Everton expected to conclude Gomes deal this week

Where are you getting that from?

Again, we'll see tomorrow. Hope it's true like, specially at that price.

Thank you The Grand Visir!

https://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/barca--everton-finalising-deal-for-andre-gomes-to-remain-in-england-7511620

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7155949/Everton-close-signing-Andre-Gomes-permanently-Barcelona-22million-deal.html

http://sportwitness.co.uk/spain-everton-can-complete-signing-quickly-wednesday-terms-agreed/

Bargain, if true.

There is also a video of Gomes with the CEO of some Spanish e-sports club posted a few hours ago, and this chap references Everton, or Evertonians a number of times.

I would be hugely surprised if this deal wasn't concluded by the end of this week. Might still take a couple of days though for a medical etc according to some.

More concerned about getting in a new centre back as I'm not holding my breath that Zouma will come who was our most consistent and reliable defender last season.

Then there is the striker or forward debate. I'm not to concerned about the 'exact title of the position' but we need more goals and creativity from somewhere.

What do we need less than a goalkeeper?

Especially after just signing one.

Alan J, you crack me up.

Regardless, if he was a young English player that could run in a straight line, he'd be more expensive!

Having said that £22m would be a decent price for someone who is settled in the team and well liked by all accounts. He is also better than our other options. Continuity is something crucial to most successful teams.

I hope that he will continue to improve and we will see more of the West Ham (a) Gomes than the Newcastle (a) Gomes. He is clearly a confidence player and my worry is that Silva will persevere with him even when out of form as he did over last season's bleak midwinter.

What do you want, the perfect footballer? Or someone with some quality who can pass for fun with both feet, has vision beyond anyone else at the club, natural ability as well as Barcelona coaching under his belt.

I reckon people would still be on here moaning if we signed XXXX XXXX (insert your all time favourite player name).

Gomes is easily the best we (Everton) can A) afford and B) attract. It's all about levels, and having a realistic understanding of where your club sits in the current pecking order.

We aren't likely to sign Neymar, Ronaldo or Leo Messi anytime soon.

When figures of £30-35M were getting tossed around against what Barcelona paid for him, and the alleged release clause, I felt we should look elsewhere. I know most of the horseshit was fed by journos (what's new?) but I always tend to think about smoke and fire.

The 3 match suspension, for the childish retribution on Mitrovitch was not only something I hate to see in Football, but certainly deserved. He could have ended the lad's career, made me think differently about him, and the way we coped without him during that suspension almost confirmed that.

However, it's water under the proverbial bridge now, so welcome aboard!

It may amaze you but I think there are players somewhere between Gomes and Neymar on the scale that we could sign. Feel free to look at my article if you want to see some names: https://www.ToffeeWeb.com/season/18-19/comment/fanscomment/38060.html

Anyway as Derek says its water under the bridge if/when he signs. I do think he is better than what we have and it sounds like Brands has negotiated a good price.

I'm not amazed by there being other players available. but thanks (again) for your condescending tone on this one ;-)

On Walsh; let's hope he gets the United role and he comes back looking to resign some of the 'quality' that he bought to Goodison.

I agree that fans have a tendency to complains about signings (and everything else!) and many do have unrealistic expectations. But on this thread and most others I don't think I have seen many people suggesting too many wildy impossible signing options. Every player comes with positives and negatives.

I do think the vast majority will be content with Gomes and I am too in many ways but without difference of opinion ToffeeWeb would be a very dull place!

You're right, of course, players always split opinion - I have a tendency to get mildly irritated with the notion that Everton should have some sort of divine right to expect the best (Nil Satis etc) but we also complain about this way of thinking when it comes to other clubs (the RS) making out they're something special.

As for Gomes - yes he has his limitations. He also has many of the attributes people look for, one of the most important (to your common, all garden Evertonian) being a little bit of perceived loyalty to us.

***

IF and when this is confirmed at the rumoured price, it further enhances Brands' reputation, IMO.

That said (with apologies to James Marshall) as I have done all along and as a few in this thread justifiably make the point, Gomes has to do more on a more consistent basis for Everton.

If he can perform as he did at Benfica and Valencia, he is a useful addition to the squad. If he plays as he did at Barcelona AND in many a game for Everton, then he may continue to disappoint and frustrate in equal measure.

He has the physique. He has the skill set. He has yet to prove he can be the 'main man' in our midfield who orchestrates everything. Maybe Silva and stability may bring that out in him. But on past record, I don't expect him to contribute much to our goals for column. He's never scored more than 4 goals in a single season and in 29 internationals is yet to score for Portugal.

