Man Utd target Branthwaite as Everton eye Maguire

Batten down the hatches. Utter nonsense from the web is about to boil piss to a nuclear level on ToffeeWeb….

Why on earth would Everton trade Branthwaite in part-exchange for a donkey 10 years older?

Isn't Slabhead on around £200k per week?

He's great comedic value but Monty Python videos are much cheaper and won't cost us goals.

Branthwaite is Everton's future, Maguire is Man Utd's past.

I would argue that Everton is the best place for Jarrad to grow as a footballer. Right now, he has an excellent opportunity to stake his claim and keep his spot permanently.

We need more strength in depth to back up and share duties with Branthwaite for a year or so. Maguire's wages and fee don't fit the situation we are in, just get a shrewd loan centre-back in.

I don't think Thelwell will let him go unless a massive offer comes in. Even then, I'd be disappointed as I'd like him to be a leader of a young and progressive Everton team. I see him as a future captain and the talisman of the team as we move forward into the new stadium.

I want the club to feel different, and Branthwaite is part of that vision.

Don't Sell!!!

I'd also prefer Branthwaite to stay and stake a claim for regular first-team duties. If a deal is to be done, it must have nothing that includes Maguire coming in the opposite direction.

I'm not sure that Maguire is as bad as he's been painted by the media in recent times and he would probably suit Dyche's team more than he does Man Utd; however, if he thinks he's going to get anywhere near the salary at Goodison that he gets from United, he won't be coming to Everton.

If Branthwaite is sold, then it's cash we need and cash only, none of this offsetting the fee with loans etc. We always seem to make it easy for the richer clubs to take our best talent at below market value.

Maguire is proven and solidifies the defence immediately. He's a great defender that's wilted under the pressure at Man Utd. He has 4 good years left for sure.

I love Branthwaite – he's quick and left-footed and had a great career ahead of him – probably. But I'd take certainty right now over potential given our current relegation concerns.

Problem is: (i) How could we afford Maguire's wages? and;
(ii) Would he be motivated to play for us?

The time to get Maguire was when Leicester got him from Hull for £12 million, but we spent double that on Keane instead.

The time to not get Maguire is now.

The main Twitter rumour – independent of anything involving BraNthwaite – is that we want to unload Holgate and Keane and bring in Maguire. I

'd be all for it (wage issues aside), but that sounds like way too many moving parts for our, shall we say... "club transfer apparatus" to handle.

I believe that, if we were actually looking to sell Branthwaite, we would have done so already to someone who would have sweetened the pot with a striker or winger.

I pray that the club understands that Branthwaite has good upside, and hopefully we can give him enough playing time that he continues to develop into the player that he can be. Not another player to be sold too early and peak somewhere else.

Hopefully we are late enough in the off-season window that there is no traction to the ridiculous rumors of us shopping Branthwaite, Pickford and Onana (although he who shall not be named is still associated with the club, so anything could be possible).

I hope that Everton was just thrown out as a random destination for Maguire – there would be no upside for us. Too slow, commits fouls too often (and that's even with getting the Man Utd refereeing benefit – recall the non-call to his tackle of Gray in the box last year! – he would be called for many more if he wore Blue).

The most creative player that I have seen at Everton was James – and people complained about his wages! I know that he was injured almost as much as Mina, but:

1) I blame the initial injury on Van Dijk, and
2) He was healthy and ready to go the following year before our bad coach ran him out the door!

I believe that Harry Maguire's wages are even above that James level. If Ten Hag wants to get rid of him, let him, but please let him go somewhere else.

I believe that Holgate will be gone, and Keane will stay (hopefully only as a backup).

You would think that, after having two years where we barely survived, we would be more active earlier in the window, to help build a solid and capable team that is ready to pick up points on opening day, but we continue to be Everton.

Unless it's on loan on the last day, with at least 50% wages subsidy, there is no chance in hell Maguire is coming here. Just press putting pressure on Moyes et al by pretending there is competition.

