Lukaku links up with new agent

, 25 March, 90comments  |  Jump to most recent
Romelu Lukaku has joined forces with "super-agent" Carmine "Mino" Raiola, who has the likes of Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his stable.

The Belgian striker has parted company with former representative Christophe Henrotay, the man who brought him to Goodison Park on a permanent deal last year and whom he shared with compatriots Kevin Mirallas and David Henen, and signed up with Monaco-based Raiola.

The Italian has already been talking up his client as a potential target for Juventus, with whom Lukaku was linked last summer before he put pen to paper on a £28m move from Chelsea to Everton.

"In order to win the Champions League, Juve should keep Pogba, then sign Kishna from Ajax, Lukaku from Everton and Jonathas from Elche," Raiola is quoted as saying.


Quotes sourced from Liverpool Echo



Reader Comments (90)

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


Patrick Murphy
1 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:00:00
See you, Romelu – it has been pretty good having you for the short time you were here. Good luck in the Champions League. I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic career with whoever it is that takes you to their club.

Seriously, didn’t Wayne change agents just before he left? Of course, it might not come to that with Romelu but the runes don’t look positive from an Everton point of view.

Liam Reilly
2 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:02:21
Equals: I’m a footballer – get me out of here and to a Champions League side sharpish.
John Malone
3 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:18:20
Gobshites ruining the game. How are you meant to build a team when anyone who has a decent season can do a deal behind the club’s back then force a move?

Clubs like us are goosed these days, no chance of becoming a top team unless you’re paying top wages!

Tony J Williams
4 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:18:02
I know two are with him, is the third?

Talk about drumming up business for yourself...

Agents = Scum

Eugene Ruane
5 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:05:26
Goals are the most valuable commodity in football.

He’s got years left on his contract with us.

£45m!

Why not? Unlike us, they’ve probably only seen his Europa goals.

Imagine screwing a load of cash out of them, knowing a month later their fans will be angrily screaming: "Merda, egli è offside ancora una volta" (’Shit, he’s offside again’... or something along those lines.)

Andy Meighan
6 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:20:37
Scored a few goals lately in the Europa League and all of a sudden he’s Pele. As long as we get £35 million, I don’t care if he does go... Crap first touch and a chronic inability to read the line hence, getting caught offside all the time.

I’d say to possible suitors look at his domestic return this season: 7 from open play. Hardly the return of a class act, is it? There’s better players in the Championship if you ask me, who’d cost a fraction of the price. Oh... but I forgot; he’s only 21, isn’t he... Yawn.

Sue Brown
7 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:17:18
So that’s that then! You’ve got to wonder who initiates these switches, is it agent approaches footballer with promises of greatness and riches or hyped up footballer wanting out of his present contract.
Eric Holland
8 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:31:28
£45M and replace him with who?

No-one is going to want to come to a club fighting relegation and not playing in Europe, except maybe a has-been or a Championship player.

Thanks, Roberto!!!!

Tom R Owen
9 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:37:35
Agents are leaches.

Mr 10% will want him to move asap.

Tony McNulty
10 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:55:40
Best comment relating to agents was Billy Connolly’s.

He was being heckled by someone in the audience and he shouted:

"You should get yourself a fucking agent, pal. Why sit there in the dark handling yourself?"

Chris Williamson
11 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:59:24
Middlemen - those talentless parasites hanging on the coat tails of those with talent and sucking on the nipples of those with cash. Is there a SINGLE incidence of a middle man EVER proving USEFUL and EARNING their pay?
Paul Ellam
12 Posted 25/03/2015 at 18:00:11
We’re boned!!!!
Murdo Laing
13 Posted 25/03/2015 at 17:57:30
It could of course just be "paper talk" and I’ve not checked the quoted source, but the signs appear to be that Romelu is inexorably moving towards the exit door? If so, thanks for the memories young man, and I hope you appreciate that Everton FC have raised your profile by pretty much guaranteeing you are first pick and exposed to millions through Sky coverage and our Europa League exploits.