A good addition at the price quoted if confirmed, but definitely more needed from the player and the team definitely needs more incoming players that carry more goal threat.

For a player who gets forward as much as he does, his goals to date are numero uno, which ideally should be approaching maybe 10 or so. By the way it's okay to lay into him now he's our player, well almost. :-)

Supposed to be a nice bit of change for him.

I think we could come to regret that one. He was ranked as one of the best players in the CL this year (though a small sample size of 6 games) and was one of the best players in the Russian league. Not bad at 21.

I thought he could be the eventual successor to Siggy as he has good technique, can shoot well off both feet, can see a pass and whilst not rapid has quick feet. Oh well, I guess time will tell.

My take is that an established player with a set of skills that we need most is absolutely the right move at this price, particularly since he's so enthused about staying. Well done Brands and Silva.

I do think that at 26 (next month) he has shown us his entire game and isn't likely to improve significantly -- I doubt he's going to add goalscoring, playmaking or consistency he hasn't shown before.

The best way Gomes can improve is by taking the foolish fouls out of his defensive game, and he showed progress in that area last season -- notwithstanding the Mitrovic incident DK mentioned. If he can mature beyond that kind of idiocy, that's good enough for me.

To my mind, it all changed again a couple of years back with the transfer of Pogba and Lukaku et.al. The "base line" suddenly shot up from £40 to £50million to £75 to £90million.

On that basis one only needs to look at this transfer to recognise it as a bargain in todays's terms.

The doubters might want to think of Harry McGuire - being quoted at £80 million as is Wan-Bissaka - who has only just had one good season in the EPL.

We, like everyone else, need to realise that anything under £50 million in today's market is cheap and £22.5 million for a player of Gomes quality is an absolute bargain in todays marketplace.

Bernard, Gomes, Sigurdsson and Richarlison with Lookman (and okay maybe Walcott and even Dowell too) offer pace, guile and plenty of attacking outlet. I'm actually happy to start the season with DCL up top as he's full of running and effort and can get a few goals (although likely more a 10-12 p/season than a 20+ player) but also create space for these others.

I do think we should be looking for a proven centre forward IF a good option becomes available, not immediately clear who that is mind, as neither Tosun, Sandro or Niasse are up to snuff, but I agree that defence/defensive midfield could be more pressing.

Sadly I think Zouma has gone for good so we need a decent replacement to supplement Keane-Minna. Also, if Gana does push through his dream move to PSG (and I wouldn't fault him - he's worked his socks off for us and didn't throw the dummy out of the pram when we didn't let him go in Jan) then that will also be a key role to replace. Schneiderlein is too patchy and McCarthy clearly isn't fancied (and didn't have much passing range either).

Plenty of time to go though and for once I really do have faith in the men scouting and spending the money, wasn't even that gutted to see Vlasic go (looks good in Moscow but I can't recall him doing much of note in a blue shirt when he was here - lets hope we can shift some of Mirallas, Sandro, Besic, Bolasie, Niasse and Tosun too!)

It suddenly becomes clear: She already has a signed photo from Marco Silva. :-(

I like Gomes. He's a footballer, good to watch, he can do things with a ball most of the rest of our squad can't. I'd have been more than happy to pay 22m and more for him.

But some of the people on here need to step back and have a listen to themselves. Every season we have people whooping and hollering for every fucker we bring in and they think they are within their rights to shout down the "negatives" who don't agree.

I still haven't forgot the crazed euphoria as Walsh and Koeman spent a fortune on players who many believed would take us to the promised land. Remind me again?

Like I said. Gomes is my type of player, but those pointing to flaws in his make up are perfectly entitled to do so.

If he had an English passport he would be a £50M signing. So he's a total 100% bargain.

Great sensible business. More please.

But many, if not all of us, have felt the same about others and been mistakenly over- hopeful.

It is the essence of being a fan. Hope.

Otherwise it just becomes one side saying "I was right notto be hopeful" and the other saying "whoops". The myth of "I knew because I know the game" at some local rubbish level is just that. Thank God. Many who do this job all their lives (Walsh) fuck up.

Let's leave categorising people and let us exchange views, explore daft ones and have some fun.

I also feel often drawn into such categorisation but mostly regret when dragged into it or even sometimes start it. Mea Culpa.

And back to the team.

I see this as a start of the making of a potentially good team. Striker? Yeah but one who fits quickly.

Others?

Have faith in Brands.