Now is the wrong time to sell Branthwaite also. He's still only “potential” so there would not be a huge fee. However, if he develops the way we hope he can this season, then next summer he could be the single Richarlison / Gordon bailout. Gotta take a chance on this kid.

If Keane and Holgate are being shifted, we will need competition and backup for Tarkowski. Godfrey can and likely will be 3rd choice but, as we saw last season, injuries elsewhere would take him away as an option. Look towards Chelsea, MandCity benches / youth and look for another “Zouma loan” – would be my bet.

Bill, you answer, partly, your own question.

One word: Everton.

How would Tarkowski look in the Man Utd defence? He'd be ridiculed for sure.

Maguire would be, in my opinion, an excellent signing — if he was to take a massive cut in wages.

Keep Branthwaite though.

I hope that this is just a rumour with no foundation. Young Branthwaite looks to be a tremendous prospect and Maguire is surplus to requirements and on ridiculous wages.

Strong words needed from the club to reinforce our 'transfer policy' which would be good for us all to hear.

Pure click bait. First we don't have £20M. Second we can't afford those wages. The end.

Perfect window so far for Kenwright – we've been linked with everyone, but haven't spent a bean.

In fact, we're the only team in the Premier League, alongside West Ham and Palace, yet to actually open our wallet. One loan, one free so far.

Ten days til the start of the season.

Not a hope in hell Maguire will come here, not if he has a choice anyway.

Regarding the speculation and constant links, it seems to me that the Saudi league hoovering up various players has stalled the usual Premier League business as players (and clubs) wait to see if bids might come in.

Greedy players and agents can smell the money. It could be busy on deadline day when the muddied water might have cleared.

Utter nonsense.

And sorry Michael, had to laugh: 'the only team not to spend money' then names two others who haven't in the next part of the sentence, lol.

I'd be more frustrated if a West Ham fan. £100M in the bank and hadn't lined up anyone to replace Rice when they've known he was going for months. Similar to our situation with Lukaku.

I've heard West Ham are looking at Muller, Dan.

Dan #19.

Three teams equates to about a seventh, or roughly 14% of the Premier League. So, as you say, it is quite funny when anyone, not just Michael, say stuff like “We're the only team, apart from” etc.

It's like when you ask someone “What's the team for today?” And they reply “Same as last week, except for X X X in for Y Y Y”. So it's not the same team as last week then!! 😁😁😁

Apologies to the pedants on here, perhaps I should have said "we, along with West Ham and Palace, are the only teams not to have spent any money this season". Which is obviously what I meant.

The thought of this being true brought to mind a saying of somebody long gone, "Lighthouses". This really would be the end.

Is it comedy, tragedy or nightmare season? Probably all 3, but my initial reaction was to laugh...

I'll go back to sleep and hope not to wake on 1 April again.

It's nonsense, Maguire won't come here and we cant afford him, end of.

As far as Branthwaite is concerned, I don't see Dyche giving him a lot of playing time. I've not seen much of the lad to judge him but obviously it is a risk if he does pick him, I just don't see him playing in the early part of the season.

The problem for any club these days is the player and the agent. If a player wishes to move on, what is the point of a club hanging on to him? Everton have suffered this in the past.

I think Branthwaite has stated he would like to move on.
I see Man Utd have given Johnny Evans a 1-year contract…
Would we take Maguire on loan? I think many fans would.

John, I think Jarrad wants to play football more than anything else, and be given the opportunity.

“It felt brilliant. It was my first game of pre-season, so it was nice to get minutes on the pitch again and to play in front of the fans. [Training has] been good. It's been tough, like I expected. We need to get up to speed, especially the ones who came in late, as quick as we can, so we're ready for the new season. We've been in hard sessions and double sessions, but I'm enjoying it”

He said: “Every time I step on the pitch, I have to give a good account of myself. I know I'm good enough to play in the team, so every time I step over that white line, I give everything to put in good performances. Hopefully, the manager has a decision to make for the first game of the season.”

Sounds to me like he would be happy to stay, it's down to him to stake his claim and become a fixture. He is is very confident in his ability to deliver. They'll be another opportunity to impress against Sporting. In my opinion a full 45-game season maybe too much at this stage, he will need managing well this season.

