The Rumour Mill

Blues close to snapping up Naismith

01/07/2012 |

Comments (32)

There is increasing chatter that Everton are on the verge of tying up the signing of Steven Naismith who is a free agent after rejecting the chance to have his contract transferred to the Rangers newco that remains in limbo following the liquidation of the former Glasgow giants.

On the heels of the BBC reporting that Everton were leading the pack to sign the 25 year-old, rumours are gathering pace on Merseyside that the Blues have won the race and will reunite Naismith with his former partner, Nikica Jelavic, if things go as planned.

Apart from the usual legal matters, the Scottish forward's recent anterior cruciate knee ligament injury will make the medical that is he rumoured to be undergoing at Finch Farm this weekend more than a mere formality.

Original Source: Rumour source ranking:
1 = Poor; 2 = Fair; 3 = Good; 4 = Very Good; Empty (grey) = Unranked

Reader Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

James Flynn
630 Posted 01/07/2012 at 02:37:58

OK, got it regarding his ACLs. Who's seen him play and what does he bring to the table?

Roberto Birquet
631 Posted 01/07/2012 at 02:54:00

James
Do you mean the treatment table? And ACLs, er what?

Roberto Birquet
632 Posted 01/07/2012 at 02:56:00

You've gotta love the Mirror as well. They have a one-paragraph piece on Baines to United. They say Everton value him at £15 million. The Mirror said £20 million only yesterday; yeah, I know the Sunday Mirror is nominally a different rag, but the journos probably work at the same desks and that's quite a jump in one day. Did the paper not claim Baines might be leaving for £5 million quite recently?

Just goes to show how little you can trust thse peddlers of bollox. Baines is the one star player – Jelavic aside – I really do not want us to lose.

As for Naismith, I know zilch, but "sources" here and there saying he's industrious, committed etc. Not sure what to make of that other than it sounds like Stracqualursi.

James Flynn
633 Posted 01/07/2012 at 03:18:22

Roberto - The ligaments that popped.

James Baird
634 Posted 01/07/2012 at 03:37:52

I'm from Glasgow & have watched Naismith at Ibrox a few times,

He's technically an okay player with a decent turn of pace, good striker. Llinked up well with Jelavić at the start of last season before he got injured.

Search Steven Naismith double vs Celtic on YouTube, you'll see what he can do.

Frank Knight
639 Posted 01/07/2012 at 08:26:02

Looks like a ready-made Cahill replacement.

John Tyrrell
642 Posted 01/07/2012 at 09:27:15

I think it is a good signing for free. Means we can use the little money we have on wingers. I'd like to see pienaar and Donovan.

Joe McMahon
644 Posted 01/07/2012 at 09:34:02

Is this the WOW signing that Kenwright was talking about all those years ago? I can see the rest of Europe shouting WOW too!

Mike Green
647 Posted 01/07/2012 at 09:37:20

Thanks for tip James #634 - have had a look at 9 goals from last season (three headers, 5 out of other 6 all first touch finishes a la Jelavic) and some other stuff.

Looks v handy, touch of 'the Championship' about him maybe. On Wik it says his strengths are his versatility (can play in midfield or one the flanks....here we go), zest, work rate (.......) and willingness to accept responsibility...... David Moyes eyes start to twinkle.

If we can get him on free looks well worth the risk (untried at PL level, how will injury have affected him etc) - particularly if he's got already clicked with Jelly and no doubt will have come recommended by him if we're really interested.

So, is this medical for real?

Sam Hoare
649 Posted 01/07/2012 at 09:48:31

Joe, Jelavic wasn't exactly a 'wow' signing at the time but has worked out pretty well. How about we give any new players in at least a few games before writing them off?

Ian McDowell
651 Posted 01/07/2012 at 09:58:49

I have never really seen Naismith play but on a free sounds good business. A bit like Beckford if it doesn't work out we can always sell him a make a few quid. Win-Win situation.

James Stewart
652 Posted 01/07/2012 at 10:03:35

He's a good player. Works with Jelavic too which is key. Much needed as we are very short up front if Jelavic gets a knock.

Denis Richardson
659 Posted 01/07/2012 at 11:41:12

I haven't seen him play but he's on a free and has to be better than Anichebe and McFadden so that's good enough for me.

If we get him, that's our strikers taken care of. All gone a bit quiet on the Pienaar front though, wonder if we're waiting for the Baines money to move this forward....

Doug Hast
662 Posted 01/07/2012 at 12:03:31

Jelavic and Naismith up front in a 4-4-2 formation, Pienaar on the left with Baines supporting him at left back, Donovan on the right being supported by Coleman at right back... Moyes can fill in the blanks.

Ben Howard
663 Posted 01/07/2012 at 12:10:04

I think he looks very handy and will give us some much need squad versatility as he can play alongside Jelavic, behind in the Cahill role, or as a wide forward or winger. He seems to have great intelligence in the runs he makes and positions he takes up. I hope we sign the lad up.

