Manchester United looking to sign “former Everton flop” for £45M

I don't think it made him a bad player. Wrong place, wrong club, wrong time.

I'm still not sure where United are finding all of this money from with there spiralling debts, unpaid transfer fees and no European football for at least a season.

They must be trending on PSR/FFP egg shells further down stream?

What’s to say he won’t do the same thing a second time around?

Or is it too easy to simply put it down to incompetence and arrogance of the previous Moshiri & Kenwright regime when it came to picking the right players who would work amidst their managerial merry-go-round?

Good job we can be confident now that Moyes will do a much better job… Roysten Drenthe, Per Krøldrup and "Shandy" Andy van der Merde notwithstanding!

Makes you curious what steps if any are taken to assess the personality of the players beyond what might be gleaned from just talking to them? I mean, I just can't see them being given personality tests ahead of a bid being made, so I wonder just how they go about making sure the player's personality traits are going to be a good fit with the rest of the team, the club, the setting, the whole environment?

I imagine, even in this modern age, it's still a crapshoot — made more difficult by the diverse challenges of language and culture. How do you spot a rum'un?

I'll happily acknowledge that he could have been better given a run in the team and time to mature and acclimate to his new surroundings.

But then I remember watching his performance in that home loss to Sheff Utd. He wasn't just bad, he was stroppy and barely moved. Half the time he was stood offside complaining.

I posted on here at the time that he'd never be an Everton player.

I remember Duncan Ferguson brought him on as a substitute and then substituted him.

I cannot remember any aspect of his game that showed any talent. Maybe he has got better, but not for me, I would prefer Beto any day.

None of them fitted the Everton way.

Signing a player that young is always something of a gamble, and of course the club needs to provide proper support but, in the final analysis, it's down to the player himself to grow into the job.

Kean and Ademola Lookman, whom I loved, were two perfect examples of young men who just didn't get it yet. And it's not like either of them blossomed when Everton gave up on them -- they both struggled for a couple more years at subsequent clubs before finally figuring things out and blossoming into stars. We couldn't have waited for either one.

Growing up is an unpredictable process. Takes some kids longer than others, and some never get there. Good on Kean, as with Lookman, for finally getting it.

I've relocated several times. Doesn't always work, sometimes I settled quickly, sometimes I didn't settle at all, sometimes I struggled work-wise, sometimes it was a breeze.

Money helps, but it doesn't always determine how you settle into a new place.

He was a player that the fans genuinely wanted to succeed, given his reputation as the next big thing, but he never came close.

Then, when not playing, he gave every impression of not giving a shit. Repeatedly.

I gather that he had some family baggage behind the scenes, involving his father, and ofc he was a young kid really, but plenty of other young kids have moved abroad and thrived whilst others fall behind and stop bothering. It's an old story.

Not really given a good go at Goodison, maybe his attitude wasn't 100% but he was young and needed to settle.

He wasn't given a chance at all. I can't remember Kean ever getting a run of say 10 games in a row. He was hardly used.

But Calvert-Lewin could go months without a goal and still not get dropped.

All players mature and develop at different ages. A bit like growing up in general. Some are more ready young; others take a bit longer and a bit of patience. He wasn't ready when he came to Everton, but we did well out of it.

Maybe now, in his mid-20s (?), and with a few league titles and cup winners medals under his belt with Juventus and PSG, as well as Champions League football, he is better equipped to try the Premier League again.

Chelsea let Salah, Lukaku and De Bruyne move on… and the rest is history.

I played with many superbly talented players at youth level and most just took it for granted and thought they were it but would show up late for training and have a bit of arrogance about them knowing they had the talent to get picked for the team.

I played with John Bailey and John had a good left foot but nothing more except graft, fitness and that determination to succeed.

Getting to the top nowadays requires super fitness and application and I doubt Kean will make it even though he has improved in the last few years.

Some young men remain teenagers into their mid-twenties and during that time, they are high maintenance.

My mean side says he is too soft for the Premier League.

In 2019-20 season (remember that one? Carlo. Covid) he started 6 games and came on in 22 others. And that was it. Next season - 2 sub appearances. 2 goals in 847 minutes.

Signed him too early - but didn't look after him despite Marcel Brands promise to his mother so he did not develop and we did not sell him for a massive profit which is what Brands was hoping would happen.

I think we all gave him (Kean that is) a lot of stick on here.

He was young and I don't think he was managed very well. But no one complained when he left.

(Long may it continue)

Anyway, It's a short career Moisey, so if you you really need to, grab the money with both hands - but I wouldn't touch them with a 10ft pole.

£1 billion in debt a crumbling stadium and lots of average players on £300k + per week. Sir Jim sacking the tea lady and asking for money to rebuild.

Glazers got control because SAF sued previous owners McManus and Magnier over some breeding rights and won. The sold to the 'Merican leprechaun who has bled the club dry.

Apart from that I don't give a rat's arse who they buy

I know we've had catastrophic transfers, but the amount they've pissed away (Pogba, Sancho etc.) beggars belief.

Could have probs landed Branthwaite had they bid closer to the £70 instead of goosing over £90 million on two centre halfs not fit to lace Branthwaite boots.

Good luck if they land Kean for £45 Million, personally I would not even pay half that fee for the guy.

Nice to see another team screw up on transfers for a change.

Yes he was young and no it's not easy to adapt but he became a millionaire and wanted to party and play like many young people do.