Neil (3), thanks for the laugh!

I don't see young Jarrad is any more of a risk than anyone else we've got.

Neil @ 3, quality post.

As well as Maguire's comedy defending, he is also bloody slow. The defensive line will be setting up on the 6-yard box.

Let's give Jarrad a go.

Michael @ 22, don’t worry.

I somehow said in a post that every team in the world had 4-5 rhinos in the squad. Took some doing but I managed to pull it off.

I'm expecting that Branthwaite will become first choice partner to Tarkowski over the course of the season. Dyche has developed a lot of defenders in his time: Mee, Keane, Tarkowski and Trippier – and I can see him doing good things with Branthwaite.

As for Maguire, probably nonsense, but really he's a good player (consistently strong for England) – and would easily be our best centre-back by some distance. He's not Ferdinand, Vidic or Stam – which is why he's just not good enough for Man Utd. But he's very much Jagielka, Lescott, Distin standard which is why (alas) he's more than good enough for us.

Maguire's not coming in any case, but he's so bad he keeps getting picked for England.

Branthwaite's for the future, I don't think Dyche is noted for taking too many risks. I do remember he got sent off against Brentford and, as I said before, I can't judge how good he is because I've seen little of him.

I hope I'm wrong and he plays brilliant because we do need another quality centre-back.

Raymond,

Another way to look at it is that Dyche is known for developing players. As well as the defenders I mentioned, he also developed Pope (after selling Heaton) and McNeil (as a teenager) into very good players.

Since the alternatives are Keane and Godfrey, I don't think Dyche will view Branthwaite as high risk.

Just read a report that Everton have firmly said Jarrad is not for sale.

As for Maguire, he is best mates with Pickford and was best man at his wedding but that counts for very little in the grand scheme of things.

Robert talking sense, as usual. Maguire is a very good player and on loan would be very useful.

No, no, no, no, no!!!!

The lad should shoot the rumours down himself. Just play a season for us, prove you are Premier League ready, then if you are a success you will get a bigger better deal and so will Everton.

He's not going to play for Man Utd this season if he goes.

Come on… shut this down!

I get the shuddering over Maguire but it is probably overblown. I just don't want him since we could get by without him. It would mean maybe a place or two in the table when all is said and done.

I think the upside of the rumour is that Man Utd just made Branthwaite more valuable before the season has even started.

Just looking at the outs:-

1. Begovic
2. Townsend
3. Coady
4. Vinagre
5. Mina
6. Davies
7. Simms
8. Nkounkou
9. Gibson
10. Samuels-Smith
11. Price

Pending
12. Cannon
13. Gomes
14. Gbamin
15. Gray
16. Holgate

That's a huge number of players going out through the door, when we finished the season with 8 subs & 2 keepers. You could throw in Alli, Maupay as well to leave (18 players).

Out of contract next summer:

1. Lonergan
2. Young
3. Coleman
4. Iwobi
5. Alli
6. Gomes
7. Gbamin
8. Gueye
9. Danjuma
10. Gray

Some are repeated above – but the squad is incredibly thin, and with so many with only 12 months left on their contracts, it could be a challenge… Are the players going to be putting their bodies on the line at the end of next season?

I would like to see us go for Axel Tuanzebe who was released by Man Utd.

He's played well in the Championship for a few years now, and worth a punt (being an upgrade on Holgate IMO).

I hope this news is just the usual newspaper bollocks!

Personally I think Jerry Maguire is probably a better centre-back.

Everyone knows all over Europe that the lad is one of the best prospects around. It will be hard to keep him long-term, if he fulfils his potential

The Man Utd rumours should double down our determination to keep him. It's not just Man Utd, if we said he was for sale, many clubs will come calling.

As for the lad himself, why would you not be thinking "I'll get more games at Everton, I'll progress more, prove more, then be ready for when the big moves come calling"?

It would be a shame to see him go to a team like Man Utd, get lost in the massive squad, be just another young talent they have snapped up.

