Benfica enter Batshuayi race

Everton > Benfica. Also, Mirallas and Lukaku can influence him... if in fact we want him.

All these rumours and journo fiction should be kept off these pages unless its reported by the club. Apparently Martinez has been running all round Europe - and Stoke - tapping up players, while he's actually been on an Island in Gran Canaria training his squad!

Until I see him (and Baines) on the official site with a scarf / shirt, I won't be holding my breath.

But, whatever happens, we'll be in a happier place than 12 months ago. Roberto has earned that.

The mouthpiece of Everton, the official site, reports Martinez targeting someone. To me, this suggests his name is already on the shirt.

Mick,.. My (humble) advice,
If you don't like rumours, don't click on a link that has MASSIVE BLUE letters in front of it that says "rumours"..

If you can't resist.. Support the EFC!!

Greg O'Keeffe says we're definitely not in for him.

I don't know if he's usually on the money or not, but seems to be quite well informed to me.

He thinks the Riera rumour has more legs than this one.

Harold, please tell them not to keep me waiting! I hope we get all transfer business done before I get onto the plane (right around the Stevenage game).

BTW, Chelsea is rumored to target Costa. Will we get more of Lukaku or even actually get to buy him?

Dennis 297 - "or even get to buy him"? at £25m, I suspect not.

Chris (290)

Quality advice to Mick that.

Mick has done his own bit of journo fiction himself by moving the training camp from Tenerife to Gran Canaria!

Dennis, I haven't a clue who we've got but going by Kone, Alcaraz, Robles, McCarthy and McGeady, Martinez doesn't do last minute "stick a pin in" stuff.

I really hope that the underlying reason for our lack of clout in buying this player isn't over payment (ie, installments) – especially with the sale alone of Jelavic... as, sooner than later, the fans will finally wake up to the antics of this truly charlatan board and chairman.

I wonder if we are waiting until Heitinga is out of the door before we bring a new striker in?

I know he will leave for a nominal fee, but he's still on big wages.

Lukaku needs to go on another free scoring run to justify a £20M plus price tag. For that money, you would expect 20 plus goals.

Hardly likely we would buy someone at £7M then loan them out.

With the sale of Jela, surely we have most (at least) of the money needed to buy this guy? It's just a question of persuading him to come to EFC. There should also be some Fellaini money left too....

And what if Lukaku were to say to RM some sunny April day that he WANTS to stay? That would be nice...

Maybe it's the cynic in me but wouldn't we have been better making sure we got our proposed striker in before shipping Jelavic out? Just seems strange that we could possibly end up with no striker bought and one less on the roster.

Hoping Martinez proves me wrong and has a deal already done and dusted.

Probably coincidence but strange how Dundee United left out Gauld and Souttar and sent them for a "rest" in Spain at the same time we were out there.

I don't agree that Lukaku is worth £25m or thereabouts. If we were to pay that amount I'd expect a bit more mobility & some more goals. £15m rising to something like £18m maybe, but no more.

This Batshuayi seems like a fair bit of trouble (Drenthe anyone?) but maybe we need that crazy streak? Look what Ratface across the park has done since he's been harnessed. Maybe we need that?

Gauld and Souttar are mid and defence arent they?

Lukaku is still learning his craft but nevertheless has done well in his short career so far and we can only hope he does a lot more for the Blues before going back to Chelski.

Obviously Everton need another first rate target man given that Vellios and Kone are out of the picture and I am sure RM has some irons in the fire but the January window is notorious for over-pricing in the sales although Jela was a good buy at the time.

Yes Brent. Left back Robertson was put out as the main interest but we don't really know what went on up there. Robertson is a special talent but is unlikely to move over the border.

I'm not worried about a striker. Whoever it is I think it's all wrapped up.

Apparently betting on Steven Fletcher joining Everton has come in from 20/1 to 5/1.

I hope that's not true

What a load of tosh. Why would we lend him back to another club when WE NEED him. This transfer is not going to happen.

Hmm....... I would take Fletcher; he knows where the goal is and is a good finisher but would cost a lot compared to an overseas unproven player.

Dundee Utd were on the box last week and the standard of football was woeful. I honestly did not see any player on view who excited my interest. Southampton's kids are different class by comparison and I am sure that we already have better youngsters than Dundee Utd bunch.

Kevin # 439. Fletcher is not good enough, we need a player with promise!

Yes Kevin J. I would also take Steven Fletcher. A proper centre forward and the son of a Scouser. Once on the radar of Real Madrid, this tough, wily customer would fit in well. Also, Poyet is pleading for cash to bring over a South American.

Looks like Rat-Face is the unofficial footballer of the year who'd have thunk it?

Ladbroke's News are saying we are chasing Georgios Samaras, whose contract at Celtic expires at the end of the season.

Samaras? A goal every 3 games for Celtic - not exactly prolific given how weak the competition is up there, and barely scored 8 for Many City in 54 games in the Premier League a few years back. Never rated him.

Fletcher doesn't score enough either and his middle name is Kenneth.