You most certainly would never have attracted this profile had you stayed in Chelsea reserves. Good luck, I expect Mr Mirallas will also follow you out of the door, I just hope it all comes to pass as soon as possible after season-end so we can look to rebuild with a bit of money in the pot.... provided the proceeds are made available to our manager, be it Roberto or AN Other.

Guy Hastings
14 Posted 25/03/2015 at 18:17:55
Have we got Big Dunc’s player registration?
Minik Hansen
15 Posted 25/03/2015 at 18:10:30
There are some agents out there having a good set of values they keep, we just don’t see it. Let’s see how it goes with this one, it’s football anyway. Whatever happens, I believe we’ve got decent transfer budget coming up, we keep a decent a dozen of players and we continue this current good run and get on a great run again after the summer.
Colin Glassar
16 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:03:10
We will need Daniel Levy on board. He’d get £50m for Rom, at least.
Ian Brandes
17 Posted 25/03/2015 at 18:59:45
Perhaps he might put himself in the shop window before he goes in which case the club may not make a loss. It looks like bye bye to Big Rom sadly, even thought he was never really worth what we paid for him.

Maybe he was also a divisive influence in the dressing room too – the catch-all that shields the phenomenal Roberto from his woeful mismanagement.

Wonder where the goals will cone from if he departs?

Neil Humphreys
18 Posted 25/03/2015 at 18:59:10
I suppose that as been said, the first action of the new agent will be to move Rom on. Hardly worth representing him if he just stays put at Everton. In fairness, the way we have been playing doesn’t suit him, that said, I can’t see any striker wanting to play with back to goal all the time.

4-2-3-1, the numbers of the devil!

Phil Walling
19 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:09:45
Well said, Eugene. Let’s get as much for him as is possible. Come on, Blue Bill, grow a pair and make up for what you cost us giving our best pre-war player away!

This game is getting so polluted, I’m beginning to think it doesn’t need my dosh any more.

Phil Walling
20 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:15:07
Post-war. Our Pre-war greatest was in a different league to all of them!
Joe Clitherow
21 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:15:20
Scariest phrase on this thread:

"proceeds are made available to our manager,... Roberto..."

Funniest phrase on this thread:

"...this current good run..."

James Stewart
22 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:22:37
Not surprising really considering his ambitions. Sure bet to move at the end of the season and his improving form looks like it will be enough to attract a bigger fish. Mirallas will be off too so we are going to need to replace their goals from somewhere! Southampton did it; no reason we can’t!!!
James Flynn
23 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:21:19
The owners couldn’t wait to dump Wayne Rooney for some readies.

What’s selling Lukaku compared to that?

It’s Stones announcing a new agent I’d worry about.

Patrick Murphy
24 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:25:50
If he does leave and there’s more than a chance that he will, we will be back to the days of playing without a recognised goalscorer or as many of us thought that single missing ingredient that would propel us into the CL. Unfortunately we now need to replace practically half of the first team. Some people are complaining about the middlemen but I’m more concerned about the muddle men we have at Goodison.
Rob Dolby
25 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:37:50
Give it 12 months and he will be playing for someone else. Shame really as I think that if our balloon of a manager would play to his strengths then we wouldn’t be in this predicament.

The lad is a phenomenal talent facing goal and a phenomenal waste of talent with his back to goal.

Roberto will freeze him out in favour of Kone next season.

Darren Hind
26 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:40:34
Except... He was with a CL team and they didn’t want him. And when he was for sale, none of the others wanted him either.

If they wouldn’t pay £28 million for him 8 months ago, why would they pay it now?

Phil Walling
27 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:36:52
Patrick, you’ve summed it up .’The muddle men’! The luvvie chairman and the philosophical manager.

What did we ever do to deserve this pairing?

Dave Abrahams
28 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:56:25
James (23), Stones has just changed his agent or is in the process of doing so.
Ben Dyke
29 Posted 25/03/2015 at 20:03:29
I have to say if we got more than £30m for him I’d take it. Yes, he has done some good things etc but he’s also been complete turd during this season. He ain’t the finished product and he’s only young but to me £28m was too much for a player of his stature.

Where it would leave us and what it says about us as a club are to me more important matters.

Who can we get that will replace our goals after such a crap season and being a selling club again, a harbour on the way to bigger dreams is demoralising.