Money talks, and if they offer enough then it will probably happen, no matter how many times we say he's not for sale.
If this lad had a breakthrough season with us this time, he's potentially worth £40-50M.

They are probably offering £15M with loads of add-ons.
Make a stand, say "Come back next year!!"

The media bullshit season is pumping out more spew.

Why would Everton be looking to offload one of their genuine best prospects in years for a deal to bring in Maguire? But who really knows what's happening within Everton?

But we live in hope for a few more signings before the end of this window so Sean Dyche can hopefully start the season with some resilience in attack and midfield.

UTFTs!

Christy. Yes Jerry Hammerhead Maguire is probably a better centre-back today. He's also getting paid 20x the wages. Won't be better in 1 - 2 years.

You would rather have Maguire? Do you honestly think there is space in Finch Farm for his massive bonce? Nah, come on...
Shortermism strikes again!!!

If we could get Maguire on loan (paying £80-100k per week of his wages) it would make sense as a strong partner to either Tarkowski or Branthwaite.

But by all accounts, that's not an option as United want £25M+ for him. Exactly the sort of move Everton of 3 years ago might well have made. Happily it seems today we may have belatedly turned the corner and are acting more sensibly and with more regard to the future.

I would have happily bought Salisu for £12M though!

It's a very slim chance, but not entirely impossible that it could happen. It is likely that Maguire is settled in the North-West, he has his family here, two young kids, his wife is probably settled with friends. Jordan Pickford and his family are close if Maguire being his best man is anything to go by.

Sometimes family stability and happiness trumps chasing an extra few million. A £10 million payoff from Man Utd and a lower wage at Everton may be acceptable. I mean what difference does it make having £30M in the bank or £50M? Does it matter in the scheme of things?

As far as Premier League security goes, this would be a major positive. It's a move that could achieve more, in the way of a cup run, or dare I say it… success. A core central defence team of Tarkowski, Branthwaite and Maguire is a solid base.

Perfectly happy if Maguire comes in - Not happy if Branthwaite goes - Full stop

Why do we fall victim to the endless rumours every year?

Back in the day, we had to buy the English papers a day late on holiday; now it's the frantic scrolling through of dodgy internet sites for news of who we are 'in for'.

This summer has been all about our 'talks' with Gnonto and a deal getting ever closer, Harry Kane going to Bayern, the red shite's Saudi exodus and on and on it goes. Now this – the other (in)famous Harry is being linked to us in a swap deal for one of our brighter prospects. No thanks.

Roll on 12 August, when the real business starts!

It would be so Everton for Chairman Bill to sign Maguire on a big £200k a week contract and then see him lose his appeal against his 21-month jail sentence in Cyprus. Oh and send our most promising emerging talent in the opposite direction into the bargain.

The bargain being for cash-strapped billionaire club Man Utd, not Blue Bill's creation, plucky little Everton, that is.

This is just what worries me.

We let a very promising young player watch on from the bench, if we don't let him go, while instead we play another aging Man Utd reject which seems to fit in with the manager's reputation, rightly or not, of not giving opportunity to young players.

I have a different concern on this one.

Assuming Jarrad remains at Everton, are we putting too much expectation on the shoulders of a just turned 21-year-old centre-back? Very young, especially for a centre back. If we're not careful, he becomes the next Tom Davies or John Stones as the pitchforks come out after a few bad performances or dip in form. Especially in a struggling team where the defence is put under a lot of pressure.

He should be managed carefully. Different position, but look how Guardiola managed Foden when the masses were calling for him to play every week. Gradual introduction until he was ready to play regularly. Okay, the obvious and logical counter to that will be that Man City had the luxury of a quality squad blessed with numbers. We don't. I get that, but the principle is the same. If we are going to play young players, be patient with them. He has gained experience with PSV, but will still be learning.

Harry Maguire, I can't contradict my previous views. I've always called him a more expensive Michael Keane.

JUST FUCKIN Nooooooooooo

Mr Kenwright has, over the years, turned Everton into a retirement home for Man Utd rejects. We will never rid ourselves of this man until his biological clock stops ticking.

