch this particular space with great interest indeed .

Nitesh Kanchan
65 Posted 17/08/2017 at 06:12:42
Winner from Niasse and Koeman running down touchline in celebration, á la Mourinho. I can see it coming.

Two big games these Split and Man City games. We should try and get out of sight in the first half against Split and do the opposite in the Man City game. Keeping it tight in the first half, frustrate them, and grab the winner in the second. Pace will be important factor in those halves. Koeman needs to rotate the squad well here: one defensive midfielder in Split game and two in Man City game, maybe even three.

There is also better chance of winning Europa League if we take it seriously. We will be 5th favorites to win it behind Arsenal, Milan, Villarreal and one of the English teams that will drop off the from the Champions League – most likely Spurs (pot 3 and Wembley) or Liverpool (pot 3 or 4 and Martinez-esque defending).


Gareth Clark
66 Posted 17/08/2017 at 06:25:17
Got to go for Dolberg or Dembele...

I think we messed up not going for Iheanacho!

Mark Melton
67 Posted 17/08/2017 at 06:44:16
The missing link. I think for the fist time since the 80s, we may have found the our new Peter Reid. Not in style, but his potential transformative effect. Made up.
Shaun Wilson
68 Posted 17/08/2017 at 06:45:01
Just agreed with a fellow Toffee on a different thread that Bony could be the right guy at the right price. Also, Slimani, I think could be picked up pretty humbly. This is an experiment lads, who knows what will work? Can't see us being weaker for signing these two boys...
Mark Melton
69 Posted 17/08/2017 at 06:48:19
Oh and loving my new seat in row B at the corner of the Upper Bullens and the Gladys. You get all the at atmosphere of the Gladys, but without getting high.
Eddie Dunn
70 Posted 17/08/2017 at 07:24:58
At last, a player who makes the ball do the work plays the early pass, has goos vision and has an excellent set piece. Now please sign a target man.
Rick Pattinson
71 Posted 17/08/2017 at 07:34:17
Good luck Ziggy, will be a success and a loyal servant now I'm sure. As for strikers .There's this guy called Lacina Traore he looks good!!! It's Dzecko everyday for me.
Tony Everan
72 Posted 17/08/2017 at 08:38:53
Dzecko is top class , would like to see him here .

Bony an interesting one , could get back to being a top striker with an injection of motivation and fitness.Maybe able to get him on loan or at the right price. He would possibly be amenable to it as he presumably won't have to move.

Phil Smith
73 Posted 17/08/2017 at 09:23:57
If Sandro is injured, I'd have Niasse on the bench. Looked dangerous at Hull and worth a go at the very least until we get someone top class.
Tony Abrahams
75 Posted 17/08/2017 at 09:49:39
Mike@43, I thought exactly the same thing when I read Martin's post@40!
Paul Kennedy
76 Posted 17/08/2017 at 10:21:22
What I am happy about since our new owner took the helm every real target the club (not whispers or press) has said from Koeman, Walsh – Sandro, Keane, Pickford, Sigurdsson – We have stayed the course and got our man. Brilliant.
Charlie Lloyd
77 Posted 17/08/2017 at 11:17:43
Just to reflect.

Last summer we nearly got Sissoko and Kone. We now have Keane and Sigurdsson. Whether that's by luck or design I don't know but we are in a much better position.

Oh! What could have been!

Simon Bates
78 Posted 17/08/2017 at 11:46:01
Welcome Gylfi, finally. It appears this player was meant to play for Everton, looking at the pictures emerging from 2001, with the "back in blue" comment from his brother; let's hope it's a good omen.

As for the new striker, it is being reported this morning that our manager is open to bringing Diego Costa on loan, even until January.

This could work well, giving Giroud time to realise sitting on Arsenal's bench and being an impact sub is as good as it's going to get there.

That is only if Diego doesn't fall in love with EFC and stay, of course.

John Smith
80 Posted 17/08/2017 at 13:15:27
On this twitter page shows a picture of a young Ziggy wearing an Everton Shirt next to a statue of William Ralph Dead. He is about eleven years old. Explains Ziggy's own twitter post where he declared "Back in blue". So apparently a boyhood blue fan.

Link

Neil Thomas
81 Posted 17/08/2017 at 13:53:42
Solution Usain Bolt quick as f*** and about 6'5. Only problem is injury prone at the moment
Steve Ferns
82 Posted 17/08/2017 at 14:01:44
The safe bet as a no9 is Benteke. There's little risk there, but it will also be overpriced. I would expect to have to pay well over £40m for him.

Kasper Dolberg is my choice, but he's a massive gamble. He'd also cost £30-40m and there's a very real chance that he could find things too difficult in the Premier League in his first season, at such a young age, and he will not be able to have time to adapt as we need a no9 so badly and he will have cost so much.

Which means, that £40m transfer for Benteke, and a 15 goal a season return is what we can expect.