His, self critical, view that he didn't settle as he'd have liked/or should at Barca perhaps goes some way to explaining how possibly he took a while to get back to his best after the derby debacle. Maybe thinking "Oh shite not again !".

What, for Me, it also does is demonstrate faith that Everton could be his ideal home and what follows could be him playing his best for a club that brought that out in him. I hope so for him and us.

As to this compulsion some TW's seem to have to compartmentalise other TW's, what a pointless hobby that is. Express you opinion honestly and lay out your reasons why, you might shed light for fellow Blues.

Far as I'm concerned, there's only one compartment worth being labelled.

EVERTONIAN.

Well made up with landing Gomes, if only we could keep hold of Gaye, bring in a striker and somehow even if another 12 month loan at worst, manage to get Zouma then we could be in for a decent season.

Gomes and Bernard came into the team with lack of game time, both will add more next season.

Now it is just a case of what other business we get done, in and out, but Gomes is a great start to our rebuilding.

Man City are great to watch but Guardiola's circulatory style has never really satisfied me. The Redshite, for all their success, have always had a formulaic, mechanical element to them. None of the other top 6 now has beauty.

I hope and believe that we're striving for more than a bit of swagger, for the joy of football, and this fella at his best plays in his own lovely time frame; it's like a ballet on occasions. I'm glad he's going to be here properly and that he will be joined by similar types under Brands & Silva.

Yes, let's look at the net spend last year. We splashed over £47 million on Tosun and Walcott in January, while selling Barkley for a cut-rate fee of £15 million. Then we spent roughly £80 million on Richarlison, Mina and Digne over the summer, while — what? Selling Klaassen for £12 million and Funes Mori for peanuts? So I'm not sure what point you think you're making here.

Far too often last season, Everton's midfield were outfought which left the back four floundering at times. This was apparent early on when some of the new boys were not yet cemented properly in the side.

After the poor run resulting from the RS lucky last-minute goal, they did start to get things right but too late to get up the table where it mattered.

He will be on their balance sheet as a depreciating asset, just like a piece of machinery. Every year, his value will be written down until, at the end of his contract, his value is nil.

Of course, if the machine was an outstanding success it would enhance the performance, and profits, of the company. Other companies may see the improvement this piece of machinery has made to your business and may make you an offer which was more than you actually paid in the first place. Or they could borrow the machine and either be so impressed they want to buy it at the end of the loan or, if it wasn't as good as they thought it would be, they will send it back when the loan period expires.

Of course, an expensive machine may not perform as well as anticipated and may be very costly to run. In such cases, it may be more expedient to take a hit on the initial purchase price to save on the day-to-day operating costs.

So, if Barcelona paid €30M for Gomes they will consider it good business to sell him for €25M after 2 years, considering he hasn't really enhanced their business performance. In accounting terms, it's a good deal for them.

His ability to beat a man, drive with ball and start attacks from midfield gives us something that few teams in the league possess and we’ve certainly missed it since barkley in the first Martinez season.

Like many others, I agree that the petty fouls are annoying and need to be eradicated and also that more goals are required from him, he’s definitely got the ability for it.

Thumbs up from me.

I imagine his wages will be covered by what we've freed up with Jags and Vlasic moving on and Baines signed a deal on reduced terms.

Now we need a centre-half and a striker, assuming no major outgoings. Hopefully most/all of the wages for these additions will be covered by players getting moved on. Oh, forgot that Williams has gone too, so we are likely substantially in the black now in terms of team salary.

Transfers from last season
Fred £59 million
Keita £60 million
Fabinho £45 million
Jorginho £57 million
Torreira £30 million
Maddison £25 million
Adama Traore £20 million
Seri £30 million
Anguissa £25 million

I personally wouldn't swap Gomes for any of them.

Playing as a box to box Central Defensive Midfielder is the hardest position in the team. It is the engine room and I saw few better, if any last season than Andre.

It is also one of the most unselfish positions in the game. After putting your body on the line and converting defence into attack, you gallop down field to slip a through ball or long range pass so that your team mate scores and takes the glory.

It is also the heart of the team. Having the quiet temperament, skill and silent leadership to drive through a result. Never really the glory hound but so important to those who are.

As seen last season when Gomes played at full throttle the rest of the team rose their game around him. The results of which we saw against Liverpool and Arsenal to name a few.

If he consistently does what he does best then let the others get the goals (and they will) as I would be honoured watching his masterclass.

Arsenal need a Gomes right now whilst Man Utd need to fix theirs (Pogba).

Buy a striker, defender and right winger of equal calibre, and we might just have something here.

Get paid

Fingers crossed he's found the right club to kick on and blossom.