I agree, Don, Harry Maguire is not only error prone, he is a total tosser.

Anyone remember the "Do you know who I am, I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money" when on holiday in Greece? Not to mention his kneeslide goal celebration playing for England against the world dominators Albania.

I draw the line here. I will not support an Everton team with that arsehole on the field, it's been hard enough with Kenwright for decades.

I know its desperate times and such, but I hope we're not that desperate to take one or both of Maguire or Barkley.

From what little we've seen of Branthwaite, he was a better bet than Maguire before he went to Holland

I know ‘logic” and Kenwright or Moshiri rarely go hand in hand, but Slab head is on £200k a week. There is no way in hell we are paying even half that. If we were able to, Iwobi would already be tied down for another 3-4 years.

Small chance they value Branthwaite high enough that they'd offer us a swap, and pay him off in a way he'd be easily able to half demands, but then it's highly unlikely they'd throw a sweetener in too, so why the hell would we straight swap the two?

It winds me up when fans say “done with Everton” as I never could. But I'll be done with Dyche if he put the likes of Maguire over Jarrad moving forward.

Get rid of Holgate, go and find someone young on fringes of the Man City, Chelsea or Real Madrid first teams and bring them in on loan with an option to buy. Simple. With Welch and Keane as extra cover that's okay. Both Mykolenko and Coleman can play central too.

Spend anything else we have on attack.

Will we ever learn?

Our current dire financial problems have been caused by buying so called established players, (a la Maguire) on unsustainable contracts and we have been rinsed. I do hope that this rumour, is just that, a rumour, with no credence whatsoever.

I'm not convinced by Thelwell or Dyche's tactics or recruitment strategy. When Brands was appointed as director of football he should have been allowed to pursue the strategy he was appointed to do, instead he was undermined by Moshiri and Kenwrights lunacy in appointing a slew of managers who have royally fucked us over on every level.

I have little or no optimism for the season ahead given the hearing in October, a poor squad, a desperate recruitment strategy and a ownership issue that is far from resolved. Our only hope is that there a number of teams who are possibly worse than us.

In a crowded field, this is the daftest transfer 'rumour' so far. More chance of us knitting fog than signing Maguire.

Ed #59 "Will we ever learn?"

Ed, I can understand somebody saying that if we'd bought him. But we haven't. So why say it?

Brent, you beat me to it. There’s nothing to learn with this one, as it simply won’t happen.

Meanwhile, Demarai Gray has now missed training for the last three days, according to the red echo anyway, as he awaits his transfer to Fulham. Isn’t this a bit like Anthony Gordon going AWOL, or has the club given him permission to miss training? If not, then surely a breach of contract?

There is also the fact that his retrial in Greece, has been put back to February 2024 from June 2023.

WE have all these so called football managers on this forum spouting drivel about one player or other.
Some believe they know more than the current England Manager, for god sake.
If Branthwaite is that good, he would be playing first team football, he simply is not, end of.

John, he played first team football all last season.

John, Branthwaite might just progress from that Eindhoven "junior" side, pethaps?? Not the end of, yet. Admittedly, he hasn't yet featured in this season's first team Premier League games.

Why on earth are we considering selling Branthwaite ? He’s a young lad who can only improve with experience, he’ll be worth a shed load more in 3/4yrs time barring injuries. Also why are we looking at 30yr old with no sell on value ? does this club never learn build for the future with young pacy players, signing old has beens is just a short term fix we’ve been on too long now.

Ed 59, Maguire wont come to Everton, also you don't know what our recruitment stratagy is. In fact we are guessing most of the time about anything that goes on inside the club.
Ok very often the best policy is for the club to stay stum thats understandable, thats where the guesswork comes in.

They have to do the best they can in the transfer market, we are not exactly an attractive destination at this time, they can have good targets to go for but then its down to the player.
Our status now is the reason we end up paying over the odds in transfers and contracts.

Off topic, but Dele taking his preferred No.20 squad number must suggest they’re going to give him a go?