Raymond Fox
30 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:34:17
You have to have a masochistic streak to support this club! What’s our expectations for next season? We are entering a period where we need to replace half the existing team! Where’s the money coming from, the sale of Lukaku, Baines, Coleman, take your pick. Probably Lukaku, with Coleman a close 2nd.

I’d say, this FFP doesn’t seem to be slowing the money clubs down much if at all, does it! I’m seriously thinking of giving next season a miss, I’ve had enough of disappointments, supporting a team with little realistic chance of a trophy.

Martinez is taking all the flack, and while some of it is warranted, our main problem is lack of spending power. As it is, no manager can make us a trophy winning side.

We need a takeover, and the sooner the better.

Conor Skelly
31 Posted 25/03/2015 at 19:49:06
Because, Darren, he has proven himself on the European stage, albeit the Europa League. It’s still enough to put his price up. He has goals for whoever buys him, guaranteed. £40 mill.

If I were BK I would sack Bobby end of the season. Then be looking for £15 mill for Kev and £40 mill for Barkley, who frankly we don’t have the luxury to "wait" to come good. We should be looking to cash in on the prima donnas and reinvest the money in solid 8/10 every week performers. Let the new manager build a foundation that has been decimated by Mr Phenomenal. Buy a solid Keeper and organize a solid defence. Make us hard to beat for a season and then systematically and diligently inject the money on shrewd transfers over the next 3 years.

No need to spend it all at once. If we have money with the mentality of having no money we should be able to get the most out of our situation. Think how close we came with Moyes. We were often only a player away but we didn’t have the money to get the right winger or striker we so desperately needed. I’d say sell the assets, bank the money, build without making massive purchases (over £8 mill) & wait.

Paul O'Neill
32 Posted 25/03/2015 at 20:17:08
Well said, Raymond. Constantly replacing the manager at Everton is rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic. New board, invest in the stadium, have ambition beyond just staying in the PL. With Blue Bill in charge, the present is as good as it gets – and Lord help us if we do go down.
Phil Sammon
33 Posted 25/03/2015 at 20:22:44
I won’t let Martinez off even an inch! He has been backed to the hilt by the board for this season and look at the mess he’s made. Everton’s owners are clearly a shambles... but for the first time ever they actually backed the manager.
Brian Harrison
34 Posted 25/03/2015 at 20:22:15
Guys, I donÂ’t know if you have noticed but Randy Lerner is desperate to sell Aston Villa and he has had no takers. Man City were lucky they had a new purpose-built ground paid for by the taxpayers of this country, were we have a very old ground and no worldwide fanbase like Liverpool and Manchester United.

So who in their right mind would want to buy Everton? And therein lies the answer to our problem. To buy Everton, you need to fund a new ground first then start pumping money into the playing staff.

While there is West Ham shortly to move to another state-of-the-art stadium paid for by the taxpayers, what a mouthwatering prospect that is for a new owner. Then there is Crystal Palace who look like they may have a new billionaire owner, and again itÂ’s the lure of London. So be prepared to be under resourced for decades to come which at some point will mean relegation.

Jay Harris
35 Posted 25/03/2015 at 20:31:34
I think itÂ’s a shame really.

Him, Bainsey and Jags seem to have been the only players to give a shit recently.

Maybe they are all fed up with Señor Phenomenal.

Darren Hind
36 Posted 25/03/2015 at 20:22:07
Conor

I love your ambition £40M for Lukaku? ...and £15M for his Belgium team mate?

Why do so many of our fans think the chairman of other clubs are complete mugs?

James Flynn
37 Posted 25/03/2015 at 20:11:51
Dave (28) - DidnÂ’t know that. All the speculation on what the Summer might bring, we seem to be glossing over or ignoring (or hoping no one will notice him) interest in Stones.

Assuming ownership form holds, Roberto will have to sell in order to have a decent transfer wedge.

Stephen Brown
38 Posted 25/03/2015 at 20:44:01
Brian so depressing but so true! I see us more like Leeds or Sheffield Wednesday than Man City.

