Talk of Zouma transfer request played down

Only thing we can hope for is he'll be on the bench for a bit towards the end of the year and we can pick him up in January.

At this moment though I assume we're starting with Coleman - Holgate - Keane - Digne against Palace; considering Mina just got back today that is.

If shoe was on the other foot Roman would be doing whatever it takes to get their guy ( see Barkely )

I am hoping that we have either another iron in the fire, or are prepared to start the season with what we have, and monitor the situation come January, Zouma will know then if he really is in Chelsea's long-term plans.

There are other areas of the team that require reinforcements in priority to Centre Back in my opinion that is. Without banging the old drum again we are not privy to any situation either in terms of Transfer, or what goes on behind the doors at Finch Farm. We get snippets of gossip, of which a large part is made up by journos seeking a story, of which there is no factual basis whatsoever.

Having said all that, Chelsea can't regard him too highly as he has spent more time on loan than he has at Stamford Bridge, it is because of the Transfer Ban that they are taking the stance they are doing. As James Stewart said above Zouma must realise what the real situation is and where he stands in that. I mentioned on another thread, it is down to him to either put in a Transfer Request or just ride the situation out.

In a nutshell I am prepared to put my faith again in M Brands doing the best for the Club, as again in my opinion he has not made any mistakes, but only decent additions, and also moved some deadwood on into the bargain.

I am more concerned the fact that he was top notch for us last season and played a major role in shoring up our previously woeful defense which led to ( for the first time in years) us taking on and beating top six teams, second half of the season, The idea we will lose both him and Gana means we have another problem apart for the obvious nobody knows how to score issue

Whatever we believe his value to be we should at least make an offer of it ( or just less than to leave Chelsea to come back with counter offer), Instead of the approach up to this point which has been showing "an interest"

Its just tame for me, if we want him we should at least put a price on Chelsea saying no I feel

Pairing Keane and Mina is asking for trouble. Mina is a natural interventionist and Keane is not good at mopping up when his partner is unpredictable. Keane maybe a very good defender but those strengths are limited.

I hope Silva finds the right player, it might even be Holgate, but it’s a huge step up for him.

I would love Zouma at Everton but we haven't made a bid and all the signs from Chelsea suggest he is staying.

I have no idea who Brands/Silva are looking at but the clock is ticking and if we go into a 3rd season without a proper forward we will achieve nothing.

I just hope we get things right and its not a case of "balancing the books"

Didn't Holgate and Keane start the season last year? They did okay but both have improved since. Perhaps Holgate deserves his chance.

The price for Zouma... hmm. Wan Bissaka was what £55M for one good season. Wonder what Cisse would of been worth for Newcastle after his 1 season. We should offer Chelsea the £15M they offered us for Barkley. Hard to put a price on Zouma. He is a good player. I'd suspect they would want closer to £30M for him.

As Neil said, give Holgate his chance as our 3rd CB. I'd rather we spend everything we have on a striker or two and keep the rest of the squad as is

We'll have other options and will use those players to try to get Chelsea to drop their price. If they don't we'll sign someone else. As fans, we won't have a clue what's going on, and none of these websites are keeping us informed of anything we couldn't make up or guess for ourselves.

A point raised above about Zouma not been playing at Chelsea is simple to understand. He was playing well under Mourinho, then got that knee injury. After nearly a year's recovery, the club wanted him to get minutes elsewhere, hence the loan to Stoke. Zouma would have made it back to Chelsea last season but the fag-butt chewing Italian maestro decided he is not suitable to Sarribollox. Hence the loan to the Blue half of Liverpool.

I think club has always rated Zouma (he was recommended by longest serving scout Guy Hillion) and which is why they tied him up on a long contract but the managerial situation and manager's preference dictates the player pool. Our club has a set of players that they really rate highly and believe in them.

Lampard likes Zouma. This year we got CL games and tons of early injury. Its likely Zouma will remain a starter as he and Luiz are the 2 senior defenders available now. Given we are experimenting at other areas so the last place club would rely on young players is the defense. So its likely Zouma will stay and someone else non-HG player will be allowed to go. But this is football so nothing's certain for sure.

Silva has promised a suitable replacement for Zouma, a striker and a right back, anything less will be big mistake on his part and the owner. I'd say we need those three recruitments just to stand still and I hope he's pushing very hard to get them, whomever they be, his job may depend on it.

Zouma is a pro. Can't see him putting in a transfer request. Perhaps he might say that he wants to move but can't see him putting request in. I reckon by mid week we'll be concretely chasing another option. Not sure which other fast CBs Brands has got earmarked but the likes of Soumaoro, Stark, Mukiele, Elvedi, Llorente, Kamara may be on the list. I quite like the idea of trying for Kimpembe at PSG who may be down the pecking order now they have bought Diallo.

Soumaoro's transfer to Monaco apparently fell through at the last minute and Palace is in with a £13m bid. Worth pipping, perhaps. Great price for a 27-year-old captain who just finished 2nd in Ligue 1.

Llorente? No way he goes to a non-CL club IMO. Likewise young Mukiele.

As for Llorente and Mukiele, I wouldn’t have bet on Bernard and Digne going to non-CL clubs last summer but you never know.

I've not been able to follow the friendlies thus far but the reports of his performances are encouraging. If Joe Gomez can come through at Liverpool and become first choice at such a young age, who's to say Gibson might not do so for us... saving us a hefty transfer fee?!