Matt Garen
666 Posted 01/07/2012 at 13:38:32

It's a left back that we need to be buying, unless Fabio de Silva is coming as a sweetener for Baines deal.

Tom Bowers
669 Posted 01/07/2012 at 14:36:36

If he strengthens the squad then that's great especially on a free which seems to be all Moyes can look at these days. Many players seem to get injured earlier in the season for whatever reason and so extra quality in midfield would be a big plus in order to maintain a good start to the season.
Heaven knows we are due a good start.

Bjørn-Ivar Pedersen
677 Posted 01/07/2012 at 15:54:24

Interesting, maybe we will now see Moyes abandon the freekin' 4-5-1 and start playing 4-4-2.... or maybe I am just hoping on too much.

Even thou I am a guy who loves 4-3-3, I think 4-4-2 is more appropriate for EFC, thinking back to Lineker/Gray partnership.... that was WOW.

Jay Harris
678 Posted 01/07/2012 at 16:01:41

Matt it looks like Pranjic is coming so he would fill a LB or LM position.

Kieran Fitzgerald
693 Posted 01/07/2012 at 17:34:40

By the look of things, we could hopefully have Pranjic and Naismith in by the end of next week. Not bad for the end of the first week in July if it does happen. Players into the squad early in the summer and a chance to get things ready for a decent start to the season.

Both would arrive in time for pre season training whcih would benefit both players, Pranjic if he hadn't much first team football last season and Naismith if he is just over cruciate damage and is medically fit to resume training. Both would fill holes in the squad, making it both easier and also more palatable for both Moyes and the fans to see Cahill and possibly Baines go if any of the rumours about offers for these players being true. If signing Pranjic meant covering for the lack of the signing Pienaar then another positive.

Mark Lennon
694 Posted 01/07/2012 at 17:41:14

It says on Wikipedia that Naismith's current club is Everton! Has he signed? I think it's a good move, I like the idea of getting these freebies in. A big squad is one thing we haven't had for a long time so it can only be a good thing.

James Stewart
696 Posted 01/07/2012 at 17:52:48

4-4-2 is dead. Just take a look at the Euros for confirmation.

4-2-3-1 would be my ideal shape. 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 works as well though.

Stephen Davies
715 Posted 01/07/2012 at 20:48:21

From Wikipedia
Steven John Naismith (born 14 September 1986) is a Scottish footballer who is currently a striker at Everton FC. He also represents Scotland.

Any truth in it??

Kieran Fitzgerald
724 Posted 01/07/2012 at 22:01:11

It's actually nice for a change to be looking at signing players and not to have huge amounts of fans rolling their eyes and going 'ah for fuck sake, not him'.

Gavin Ramejkis
726 Posted 01/07/2012 at 22:11:53

Anyone can post on Wiki so believe it only when you see him holding that blue shirt at a press conference. Nice if its true to get some business in early but have that niggling feeling something will have to give for the wages for new players.

Mark Riding
729 Posted 01/07/2012 at 22:17:37

According to 'wiki' he was listed as an Everton player weeks ago, and then it changed.. like Gavin says, wait until he is holding the scarf above his head at the ground.. Unless your signing Maurice Johnston that is...

Si Cooper
736 Posted 01/07/2012 at 22:35:07

Jay (678) and Kieran (693), what's new with Pranjic? Has he turned up for a medical at Finch Farm? Not being funny, just wondering whether definite progress has been made yet.

I really hope these two can be brought in because we all need some positive news (usual provisos that they deliver when called upon and aren't just a prelude to us losing our best players) and two potential first-choicers in the first week of July would be spot on.

Si Cooper
739 Posted 01/07/2012 at 22:55:43

Jay / Kieran - hadn't spotted the Pranjic update. Would prefer it to be a joint statement from club and player. After all, we don't have to pretend to be only vaguely interested to keep the transfer fee as low as possible - do we?

Matthew Brooks
740 Posted 01/07/2012 at 23:09:55

No idea where's the right place to post this but has anyone heard anything about that Francisco Junior? (the freebie we signed in February)

Jim Knightley
742 Posted 01/07/2012 at 23:07:59

I don't understand the desire for 4-4-2... it does not offer a tactical advantage.

I would be overjoyed if we got Naismith in... I think he would be a useful squad addition with sell-on value and makes sense with regards to his relationship with Jelavic.

Jim Knightley
743 Posted 02/07/2012 at 00:27:39

The Scottish Sun are reporting the deal as well btw.

Timothy Liu
884 Posted 03/07/2012 at 01:51:19

Steven Naismith, as rated by Football Manager:

Current Ability ~140
Potential Ability ~156

Strengths: Determination, Work Rate, Team Work, Penalty Taking, Natural Fitness and Versatility.
Can apparently play right wing, left wing and second striker in addition to striker.

His potential then seems somewhat so-so but it's only a guess anyway by sports interactive. Jelavic in fact has a potential of 155 in the game I believe.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.