We have more chance of success through the bubble bursting for everyone than finding a billionaire who wants to burn his money investing in a new ground and players.

Stephen Daniels
39 Posted 25/03/2015 at 21:12:09
Looks like RomÂ’s gone, Mirallas... and probably Coleman. We need to build again; I just donÂ’t trust Martinez to do it.
Andy Meighan
40 Posted 25/03/2015 at 21:43:29
Darren (#26) got it spot on. To hear some on here, youÂ’d think we were selling Messi or Ronaldo. My god, how are we going to replace them 8 league goals to date this season (one a penalty)? I donÂ’t know how IÂ’ll sleep at night...
Denis Richardson
41 Posted 25/03/2015 at 22:50:57
With the likes of Zlatan and Balotelli as clients, this agent will have connections at all the top clubs = Rom is gone, probably this summer.

If heÂ’s sold to a CL club, as is likely, we will 100% get our money back and probably a healthy profit. Only issue is whoÂ’s going to then get the opportunity to spend it....

I now expect Rom, Mirallas, Distin and Alcaraz to def go in the summer. So our two top goal scorers... it’s going to be interesting replacing those two but we should be able to get £40m+ for the two (although most of the Rom money will go to Chelsea).

Summer is going to be interesting at least.

Bobby Thomas
42 Posted 25/03/2015 at 23:34:02
I love the way people do their nut when this shit starts.

This is how it is, get over it.

We will hopefully turn a profit and maybe even get a better balanced squad into the bargin.

Gavin Johnson
43 Posted 26/03/2015 at 00:03:37
Rom’s future is a win-win situation for me. If we keep him, we’ve got one of the best strikers in the league. And if he goes, we’ll make a profit and it will keep the detractors happy, who will no longer be able to say we wasted £28M.
Gavin Johnson
44 Posted 26/03/2015 at 00:47:12
I donÂ’t know why people would worry about the fee we would receive, if he was to leave. HeÂ’s on a long-term contract and now playing like the player that we paid the huge fee for. We will only make a profit if we decided to sell.
Jason Heng
45 Posted 26/03/2015 at 01:02:37
Does Roberto have an agent?
Paul Kelly
46 Posted 26/03/2015 at 01:22:05
I would rather keep him but, if we got £40m, do you think BB would put it all back in the transfer kitty? Would you want El Bob spending it if he is still here?

No to both for me.

David Barks
48 Posted 26/03/2015 at 02:14:47
Paul, just imagine all the central and defensive midfielders Bob could buy with that money!!! We could have 6 defensive midfielders playing that attacking sideways passing all match. Phenomenal, School of Science!!!
Paul Andrews
49 Posted 26/03/2015 at 06:32:00
The agent moves in for the kill. He is looking 12-18 months down the line. Lukaku, with his scoring rate in his early career, and his ongoing development, means a very big fee to buy him.
Rob Newling
50 Posted 26/03/2015 at 07:11:48
Jason #45, Yes, but he's thinking of changing ! ;-)
Rob Newling
51 Posted 26/03/2015 at 07:31:00
Figured it's his best chance of CL football.
Drew O'Neall
52 Posted 26/03/2015 at 07:33:14
Some players have got absolutely no stomach for a fight or the integrity to take responsibility for their personal failings.

Lukaku (and his colleagues) has been shite = we have dropped down the league = he wants to move to a CL club.. What's wrong with this formula?

Jim Bennings
53 Posted 26/03/2015 at 08:12:26
With no European football and likely a bottom half finish then you do have to ask if Lukaku does leave then who is going to join us?

Quality players that join clubs down the league usually only do so because they have been offered extortionate wages, that's something we won't do obviously.

We will become a mid to bottom club if we start selling players.

It started a bad cycle in the 1990's when we began losing our better players such as Kanchelskis, Stuart, people were happy to let them leave expecting good players to come in as replacements.
It didn't happen and we ended up with a few years the likes of Tiler, Mitch Ward, Danny Williamson.

Trevor Peers
54 Posted 26/03/2015 at 08:15:17
No surprise to see player unrest at GP after such a poor season and, with no chance of a change in the inept manager, it's inevitable ALL or most of the better players will be asking their agents to find a new club.