Terry # 67……two points…

1)….we are not considering selling Branthwaite
2)….we are not looking at Maguire.

Not going to happen in my view. The only action in or out in the next couple of days will be Gray's exit.

I hope DCL gets more minutes at the weekend which puts him in a position to start next weekend.

I am not expecting us to shoot the lights out in the coming months but a points total of 45+ is possible.

Dyche was clear after the Bournmouth game that massive change was needed at Everton.

He must be fuming. We go into the new season in a week's time with no striker, our best player injured, Demarai Gray no longer training with the team according to reports, Coady gone, Branthwaite possibly going, Coleman still injured, Mina gone, Simms gone, Begovic gone, Tom Davies gone, Gbamin and Gomes still on the books but not in our plans, Holgate still here but not in our plans, and only a 38 year old defender in on a free, and a player who turned us down six months ago in on loan.

Kenwright and Moshiri still at the helm, no sign of the new investment, and even our kids Isaac Price and Samuels-Smith have fucked off, with Mills and Cannon going out on loans.

I'm angry, but Dyche must be fucking furious.

Rob #70, yes but why are we considereing selling Branthwaite?! And why consider signing Maguire?! What can't I understand?!

Gotta laugh, Rob. Why spoil a good rant?!

Brent….I assume it’s the usual rags and various websites doing Man Utd’s buying and selling for them, buy promising youngsters from other clubs, then sell their cast offs as part of a player exchange.

Michael, that's management. Dyche has had a say in outgoings and he will surely have a say on incomings.
In every club, managers will be juggling in similar ways.
Sean is used to it after years of it at Burnley.

Hopefully we get the required bodies in to see us through to January, when we might look in better health with investment and progress on the park. Then we might be a more attractive destination.

One nice touch would be to take the players to the Bramley- Moore Dock site for a photo opportunity to illustrate to the football world just where an Everton player will be plying his trade in the near future.

It looks like we are building for survival with experienced players rather than any vast improvement in great quality. It would be great to get in the 19-year-old kid, play him in the first team, and he fires us into a good league position with plenty of goals.

Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and even Nottm Forest are splashing the cash, how is that they don't fall foul of P&S rules? Or are they within their financial boundaries?

Too often I am disappointed by the management at Everton, and were we to consider replacing young Branthwaite with an over-priced, and over-paid reject from Manchester United, it would be further evidence of a club without a clear and consistent policy for player development and recruitment.

Maguire is clearly not wanted by Man Utd, if they want a younger replacement, then let them consider Mason Holgate, who I understand is surplus to requirements at Goodison Park.

But surely common sense has to prevail and, in our circumstances, we should not be considering any player who has a contract with the reported terms that Maguire has.

Please, please just issue a club statement which says very clearly "No Thank You".

This has to be a joke.
If not, then we are truly lost.

There aren't words to describe this.

Just thought! Man Utd want rid of Van de Beek. £15M or even loan to buy? May be worth a second punt, after his loan spell… if he stays fit?

Mal, hope not. He was completely ineffective imo. He’s only played 22 games in the last 3 seasons.

Mal, 76, our problem with P&S is that we have consistently been losing around £100M per season.

Last season, it was reduced to £45M loss with the sale of Richarlison on the last day, but was really a £95M loss without that sale.

Not advocating buying yet another Man Utd reject; however, in fairness, I thought he was one of our better players in the World Cup.

Maguire?? Erm please no! Unless we loan him and pay him £20k/week (Man Utd covering the other £180k he's on!).

If Man Utd rejected a £20M bid from West Ham for Maguire, we definitely won't have enough in the tank to sign him so I'm more relaxed about this nonsense of a rumour. (How the mighty have fallen for Maguire – from £80M fee / £200k pw, Champions League football, now to being linked with us and West Ham!).

Branthwaite – happy to sell to Man Utd… in about 2 years time for £60M!

Mal #76,

Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea have huge turnover compared to us and sell players at a profit.

Forest is a really interesting P & S case.

Who knows if those kids are good enough yet?

I like many will be taking some calming pills and not getting over-excited either way about transfer speculation.