We already know Holgate and Keane doesn't work when they were both at full fitness and Mina does not inspire me with confidence although, to be fair, he had some injuries to contend with but, even allowing for that, he is no Zouma.

We need a real rock at the back; I will be disappointed if we let Gueye go and do not get high quality replacements in.

The first two are now permanent squad members, so another permanent signing and two loans of the same quality this close season will do me.

We shall have to wait and see and put our trust, as ever, in the management team.

Hopefully, too, we will see some "breakthroughs" this coming season in the shape of Holgate et al. Not long now before the suspense will be over - finally.

I have visions of similar next season and a defence with the already very erratic goalkeeper we have coupled with Holgate would be a concern for me.

Holgate needs more muscle, the lads got no meat on his bones, against big hairy arse centre forwards like Deeney, they’ll bully him like Arnautovic did when we played West Ham last September, the tattooed Arnie deliberately picked on Holgate’s side that day and it worked a charm.

As for this blind faith in Brands?

Well ok let’s trust him to some extent but let’s also not make it so Fairy tale like that’s hes never going to put a foot wrong you know!

This last fortnight of the transfer window will truly tell us much about where our ambitions lie for next season.

I’m quietly confident, but extremely cautious, the life of a schizophrenic, or is it just the way I feel because of Everton!

Not great really is it?

Like I say, this next fortnight will tell us a lot about just how skilled Marcel Brands is.

If we fail to improve the squad in the next two weeks then it’s negligible just like in Walsh’s summer of 2017, still not enough goals in the team, attack will struggle with one or two injuries or losses of form to Richarlison or Sigurdsson.

Defensively the options will be sparse and won’t last under any small injury hit spell.

Does anyone else think Everton are yet again missing out on Opportunities this preseason? While RS and even Leicester play in high profile tournaments infront of big crowds in big stadiums in the US. We're playing matches in parks.

It's all very well of him to say Calvert-Lewin must be given time to develop but he's not likely to score the goals that will see us improve on last season. I suspect we will see a deadline day panic loan in a bid to address the problem at least.

What precisely this might mean to us - I can't say - but it might be positive.

Mind many of the players have been playing in the Copa America or the Afcon tournament so again no pre season for these players. We are constantly being told these players need a mid season break which they will get this year, but I wonder how many clubs will play lucrative friendlies in this break, I will watch with interest.

So many clubs are going into the last couple of weeks before the season starts, and many have absolutely no idea what their starting line ups will be, complete madness.

Reckon we should be looking elsewhere myself and I must be in the minority as I never thought he was that great anyway.

We also have Keane and Mina (who had an excellent Copa and when fit should be first choice). Holgate is a fine back up and if he gets his chance should be looking to cement his place.

Striker for me must be the priority.

*Puts tin hat on*

Eric Bailly has had a poor season after injury (sound familiar to Zouma??) and will surely be available bearing in mind their first choice pairing will be MaGuire and Lindeloff, with back-up from Smalling/Jones and the emerging Tuanzabe.

Worth a punt in my book - strong, quick and hungry to play.

Bailly was great for Villareal and pretty good in his first season for United. Since then fitness and confidence have eluded him.

If Maguire makes the move then i'd be interested in Bailly if available. Many will say that he's just another United cast off but hes only 25 and is a talent who's lost his way but has experience of the league. Nice idea. Though i suspect he may be their 3rd/4th CB and are more likely to sell Jones/Smalling/Rojo.

Weren’t there some considerable links with Rojo joining us last summer?

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this one cropped up again as the days go by and no other targets are close to joining.

I don’t think anything will happen regarding Bailly as his injury record suggests he’d potentially be another Mangala (remember him lol).

If anything it’ll be another Rojo rumour maybe on a season loan or something like that.

(Personally I’m not madly fussed on Rojo either).

“Going there I did that and improved myself technically and tactically in every aspect with the manager there. I am a better player.

Wonder if he'll get that under Lampard?

Not that bothered about Rojo. Or smalling/Jones. Do think Bailly could be an interesting option if available and fit.

I still think that we will be bringing in another 5 players but the later it gets the more chance that 2 of them are loans.

Kristian@60, yes i think that's true. Once Rudiger is back i'd say Zouma has a 50/50 chance of being in that starting lineup. If he's not he will be desperate for a move. Might that mean that Brands/Silva decide to get a loan player in at CB or even chance it with Holgate for 6 months?

I’ve all but moved on now with the Zouma deal, as pointed out by yourself, he was given the Captain’s armband today in the Barcelona friendly so that’s got to be mental boost for him.

It’s dead in the water that deal now and to be honest I get fed up reading about it on virtually every Everton site out there, little snippets trying to clutch at straws in every word Zouma speaks.

I wanted him badly but even I can see now this is a lost cause.

We might finish above him if he gets sacked by Chelsea by Christmas and then gets the West Ham job lol.

I’m half expecting him to come out of retirement and score against us again!

Nonetheless, I still believe there's no chance he will come back to Everton.

We will probably see him in the January window when he realises his mistake, and his French national place is in jeopardy whilst warming the bench at Chelsea once Rudiger returns.

If Mina comes good probably no way back for Zouma.

I like Frank Lampard, but are his promises to Zouma built on sand. We shall see.

Always a place for him in my book.

I fully expect a RW and a ST. If no permanent moves materialize I can envisage an interesting loan, perhaps Mariano Diaz from Real Madrid?

Now there is a bet with decent odds!