I notice Fellini was comparing LVG to Moyes, saying he was stronger manager – where does that leave Roberto? Weak as piss, I'd say.

Sam Hoare
55 Posted 26/03/2015 at 08:58:10
Lukaku will be here for one more season at the most. Unless by some miracle we get top 4 next year. He's got a long contract and guarantees goals and for that reason I think we will get decent money for him. In the region of £25-35m hopefully. Possibly more if he really pushes forward next year.

The trouble is who spends it? Under Moyes I usually felt assured that he would buy players for good value (though he was much better with players who cost £5m and under than above); Martinez I worry does not have as good a judgement or scouting team.

One thing is for sure and that is that selling Lukaku will have not nearly as detrimental effect as Spurs selling bale did for example. As pointed out his league goals return has been very mediocre and I think we could find someone strong and athletic for much less money who could do a similar job...

Allan Barratt
56 Posted 26/03/2015 at 08:33:50
Not a problem, we've still got Nessi!!
Dave Pritchard
57 Posted 26/03/2015 at 09:26:37
I still have belief in Lukaku in spite of his frustrating performances at times and would prefer him to stay. The agent move certainly does not give me confidence that he will stay next season though. If a club want to come in with a massive offer then fine, but we would have to hold out for a decent profit.
Christy Ring
58 Posted 26/03/2015 at 10:12:58
If he wants to go I’d look for the £28m back but if we could throw in Martinez I’d take £20mill.
Liam Reilly
59 Posted 26/03/2015 at 10:26:17
"Lukaku (and his colleagues) has been shite = we have dropped down the league = he wants to move to a CL club.. What's wrong with this formula?"

Here's another formula:

Our Goalkeeper and defence have been piss-poor all season. Add that to an industrious midfield with no creativity and the Result is = No Service to your only fucking striker capable of scoring.
.

Brian Hennessy
60 Posted 26/03/2015 at 11:46:13
The only way I would accept Lukaku being sold would be:

A - We get more than the £28 million we paid;

B - The first thing the money is used for is to pay off Martinez;

C - The first player our new manager gets is a goalkeeper (preferably Petr Cech);

D - We sign another decent striker.

Denis Richardson
61 Posted 26/03/2015 at 11:51:44
Thinking about this some more, losing Rom would be a blow given his potential but it won't be a disaster. Only one season in I know but the likes of Austin (15) and Ings (9) have managed to net more league goals than Rom (8) playing in much worse teams and neither would cost anywhere near 28m to buy - can probably get both for much less! They are also both young, 25 and 22 respectively. So finding another striker or two should not be an issue.

What worries me a lot more is that regardless of which players we bring in, if we carry on playing the slow sideways passing tactics then it really won't matter anyway as the attacking players won't get decent service. Add the fact that our defensive play is now one of the worst in the league as well.

I just don't trust RM to be able to build a decent balanced squad. These Cleverly rumours still won't go away! If Rom and Mirallas both leave for £40m+, would you trust RM to spend the money wisely?

Dan Nulty
62 Posted 26/03/2015 at 13:07:35
Sell for £40m, get Lacazette in for half that.
Paul Dark
63 Posted 26/03/2015 at 13:36:00
Rom is a (world-) class act. Martinez has played him out of position, not helped his game and made one mistake after another at the club. It doesn't inspire confidence in an intelligent, thoughtful young man like Lukaku. Despite all that Rom has scored goals. He's wasted at our club, it pains me to say. And he knows that.

The sooner Martinez is shown the door, the sooner we can try to build our great club into the best in Europe - where it belongs. Of course, 'corner-shop' Kenwright would have to go for that to happen.

With Martinez and Kenwright, we are being run by soft soap, small minds and sentimentality. These frauds should be ousted and individuals like Lukaku, Mirallas, Barkley, Besic, Garbutt and some others can come to the fore. these are all top players who can compete at the very highest level.

I cannot begin to say and elaborate on how inappropriate a captain Jags is. The club is simply run badly at many important levels. We need a strong-minded, intelligent manager, not a smiling charmer with lees-than-moderate ability and a dubious CV.