We have Sporting tomorrow and then, more importantly, Fulham next week.

Whoever takes to the pitch in a Royal Blue shirt is representing Everton and we want them to win.

Don't listen to the nonsense about us quoting Man Utd £25m for Branthwaite. The same reporter for 'Football Insider' (inverted commas deliberate as the only thing he has been inside of is his mum's basement) was quoted at beginning of the summer that we had priced PSV out of buying Branthwaite asking for £6M.

It is just clickbait nonsense.

Is the following too much to share from Wolves' chairman Jeff Shi, or is it correct to keep the fans fully informed?

I can't imagine our board past or present, giving so much information out in one foul swoop, although it appears that Wolves are treading a very fine line between good Public Relations and gross mis-management on an Everton scale.

The letter is quite long, but it does indicate some of the issues that face most of the Premier League clubs as we await the new season to open next week.

To manage the evolution of a squad is not easy and we can’t make every signing right, however patience, composure and a long-term view is crucial, for growth of players and for the build of a squad over time.

“The Premier League is very unpredictable and challenging, especially with new types of ownership at some clubs bringing unprecedented investment, with excellent people coming to this league as our competitors and also in a post-covid global economy. However, I am very confident in our squad, but we do need to be humble with a challenger attitude, as if it was our first Premier League season all over again.

“In my experience, the performance on the pitch is not only defined by simple additions of players, but by team spirit, chemistry, momentum, morale, leadership, tactics, training, hard work and a variety of other factors. It is more about how we assemble, incentivise and guide the squad, therefore the work from the head coach and all the staff supporting him is also crucial.

“Our head coach has undoubtedly done an excellent job since joining us last November. We hired him and his team at a very difficult moment and without a doubt they succeeded in the aims we set for them. Now, together with the players and all support staff, they are working hard again to prepare for the upcoming campaign.

“Throughout the last seven seasons, I have never had a month where everything was perfect. The reality of running a football club is to continuously face issues and challenges, and then tackle them with solutions. FFP is one of the more short-term and benign challenges we have faced. The club has gone through much more difficult tests in the past and will do so again in the future. However, we are still progressing every day, because we never lose; we win or we learn, as one pack.”

Wolves Chair outlines FFP issues

Barry #87, there's no information in that, it's all 'corporate speak' or as we used to play in project management meetings, "Bullshit Bingo" to see who could get the most meaningless buzzwords into a sentence.

Everton already said weeks ago that Branthwaite is going nowhere.

There again… who believes anything that the club says? I only trust what Dyche says.

Eric @88,

It may be full of management speak, but I don't recall anybody from Everton spelling out the issues that P&S causes, and even when in breach of said rules, still no word about it from the club.

Of course, because Everton has to face a hearing in October, it doesn't come as a surprise that the 'silence is golden' mode comes into play.

I do think that the Wolves chair is trying to stop its current manager from jumping ship, and therefore, there is a good reason to 'tell the fans' about the club's current stance.

The main point of my putting it on here was to alert our fans to the difficulties of recruiting and retaining good or very good players; we've made a mess of it, but it's not easy to operate in such difficult circumstances unless you have incredible sponsorship deals already in place.

Bullshit Bingo doesn't he manage our cousins?

I'm not sure he spells anything out other than that they are essentially trying to stay up on a shoe string. Does that need spelling out for us?

Surely we all know that is what we are trying to do whilst getting the stadium built? Anyone who thinks our goal is to challenge for European spots anymore is sorely mistaken.

Dan @92,

I agree completely; however, a fair number of fans continue to berate Everton and its failure, so far, to attract the players that we'd all like to see wearing the Everton shirt.

I'm already resigned to not fighting in the top-half of the table and possibly with a fairly impotent strike-force compared to other sides in the Premier League.

I think it's fair game to moan about what has happened in the last few years but, despite that, we all need to comprehend that we too, like so many other sides are playing the survival game.

I hear Marry Haguire is available on a free.

