Real Sociedad midfielder added to the list

Possibly slightly more credence than some of the bullshit stories I have read involving us lately such as Eto'o and Johnson on loan.

Even so, after reading the finer details about recent signed four-year deals etc, plus the fact it is the Daily Star, then looks like I'll need another pinch of salt and a brush and shovel to clean it up.

I'll be running out of salt at this rate.

I read we were linked with this kid a couple of weeks ago. Apparently his playing style is very similar to Alonso at Real Madrid... a very good passer by all accounts.

Where are all these names coming from? At least with Ditherer Moyes we knew that we wouldn't sign anyone until the last day.

With Robbie, I'm a bit on edge. Now, how about Fellaini, a snip at £10 million....

I wouldn't pay a tenner for Fellaini.

It would be some coup if we could pull this off. The lad's young and can unlock defences from deep with a great passing range. I'm unsure on his defencive qualities though and if he would protect the back four as much as Barry. But at 21, I'm all for this signing.

I think the chance to play in the Premier League and challenge for top four, plus playing in Europe, is a great opportunity to grow into a starter for Spain.

Tell you who we should have looked at – Sidwell.

A ball-playing midfielder with an eye for goal (was Fulham's top scorer last year) and a decent engine still, available on a free transfer. Maybe he wouldn't waltz into the first team but surely that would've been smart cover.

I also notice that Colback has gone to the barcodes on a free, another player I'd have thought we might have shown interest in.

If Barry's going to re-sign and Gibson is back, maybe we're okay, but it seems to me we desperately need a bit more in the engine room alongside as cover for McCarthy. Osman surely isn't going to be playing much more than a bit part next year as his legs looked suspect already.

I'm with Howard (#473), I'd have Fellaini back in a heartbeat as would every other Evertonian I've chatted with recently. It's wrong to say he won't fit in RM's system as, in an ideal world, RM would like the resources that give him options to vary the system. We got bullied at times last season, that never happened with Fellaini in the side.

Another who I think we should consider is Bradley Johnson.

As for this Spanish kid, how many unproven Spanish kids have made an impact in the Premier League?

Gary 556 – I disagree about Fellaini. He does not really fit ANY system. He's a walking square peg looking for a round hole. He's not got enough guile to play No 10 or attacking mid and does not have the engine or passing range to play as defensive midfielder.

He's a brilliant chester of the ball, and can score goals in an advanced position, but he would not fit our new style at all. Yes, he could be used as a desperate Plan B type player, but he is far too expensive (and ego too big) to play the impact sub role. I am sure there are cheaper options if the concern is we get bullied too much.

Bradley Johnson?!?!?

Dear Lord! There isn't a worse player in the league! Even Leeds fans cheered his move to Norwich because they were glad to see the back of him. A truly woeful footballer.

Bradley Johnson is indeed a strange call!!

I like the sound of Pardo. I think Colback and to an extent Sidwell could have done a job and I hope Martinez will not miss out on players whilst waiting for Barry to eventually go elsewhere.

The sooner the likes of Barry and Lukaku make their minds up either way, the sooner our business will get done... and I hope we are not waiting till transfer deadline day having dropped valuable points in the first three games like last season.

Colback is rubbish, he played his best football at left back for Sunderland. Being from the North East, no Sunderland fans I know are overly bothered about him leaving. I'm pleased we stayed away.

David Ellis & Howard Greene, I am split 50/50 on Fellaini. He clearly isn't as crap as David thinks, but I wouldn't entertain re-signing him. His strengths were best highlighted two seasons ago, where in the early matches he was unplayable.

Thing is, he thinks he is a deep midfielder but, every time I see him play there, he is shit. When he plays further forwards, he is much better... but really his best aspect is being able to bring down highballs in advanced positions and create havoc/goals.

This doesn't really suit the playing style of the top teams in the league at present. He would do very well at West Ham or Pulis's Stoke City.

I have no sympathy whatsoever for Fellaini and his agent/dad. They wanted the big money move, they wanted CL football, they wanted the greener pastures etc.... Now what have they got? Sweet FA!!! This must be really embarrassing for both of them as I can't see anyone falling over themselves to buy him, even for £12m.

Tom Ince is another one. He's obviously got talent but his agent/dad is an absolute prick and will do exactly the same as Felli's dad did and try and whore him around Europe to the highest bidder if he has a decent season with us. I'd stay well away from both of them tbh and go for some hungry, young Spanish kids.

No idea who this Spanish kid is but just wanted to comment on Fellaini. No thanks. As mentioned perfectly above, he doesn't really fit into any normal system; for me, he slows down the play too much and doesn't have a great engine or passing ability to be a class DM.

Although, in saying that, I'm interested in seeing him play for Belgium to see what role he plays for them in midfield. However, with players like Hazard, De Bruyne, Kompany, Mirallas etc, he's not the star of the team and doesn't really need to stand out.

I am still chuckling at the £27.5M we got for him, the price that Man Utd supposedly now want goes down by the week – just £12M currently being quoted, so we could prob get him for less than £10M!

If he has a great World Cup, then he'll probably say goodbye the Premier League and end up at some mid-level team in Spain or France.

I don't know why we have to turn players from heroes to Satan's child after they leave but all I can say is Fellaini was our leading scorer with 12 goals in his last season and there aren't many midfield players with that ability.

Unlike many other midfield players, he could receive the ball to chest or feet, control and pass, had a great engine, and was a significant danger from corners and free kicks – something we sorely miss.

For £12 million, I would have him back – but I doubt his controlling father would endorse that.

I was a fan of Fellaini whilst he was here but found the tendency for players to constantly look long for his 'fro frustrating.

Whilst we maybe missed his aerial ability from set pieces last season, I can't think of much else he would have added when you bear in mind how Martinez wants his team to play.

His special weapons of 'world class' chest control and a propensity to produce his handbag when things aren't going his way would have been counteracted by his constant, cumbersome, slowing down of every counterattack.

Can we please just forget ex-players? Fellaini as quoted above is always going to be a square peg in a round hole and would be useless for us under the new regime. Forget him. He's a dreadful footballer.

I notice we're also allegedly in for Cristian Tello from Barca which would be a great signing, not least because the RS are after him and it would piss them right off. He's also a very good player I might add.

The train robbers got 30 years for stealing £25 million less than we did with Fellaini.

Let's just leave it at that.

Absolute top notch post Paul about the train robbers. Never mind the £12mil or whatever fee for Fellaini, from what I read in an article this summer he's on £170k a week for wages. Imagine the headaches that would cause amongst the present squad if we dare to pay him that. See you later Mario don't let the door hit you on the way out.