It really does all break my heart.

Joe Foster
64 Posted 26/03/2015 at 13:42:44
Are we not paying for Rom 5 mill a year? So if we sell him for what we paid then we still have to pay off Chelski
Will Firstbrook
65 Posted 26/03/2015 at 14:01:58
In the modern age of footballing mercenaries, we should not be surprised. Money and championships (in that order) dictate elite player movement. There is little or no allegiance to clubs these days.

If/When Rom moves on, we will most likely make back our investment (I can't see anyone paying above that, tbh) but I shudder to think what will be done (or not!) to replace him. We know how the Board thinks and acts. This team and manager have significantly underperformed this season and the more likely scenario is a sell-off of our better player assets, contract extensions to our aging/floundering ones, and maybe the addition of one or two cast-offs from the-called bigger clubs. The goal will be to get the wage bill down for next season and then see how it goes.

Every offseason is a painful one for Everton. This upcoming one may be a waterboarding experience considering our current situation. I do not expect an imminent change in manager which makes the prospect of this summer's business even more unnerving.

Donald Neville
66 Posted 26/03/2015 at 14:43:46
Anyone think maybe this agent move is in case RM is still here. I see a lot of comments saying that Rom has been played out of position and I feel maybe he made the move to a new agent to insure that if RM is still the manager and things don't change then he will want to leave. Maybe if BK sacks RM or by some miracle RM and BK decide to spend money on players that are worth a damn this summer, maybe Rom will decide to stay another 2-3 years. Maybe I have wishful thinking.....we need to get back that 28mik if he goes. I'm fine with Ings or Austin coming in as first choice striker. Losing Coleman or Stones or even Barkley would hurt more then Rom
Liam Reilly
67 Posted 26/03/2015 at 14:57:13
Ings or Austin?

This is Everton FFS! I despair if we can't aim higher than both of them put together.

Harold Matthews
68 Posted 26/03/2015 at 15:13:50
Shifting him on for a profit was always the plan. It's the way we have to work these days. All we want now is a few eye-catching performances to up his value.
Denis Richardson
69 Posted 26/03/2015 at 15:09:11
Liam 67 - Austin has somehow managed to score 15 league goals this season, despite playing in a very poor QPR side. Do you really think we're too good for him?

To put things into perspective, an Everton player has only managed to score 15 or more league goals a season 3 times in the last 20 years! He's managed more league goals than the likes of Giroud, Dzeko, Bony, Rooney, Falcao and Van Persie this season.

As for Ings, he may not be a world beater but you get 110% committment, grit and goals and he's only 22 so will only get better. Imagine also what he could do with better players around him. He's also out of contract this summer so won't cost much.

They may not have the potential of a Lukaku but you get committment and goals at least and neither will cost anywhere near 28m. I'd take either over Naismith anyday.

Only issue is, even if we signed Messy I couldn't get excited with Martinez still in charge.

Andrew Ellams
70 Posted 26/03/2015 at 15:49:45
I'd like to see Ings come in and play as a foil for Lukaku, their movement would drive defences mad. Austin needs to prove himself for at least one more season at the top level.
Steven Telford
71 Posted 26/03/2015 at 15:52:48
Bad news for us..........super agent = Saul Goodman! Super Italian agents are probably not fond of dealing in leagues where they can't select the refs...

Seriously, domestic Italian football still has a hell of a lot of shame to shed, Juve in particular. We have the only major league in which there is a serious top 4-6 fight. The Italian league is a sedative compared to the EPL.

Liam Reilly
73 Posted 26/03/2015 at 16:06:25
OK Denis, do you think that Man Utd, Arsenal, the Redshite, Man City or Tottenham would see Austin as a transfer target?

But hey, it's a game of different opinions. I also thought Andy Gray was a terrible buy back in the 80s...

Donald Neville
74 Posted 26/03/2015 at 16:22:08
Liam 67: who do you want? Can Everton really get a top name striker to come in when they are fighting off relegation?

Austin and Ings are young (22 & 25 I think), and both play hard. They don't stop and have both managed to outscore Big Rom this season. Why is this a step back?

