Martinez to trigger Batshuayi's release clause

He can score with both feet, bit of a Vic but that's judging him in a Mickey Mouse league. We really need some bods I if we're going to compete and like I've said before, if RM likes him,that's good enough for me; I'll even try and pronounce his name

Same here Mick, whoever RM likes.

I do question the likelihood of this happening. It seems to me the agent is doing all the stories and linking every top club to his players, particularly this kid. If we do sign him, we need him to get rid of the agent!

Ok so after looking into this guy I cant help but think to myself "is he top 4 quality?".

I'm not sure he could handle the Premier League, and even if he can is he really be the goal scorer we need to find the back of the net just as regularly as our rival strikers? Sadly I don't think he can.

But RM has been a beast with his actions so far. So he must have something up his sleeve. Young player maybe, one he wants to build up. I dunno...

I like the look of him, although from YT it's clear he's not a speed-merchant he seems keen to run with the ball and create and shows good touch with both feet and some cheeky passes. The Lukaku/Mirallas tie in can only help him settle too and at £7M that'd be pretty much a swap for Jelly.

Obviously he's unproven in the PL, but we've seen a lot of Belgian players adapting very well so far all across the league (Vertonghen, Benteke, Hazard, Lukaku, Mirallas, Fellaini, etc, etc) which bodes well.

Exactly the sort of signing I called for in my unpublished mailbag post on transfer ideas (I'd suggested RM would get 2 more bodies in beyond McGeady - 1 loan and 1 full-time, probably both attackers - be more than happy with this lad and Morata on loan!)

So the rest of Felliani money did go to the banks.

I wonder about a 5-ft 10-in striker.

Mick and Chris - 'bit of a Vic' and 'it's clear he's not a speed-merchant'.

I don't know whether we have seen the same clips or not gents, but from what I have seen I can't fathom those statements.

Phil (#540) - I know what you mean. After all the 5 ft 8 inch Sergio Aguero and 5 ft 6 inch Jermain Defoe are just rubbish aren't they!

I'm not saying he is as good as those two - I have no real idea of how good he is / may become - but what exactly are you wondering about?

Si, too much speculation. Like many of our signings, best to see him live in an Everton shirt! The agent is uber dodgy though so we need him to fire his agent after signing for us.

Well I would rather trust Martinez's judgement then you guys

Dennis #542, what makes you so sure that the player can be persuaded to fire his agent? I think they're restricted to 2 year deals now with senior players. Many of them have a relationship stretching back years and view them more like family.

Rooney got rid of the agent he'd had for years whilst he was still at Everton, and signed on with the vacuum salesmen. Many on these pages stated it didn't bode well, at all, and they were right.

The agent who looks out for the interests of club and player hasn't been built yet. I predicted about 4-5 years ago that agency groups (like your IMGs) would start taking on players as clients due to the commercial money knocking around, and that's happened. Many of these groups simply employ the particular agent to have the pick of his "stable" of clients.

Matt, just saying :)

I only have a vague idea how it works but the rumor/news sounds dodgy. As good as he may be, I can't imagine RM wants to deal with a player whose head can be turned easily by his agent. Then again, you'll wonder if its the kid's fault or the agent. I guess that means this is probably a no-go for the most part.

You're right on the agent trends and Rooney. I would have said the same things if I heard those things a few years ago. I doubt the agents that care about clubs and player will ever be built. I would think MU has a firm grip on player agents, given all their shady dealings over SAF's tenure. But that's just a guess.

Looks like a useful squad player but a replacement for Lukaku? Based solely on You Tube evidence I have to say the Icelandic lad looks a better option.

Reminds me a lot of The Yak. Built like a tank and scores goals.

Also scores with the ladies and was sent home from the U21s for inviting girls to his room. (lucky sod). Turned up late ror training (not surprised) and police found an alarm pistol in his car boot. Think it sends out a red flare if he gets lost on the way to the ground.

If Roberto wants character and personality, this lad has to be top of the list. "My name is Batshuayi. Just call me Batty."

Worth it just to call him Mickey Batshit

Paper talk,

I don't know any tabloid, which accurately advises it's readers who clubs are going to sign.

This is the agent's actions along with most football writers knowing we are in the market for a new striker, with Jelly Hull bound.

I just hope RM is given the funds to bring players in during this window, because we need a CM and a striker.

Personally I'm looking forward to seeing this years financial report, to see whether the extra 20million that all premier league clubs got in the summer, which BK stated was going at reducing the clubs debt, has actually been used to lower the clubs debt.

Hmmm. Difficult to tell from YouTube but think I'd prefer Morata if he's available for a similar price as has been reported.

Quite a lot of this lads goals seem bundled in but it's probably all paper talk anyway.

Well a Belgian blue highly recommended him a few weeks ago on another forum. He said he was quick, is two footed, has great technique, natural goalscorer etc... He is not a drogba/Lukaku type forward, more of a Rooney who will come deep, pick up the ball and run at defenders. Apparently, he can also play wide.
All I can say is, if Roberto wants him then that's enough for me. I bet he's had him watched (not on YouTube), unlike a certain CB who couldn't head the ball and a useless Russian who was recommended by another manager.

Problem with Morata Sam, Wenger is a huge admirer of the lad and has been heavily sniffing round him.

I am always willing to trust Roberto's judgement but for me the jury would be out until I had seen him play live, you can watch YouTube or whatever but you only really judge a player when you have watched him live numerous times.

I seem to recall Bakayoko coming here with a great portfolio of 'look what he can do ' highlights yet the guy in person was a frustrating selfish player who rarely showed he could hit a barn door with a banjo.

If I had 7 or 8 million to spend I would rather see if we could get somebody who has a relatively proven track record in the English league or a player who had scored alot of goals abroad in a strong-ish league. I am not sure how good the Belgian league is.

I hope we do sign a striker and I don't think people are being negative as more showing caution after so many failed expensive foreign imports, not just at Everton but all over, Liverpool have had a few in their time, and Spurs have a few now.
I am just careful of watching video's and saying 'he will do'.
Think we need a bit more than that but as I have said I expect Roberto to be thorough as ever.

Anyone think it strange that the Colback rumour has surfaced again in some of the rags?

Shane. It was also mentioned during the commentary of the game.

Phil Friedman — "I wonder about a 5-ft 10-in striker." — Why?!

Look at the likes of Aguero, Rooney & Suarez! None of them are the tallest but fit into there teams perfectly and can play the lone striker role better than most!.

In this day and age, when playing a brand of football like we and a lot of teams do, you don't need your stereotypical No 9 up front and those three mentioned above prove that.

You can easily play a clever little player up there who's got a good footballing brain and excellent movement. I like how those three are different and don't stick to being right up top and pull CBs into positions they don't want to be in and open up gaps for on running midfielders to go and exploit.

Anyway, back to Batshuayi, according to Greg O'Keeffe of the ECHO, we're not even interested in Batshuayi as far as he's been told, but we have "some" interest in Oriol Reira.

I thought Georges-N'Tep looked a better player in the same position.

"Georges-N'Tep"

Is that Bubba Ho's younger brother?

If he has pace and knows where the goal is it does not matter how big a striker is eg; Messi, Maradonna, Defoe, Aguero, Suarez etc etc etc !!

Nice one John. Never a dull moment./ha ha lol.

Dennis. Kevin Mirallas has the same agent!

PETER..............OH MY GOD!!!

This story is gaining momentum.................... It's in the Sun.

This might happen but probably a last minute deal. SL are demanding all £7m up front and BK doesn't do up front, does he?

Bill will make his decision on January 31st at 11-30pm.