I am surprised Brands is giving him £120k p/w. I thought we were trying to reduce the wage bill and that the top wage should only be going to one or two 'star' players. I thought he was on £80k at Barcelona and that matching that or maybe going up to 90/95 would be sufficient. I'd be surprised if Spurs or West Ham would have paid him that much.

Mirallas
Sandro
Bolasie
Besic
Niasse
Martina
Stekelenburg
Garbutt
Galloway,

And get an upgrade on (if possible):

Schneiderlin
Walcott
Tosun
McCarthy
Dowell,

And give more game time to our future stars:

Lookman
Calvert-Lewin
Davies
Holgate
Baningime (if he is still 'hot')
Feeney
Bowler

Retain Gueye

Sign Zouma and 1 'hot shot' goal scorer

And we could then have an exciting season to look forward to.

The stats aren't kind to Gomes though. Whilst he has lovely technique and can score great goals, he's at best a five goal a season player. And for all his passing ability he gets only a few assists. Gomes at his best brings others into the game and for them to make the assist. The American's do "second assister" or something, and that's the stat that shows how important Gomes is.

I expect to see more of the player I used to see at Benfica when he exploded onto the scene in 2014 and convinced Valencia to spend big on him despite only having a season under his belt. As to where he plays, I think that depends on Gueye. If Gueye stays then more of the same, if Gueye leaves then I think he will be pushed further forwards.

What happened to reducing the wage bill???

We are lumbered with the likes of Sandro, Mirallas (who had a contract that was nearly up and Koeman extended it), Bolaise, Martina, Schneiderlin, Besic... none of these are near to being sold. Note the delay with the deal for; if this doesn't happen next week, it's probably related to selling others.

Everton paid 7th most in total wages last year. And, but for an exceptional first season from Wolves, would have finished 7th.

It's not all about wages: Man Utd paid the most, and whilst the wages for Sanchez and Pogba will be significant in that statistic, they clearly are not getting value for their investment this last season. But second highest, Man City, won the title. Liverpool and Chelsea, who pay their players around the same rate, finished 2nd and 3rd. The exception in the top 6 is Spurs whose salaries are significantly lower. But there is a fairly simple pattern. The best players play for the best teams and earn the highest wages.

If we want our team to challenge, we need to sign better players... but they want more money. There have been some cock-ups of late, but that principle is still upheld in general.

Spurs will hold on to their top players as long as they are challenging for the top 4. If they drop out, their best players will be offered the moon and the stars to move. Man Utd or Chelsea would kill for Kane. They will settle for lower wages so long as they can compete at the highest level.

Should it come off, signing Gomes could be the foundation of our midfield for seasons. He could be one of the players that the squad is built around. As such, his wage will reflect his status at the club.

If, as we do, need to move a number out and we need to replace with a better level or younger set, they need to be in ASAP. They need all pre-season to reach fitness and gel together to hit the ground running, pardon the pun.

Last season we struggled at many times to create chances. It was a step up from the Allardyce era, of course, but a long way behind the top 5. Our best creators in terms of chances per 90 minutes were Digne and interestingly, Lookman.

Gomes creates very few chances compared to other Premier League midfielders. About the same as Gueye. Whereas Maddison ranks very highly. He is someone who could really challenge Sigurdsson for that No 10 spot or even play deeper or wide if needed. We need more creativity and Maddison would undoubtedly provide that.

I know what you are saying about Gomes getting "second assists" etc but I'm afraid again the stats don't bear it out. He does not complete a lot of forward passes by Premier League standards. So if he is getting 'second assists' it is not by virtue of him playing incisive or progressive balls.

Yes, he knits the play together well but is that really enough for someone who adds very little in the way of goals, assists, tackles, interceptions etc? One of the top paid players in the team surely needs to be having a more noticeable affect on the games? It seemed to me like we hardly missed him during his suspension.

I do think he has talent. And clearly he is a confidence player. So hopefully now he has a more settled home with us he can really push on and influence games more often and more directly. But I'll have a gentleman's bet with you that Maddison might be featuring close to next seasons team of the year and that Gomes will not? Hope I'm wrong!

Moshiri may not have as much to throw around as Liverpool and Man City owners but it needs to be spent wisely and if Silva wants certain players for his set-up then everything should be done to get them.

Everton still have some deadbeats to off-load so why is it taking so long to get shut of them? I guess the agents of the likes of Mirallas and Sandro are really holding out for money they don't deserve.

The week's delay in signing up Gomes has saved the club £125,000. Just sayin.