Sean @94,

Conversely, one of West Ham's news sites is reporting that Maguire and McTominay are set to join the Hammers. Mind you, that was before noon today, so it's anybody's guess what the truth is.

“West Ham have started the process of signing Manchester United pair Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay by giving them long-distance medicals,” Nixon claims on his Patreon account.

John 26.

"Would we take Maguire on loan? I think many fans would."

I'll tell you what you can do with him, put him in your fantasy football team and don't let him anywhere near Everton. He Is a carthorse and no better than Keane.

Anyone at Everton taking him should be sacked, and that includes Thelwell.

I think that the notion the club would come out and publicly deny a transfer rumour from ‘transfer insider' is absolutely mad. If they commented on every BS rumour on the internet they be working 24-7.

As for Branthwaite, I'd be trying to tie him down to an extension. If he doesn't sign one in the next 6 months, we have a decision to make. And he's under no obligation to sign. We have to gamble he does well this season and sees a longer term plan at Everton or he does well and clubs pay more than £25 million for him. Other side of the coin is that this time next year he'll have 12 months left on his contract and the player and his agent will be firmly in the driving seat.

For what it's worth, I don't think Maguire is a bad option. He's clearly out of favour at Utd but many many a good player has wilted at Old Trafford. He was very good at Leicester and remains solid for England. That said any deal would have to be on our terms….:. ie, loan with Man Utd heavily subsidising the wages. However, these things very rarely seem to be on our terms. So if it's not possible to find a solution that suits us in our current mess move on.

If we ever even held any interest in the first place.

Any statement our club made, no matter what it said, regarding anything at all, would be picked to pieces and the club slagged rotten on here.

Best they just keep their traps shut.

Brain, TBF Moshiri said a striker would be arriving in January, Bill would be leaving 3 weeks time (over 2 months ago and its always been that way under the Kenwright decades. Who can't forget Rooney won't be sold for 50 million. Well he was correct there as it was 25.

Rob Halligan 70
You were saying ? It looks like things are moving closernow, Never trust a word that comes EFC they’d sell the seat you sit in if they could

This is how much United value Maguire, they’re trying to get rid of him but they’re offering 58year old Jonny Evans a one year contract. Imagine if we binned Tarks or Keane and brought in Evans? TW would implode.

Brian (99) Correct.

Cough "bullsh" cough

Made up.

a straight swap then, their ageing carthorse for our bright. young thing?
this feels like its got legs.

My exact sentiments Kevin (105), whilst I realise it is hopefully lazy journalism, I really could see us swapping the up and coming Branthwaite on £3.50 a week for the aged, slow, mistake-riddled knobhead thug on £200,000 a week that is Maguire.

Everton that. Branthwaite isn't settled on the bench and so they sell him for £50M after a year and have made a huge profit on him and got rid of the carthorse's wages.

Great! Get donkey maguire in - flog off another defender who can actually play football (stones anyone?)and we end up with a
keane/maguire combo! Now-what could possibly go wrong there ? Branthwaite is a future in front no.6.

Has to be journo nonsense surely.

I can't see our director of football imagining a pairing of Maguire and Tarkowski. I can't see Dyche going for that either.

Terry # 101,

I'm not trusting the word of Everton, I'm trusting the word of someone who knows Branthwaite's family, and is in fact a very close friend of Jarrad's dad.

Obviously, I can't vouch for us looking at Maguire, but I doubt very much he will join us.

Press say Everton want Maguire in loan and are prepared to sell Branthwaite.

Immediately gobbled up and spat out as 100% truth and the club are a shambles etc.

There's a tiny chance that we don't sell Branthwaite or loan Maguire… but why let common sense get in the way of absolute rage?

As it stands I'd be shocked if any club would take Maguire. He is all over the place at the moment. Mental health issues there in my view, he needs some help.

I also can't see we'd be able to afford Laporte so that rumour will be nonsense too.

If Laporte is available he's going to get better offers than Everton

West Ham £30M for Maguire – so thankfully that is us out!

Rice money burning a hole in their pocket…

Mancs will probably dangle that £30M fee they receive in front of our noses next week.