Soren Moyer
83 Posted 17/08/2017 at 14:10:57
Once a blue always a blue.

DHX4_Ys_Xg_AAVx8_H
image uploader

Lenny Kingman
84 Posted 17/08/2017 at 19:56:18
Paul #59

A CV that includes being loaned out from Reading, how bad do you have to be to suffer that indignity. To add to that you are loaned to the likes of Shrewsbury and Crewe. Not a great CV at the outset, some may even say dubious.

Hopefully Everton will get value for money out of the £45m fee and £25m in salary guaranteed. I am not sure they will. But am happy to be proven wrong.

Rick Tarleton
85 Posted 18/08/2017 at 11:35:49
His time at Spurs was not exactly an unqualified success. Smaller teams can afford to set the team up the way their better players like it, which is what Swansea did. Bigger teams want players to fit in, which is what Spurs did. Everton are hopefully more like Spurs, so it remains to be seen how Everton use him. It looks like Sigurdsson, Klaassen, Rooney, and possibly Barkley will all want the same place, add to that the two defensive midfielders, from Gueye, Schneiderlin, Davies, possibly Besic and we seem slightly bloated, rotation allowing, in the midfield department.
I'm not sure that saying you want Vardy and signing him are quite the same thing.
Ernie Baywood
86 Posted 18/08/2017 at 11:56:01
A top notch striker could turn us into genuine contenders. I just doubt we'll get that player... just now.

As a minimum we need a solid player to lead the line. Someone who can contribute double figures in the league while helping the quality players he'll have arriving from deeper positions.

I must admit, as much as I can't stand him, Costa would be perfect. Ability plus that ability to occupy (and wind up) defenders.

Two weeks to go...

Jay Wood
87 Posted 18/08/2017 at 12:48:25
Lenny @ 84:

"A CV that includes being loaned out from Reading, how bad do you have to be to suffer that indignity. To add to that you are loaned to the likes of Shrewsbury and Crewe. Not a great CV at the outset, some may even say dubious."

Context is everything.

Signed by Reading for their academy in 2005, aged just 16, his loan to Shrewsbury in the 2008-09 season was for a single month, aged 19, to gain first team experience. In that month he made 5 appearances and scored 1 goal, scoring on his debut, no less.

In February 2009 in the same season, still aged 19, he went to Crewe on a month long 'emergency loan.' Again, he scored on his debut in a 4-0 win at Brighton.

Crewe, fighting relegation from League One, were so impressed they extended the loan until the end of that season. He made 15 appearances and scored 3 goals in his time there.

In the three years he played for Reading's first team, he made 42 appearances scoring 19 goals. In August 2010, aged just 21, he was sold to Hoffenheim for a Reading record sale fee of £6.5m.

I could go on, but the above puts a completely different slant on your post, doncha think?

John Owens
88 Posted 18/08/2017 at 12:58:18
David Beckham went on loan to Preston, Neville Southall went to Port Vale and Seamus Coleman went to Blackpool! Enough said I think!!
John Owens
89 Posted 18/08/2017 at 12:59:29
Costa on loan please!
John Otway
90 Posted 18/08/2017 at 13:16:37
#87 Oh nicely done Jay Wood!
John Owens
91 Posted 18/08/2017 at 13:38:54
Very nicely done jay
James Hughes
92 Posted 18/08/2017 at 13:56:11
No to Costa please this is from the Chav's presser

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte on exiled striker Diego Costa after speaking to a newspaper: "I prefer to laugh, it is great. I can tell you everyone who works at Chelsea knows what happened with him last season.

We do not need a nut job at our club

Sam Hoare
93 Posted 18/08/2017 at 14:01:16
James, I know what you mean and yet .

He scores goals. A 6 month loan and see how it goes would do for me. If he's too nuts then chuck him in the reserves and don't pay his wages. If he focusses that energy into scoring at the rate he has for the last few years then great, we've got a top class striker to help the cause.

On another note i'm jealous of Spurs getting Davinson Sanchez. I think Keane will be a great buy but reckon Sanchez could prove top class too and would be a great partner for Keane as he has some good pace.

Kevin Dyer
94 Posted 19/08/2017 at 09:29:29
Ray #37 wouldn't believe Bellamy, he's a Cardiff fan so would be inclined to slant events against Swansea. Everything else I've read is that it was a done deal weeks ago then we decided to try and renegotiate. Nothing verified, obviously but we've got form for this kind of niggling, in fairness to Swansea they haven't.

My personal take is a difference of opinion on what proportion of the guaranteed £40m would be upfront.

Geoff Lambert
95 Posted 19/08/2017 at 09:42:54
Kevin!! "we've got form for this kind of niggling"

When was the last time to your knowledge that we niggled over a player??

Fellaini? Schneiderlin? Gueye? Williams? Klaassen? Keane, Pickford???? Maybe Lescott! Stones....Lukaku! – Just a few of our biggest recent transfers which we got in okay!


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