Even if they come in and play two seasons scoring 10+ goals each season, that would either help us get back to where we should be or at the very least turn another huge profit.

Also, without European football, I'd rather take a gamble on 1 or 2 proven PL strikers than blow the whole wad on a Euro striker that fails like Soldado and Falcao have for Spurs and Man Utd.

Donald Neville
75 Posted 26/03/2015 at 16:28:44
Liam 73: also to your second point... Chelsea and Spurs are both reportedly interested in Austin. Chelsea I don't believe really because they have Costa, Remy and Bamford. Spurs I do believe. Even the Red Shite have placed a target on Ings.

But as you said, difference of opinion, and I respect yours, brother.

Denis Richardson
76 Posted 26/03/2015 at 16:32:46
Liam - unfortunately we have to be realistic and smell the coffee. We are not in the same transfer league as the likes of Man City, RS, Spurs, Arsenal etc. We haven't been for at least 15 years.

However, we don't need superstars of today, we should be looking for the superstars of tomorrow who are a bit rough around the edges today. Austin and Ings have already cut their teeth in the Premier League and a club like us can at least offer them regular first team football and a step up from their current clubs, whereas the big money clubs are basically offering a seat on the bench.

In saying that, and as has been mentioned above a few times, all the chat about players is basically a waste of time if the management doesn't change.

Ross Edwards
77 Posted 26/03/2015 at 17:00:48
That's Lukaku off in the summer then. That agent there got Serie A moves for Eto'o and Ibrahimovic. No doubt he'll stick his nose in and point him towards Juventus.

If he leaves for about £35M, expect Martinez to get about £20M of it. To get Cleverley and someone like Di Santo. Wasn't he ex-Wigan?

Liam Reilly
79 Posted 26/03/2015 at 17:05:35
Denis, Donald,

I think these two would just add to the 'Plucky Everton' nonsense that's regularly thrown about by the media. I'm not saying they are poor but but they're definitely not "Nil satis nisi optimum". Home grown players also; their wages would be obscene.

We've some fine young players; coveted by the money teams; who won't stick around for plucky midtable mediocrity.

Selling Rom is a backward step. If we can't buy the right players; then build a team around the Garbutt's, Barkely's, McCarthy's that we do have. New Goalkeeper, Centre-back, attacking midfielder; hold onto Rom and give it a real go to break that glass season.

Linda Morrison
80 Posted 26/03/2015 at 17:51:04
You know folks I am sick of today's young players, Stirling, Walcott and it now looks like Lukaku who all believe they are too good for their current clubs and too greedy to see the agents looking to secure their 10%.

If Juve or anyone else wanted him why didn't they sign him last summer? Answer they would not take the risk and pay the price. Now he has done well in Europe that want him.

I'm sorry but if he wants to go sell him for £40 million and they can have his Belgium mate as well.I think the fans will not be as welcoming as they once were now, it fits in with his comments some months ago about going to a bigger club.

I'll be surprised if the manager does not get all the dosh to get another striker in as Everton have really increased their income this season from the TV deals and will be in the even bigger money trough next season with the new Sky deal.

I was listening to 606 a few weeks ago and Robby Savage had it in a nutshell. Apart from 4 maybe 5 teams, the rest have no chance of winning the league and are there to simply provide the opposition. How depressing is that?

David Hallwood
81 Posted 26/03/2015 at 17:58:52
A knock comes at the door, you answer and there's a smartly dressed man who tells you that you're Bill Gates' half brother and he wants to give you £10 billion. Your thought turn to your beloved blues......how much will you offer the other Bill.

Personally I wouldn't put a brass farthing into modern football. The thought of even giving 20p to an agent "you give me £100k before I talk to you" would kill me.

The day football rids itself from these cockroaches will be the best day since on EPL was launched

Mike Allison
82 Posted 26/03/2015 at 18:11:01
Ings would be a good signing, Charlie Austin is a pub player.

Lukaku shouldn't be allowed to leave for less than double what we paid. There is no replacement out there for him. In fact, I'd want the cost of a new stadium. I still can't believe some blues not appreciating what a player we've got.