Physically strong, mentally week.
No chance Utd would take a chance but I'll laugh my 'clock off' if he does.

Nothing personal, he does have talent but I can't see him ever becoming anything other than a journeyman footballer chasing the money.

Magnier and McManus would be very much like that.They would have had a Gentleman's agreement with Ferguson and would have seen it as a attempt by Ferguson to shaft them.You don't attempt to shaft them guys and get away within.Man United have suffered the fallout ever since.

Was talking to a Liverpool Supporter today who was at a corporate event at Old Trafford. After being entertained they were taken down to the Changing room s and kitted out.Next thing they were walking down the tunnel to the Pitch.He thought they are not going to let us onto the Pitch.To his shock and amazement they had a kick around on the pitch and putting the ball into the nets.He told me that some of them had availed of too much refreshments and could have not cared less about football.For him he just thought that the Club had no understanding or cared about the Club 's tradition and the pitch was not considered hallowed turf.

When he got home he wrote a letter to the Liverpool Board detailing his experience and he asked them never to let such a thing happen at Anfield.

Income is the primary focus of any professional club. If that includes letting some half-cut fat cats loose on the pitch every now and then what is the harm? They won’t do any damage.

Everton commercially are a long way off on income generation.

Our owners' enterprises generated $11 billion in revenues last year. That's almost as much as US Steel, Telecom Italia or Singapore Airlines.

The Friedkins are going to turn Everton and the new stadium into a highly productive enterprise.

Or to be more accurate, how much is Roma losing?

Roma was spiraling toward bankruptcy when the Friedkins bought them in 2020, and their second-year gambles to reach Champions League revenues failed (Tammy Abraham et al), so according to the Swiss Ramble (https://swissramble.substack.com/p/as-roma-finances-202324), as of December 2024 they are still under FFP regulations due to the deficits going back to the previous ownership.

Revenues have risen steadily since the Friedkins took over -- a record €254 million in the last financial year, including 57 straight sellouts at Stadio Olimpico and commercial revenue rising 49% year-over-year -- and losses are steadily decreasing, but they are still losing money. Last fiscal year the number was €76m.

They have an overhanging net financial debt estimated at €432m, including shareholder loans that are expected to be converted to equity.

Serie A TV revenues suck compared to the PL (and are actually shrinking), so the only quick way to get out of debt in Serie A is to make the Champions League. And Roma can't seem to get higher than 6th.

Roma also face a potential fine of up to €34 million due to a financial police investigation into capital gains in their financial statements going back to 2016 (the previous owners were pretty skanky).

So to sum up, Roma contributed sub-zero to TFG's revenues last year, and while the financial picture is improving there, they have a ways to go, due largely to being stuck under FFP.

Everton's upside is much higher due to the new stadium, new sponsorships coming and no meaningful debt or legal overhangs. But let's face it, we won't be in the CL money this season either.

Roma Finances

Wages make up 80% of their income which is down from 104% so moving in the right direction.

TFG have owned Roma for 4 years and have still not turned them around so I don't expect ovwrnight change to happen with us. Steady progress will be the name of the game.

One component of that is not sacking the manager every 5 minutes which has happened at Roma.

And I'm bewildered by your contention that TFG have not turned Roma around. By every measurable metric, they have done exactly that. Revenues are up, losses are down, value of the club is up (about 20% since 2021, per Forbes), and looming bankruptcy is a distant memory.

The job ain't done, but there has certainly been a major turnaround.

Everton is in much better shape financially than Roma was after seven months of Friedkin ownership, but not nearly as good shape on the field.

And you are definitely right that steady progress is what we should expect, nothing more, nothing less.

Did you look at that chart? It's a very narrow bar, by far the smallest income generator on the chart, and is less than last year.

It also shows that their revenue was much the same as last year while their costs have gone up, resulting in a greater loss.

The anomaly in the figures though is 'other income' which is more than doubled. Perhaps they sold a lot of lawnmowers?

But my point is you can't say that because TFG have an $11 billion dollar turnover that all will be rosy in the garden Everton wise.

It makes such a difference to have Professional Management in place. The Glaziers are just money men taking what they can in comparison.Even a pitch tour will be different.

Eric#64

Gradual change with a few steps back.Everton are heading in the right direction as are Roma Both Club were clearly badly Managed over a long period and still would have the remnants of duff Management in their ranks.I recently was listening to a American Private Equity Sports buyout Manager .He talked about consistency in Management and use of data.He took outside data analysis with a pinch of salt , simply saying they did not have the true data.This suggests a shrewd long term approach .I think that TFG are more about this long term blanket approach, whilst the Glaziers are just asset exploiters with no long-term approach regarding the Club playing.The Glazier /Radcliffe situation being more like the Kenwright /Moshiri approach.Ratcliffe may be different is capability ,but he does not have majority control..

I am more akin to Mikes attitude, (which he was confident of even when they were first mentioned) to TFG and have been from the start.I have expected gradual progress and see Moyes as a aim for consistency whilst change is being effected.Things will move on after that stage. I also think that TFG have learn't a lot from their Roma experience and this will benefit Everton.

Seria A is going through a strange period anyway , whilst the Premier League seems to be going from strength to strength.

Klopp took up a position as Head of Global Football for the Red Bull Group, so if this has legs

My only reservation is that I note the original source is an Italian newspaper. They are notorious, worse than some of our media outlets, for starting a speculative rumour from scratch to see if it catches on.

Danny, just what I thought about being related to Klopp in some way!