Colin Glassar
83 Posted 26/03/2015 at 18:18:30
How times change? A few weeks ago he was a useless lump who was being written off by a great many people. Fast forward and after a few goals he is now a world beater who, if he leaves, will cause us to crash fatally and eternally just because he’s got himself a new agent.

I’ve supported him from Day 1 so my conscience is clear.

Neil Pickering
84 Posted 26/03/2015 at 18:43:57
Genuinely not arsed if he goes as long as we get a good profit. For me he's only looked anywhere near the player he should be for the past month. Coincidently he now has a new agent!
Sam Hoare
85 Posted 26/03/2015 at 19:27:16
Colin, you do love to get up on your high horse don't you?!

I've certainly had my doubts about Lukaku and would glad have taken £20M for him a few months ago but his form has definitely picked up and his all-round play with it. Finally there have been signs of him using his physique and athleticism to actually assert himself on defenders. And that gives me hope that he could become as good as some would have us believe.

Ultimately I don't think we would make much profit if we sold him this Summer and it would all depend on who the replacement was. Not sure there are that many top strikers out there at the moment who would want to come to us...

John Daley
86 Posted 26/03/2015 at 19:35:06
"We should be looking to cash in on the prima donnas and reinvest the money in solid 8/10 every week performers"

Since when did 8 out of 10 performances, every single week, equals simply 'solid'?

Joe Foster
87 Posted 26/03/2015 at 20:10:32
Good for you Colin
Colin Glassar
88 Posted 26/03/2015 at 21:01:22
Thanks Joe. Sam, thing is if he misses a few chances in his next game some people will be saying he’s rubbish and we should get rid ASAP. I suppose that’s football fans for you..... Fickle.
Donald Neville
89 Posted 26/03/2015 at 22:23:53
Where the Fran Tarkington is our Harry Kane?? How can Spurs and other clubs fine these players, but BK can't? Is it the scouts? Is it Bill himself? Is it RM? Moyes used to be able to get some young talent all the time.

I guess since I've only been a supporter for 4 years I shouldn't complain, but come on man. RM should have an inside track to Spain, he is Mr Barca right?

I agree that all these young players are buying into the media hype machine and think they can just dominate a game. It's crazy.

Now Liverpool is going after Vietto, why can't we target him if, IF, Rom leaves.

Tony Abrahams
90 Posted 27/03/2015 at 16:08:11
Back the manager to the hilt, is okay with this board, as long as he can do what Harold says in post 68!
Andy Walker
91 Posted 29/03/2015 at 21:04:22
Colin, how times have indeed changed, it's not that long ago you were telling us all how Martinez would be so different to 'Ginge', how he would adapt and be flexible if it didn't work at first and would have more than just a 'Plan A', how we would no longer have a manager with the mentality that survival in the league must be our first priority.

Lukaku has been playing for a move the past month, plain for us all to see.

Clive Rogers
92 Posted 02/04/2015 at 06:23:13
The news that Lukaku has changed to super agent Mino Raiola has led to me jumping to an unwanted conclusion. Monaco based italian Raiola is known mainly for brokering deals with Ajax, PSG and AC Milan and controlling the careers of Ibrahimovic and Balotelli. It was also reported recently that Lukaku has requested a meeting to discuss his and Everton's future.

Now, why would a player with four years left on his contract suddenly need a top agent like Raiola? I may be adding two and two and making five, but I now think Lukaku won't be playing for Everton FC next season.

Kieran Fitzgerald
93 Posted 02/04/2015 at 07:03:41
English clubs won't touch Lukaku at present. He won't do enough at present in the Premier League to justify the big transfer. Given the slower pace and less physical nature of leagues on the continent, Lukaku would be more suited to a move abroad. His lack of league goals this season won't matter as much.

By the time we pay Chelsea and the tax man we won't have a lot of change out of a figure like £35M. To make any real money, we would need to be getting at least £40M for Lukaku. What clubs abroad are going to pay that money? The big two in Spain maybe but they would look for the finished article, which Lukaku isn't. Maybe the top couple of clubs in Germany but they don't spend that big that often. Does Italian football have that kind of money?


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.


About these ads

© ToffeeWeb