Everton confirm Gueye as next signing

Heard it all before in the last 2 weeks. Where's the ink on the contract and the scarf held high?

If he is, at ٥m he will be a snip. Especially compared to McCarthy!

Saying that we need any and every improvement to the team we got, wherever it begins.

Looks to be very mobile and good at what he does which is breaking things up and turning around possession. A bargain at that price.

We do have a surplus of DMCs though and need to move a few on...

To me, to compare him to Kante is ridiculous. One played in a very good side that won the title. The other played in a bad side that dropped out the Premier League without a whimper. I'm not saying this Gueye is a bad player. But it's got a Martinez feel about it... and not Koeman.

My bet is you'll see "Academy Entrance" cropped out of the final photos later today.

Where's the picture with the shirt and scarf at Goodison.

As for Ashley Williams... perhaps what we need – but to write off 㾶m??? That really does not make sense. If I was Moshiri, I would be saying No to Koeman on this one.

Next on the shopping list is central defender or 2 please Ronald and lets ship out those who don't want to play for us.

Taxi for Lukaku please. Oh bugger. He's missed it. Clearly can't even be arsed to flag it down.

Watch out City, Chelski et al. We're comin' for ya!

Stekelenburg, Williams and Gueye – these three would immediately bring a lot more quality and steel into the defensive spine of the first team.

Keeper who commands his box, a proper no nonsense CB with leadership in defence and a (what looks like) bargain of a CDM in the N'Kante mould.

Only slight negative is the age of two but if Gueye turns out to be anywhere near as good as N'Kante then he's worth at least 3 times what we're paying Villa.

All three players above would have cost about 㾾m in transfer fees – that is excellent business in any language.

Reckon Williams could be following soon after and still think Witsel might be coming once he realises that Juve don't rate him/can't afford him in the same way we do.

Would feel confident in an opening day team of:

Stekelenburg
Coleman Williams Funes Mori Baines
Witsel Gueye
Deulofeu Barkley Mirallas
Lukaku

Though in an ideal world there'd be a top-notch GK and a proper playmaker coming in as well.

Wouldn't be sorry to see Cleverley and McCarthy go. I don't think either of them offer anything. McCarthy has got worse, each season he has been here.

I'd be happy enough if it was just Stekelenburg, Williams and Gueye before KO, with a couple extra by end of August. Obviously if Lukaku goes near term, we will need an immediate replacement.

They were very unlucky to go down that year instead of West Ham, but if Gueye is (statistically) as good as Kante, as the papers say, then I say... good signing! :D

As for not being his first choice, I couldn't really care less so long as he puts the effort in. Nearly all players are mercenaries and will go to the the biggest/richest club interested in them in the same way that fans will happily trade in the plodding, loyal academy product (Hibbo/Osman) for the glamourous, expensive new European signing...

COYB

Blues Complete Gana Deal

Barry: top quality but age is an obvious limit. Keep fresh for the games against the top 6 and as a substitute for the rest I'd say.

McCarthy: consistent but needs a progressive partner. Has potential to improve but he will be competing with Gueye I'd imagine.

Cleverley: versatile and decent albeit unspectacular. Good squad filler who can play out wide or in the middle when needed.

Gibson: sicknote. Good passing range but will never impose himself nor get a run of games to truly make an impact. Last chance saloon.

Besic: not really sure. Fan favorite but limited. I feel Gueye will take his or McCarthy's place in the team. It much depends on who will accept a place on the bench and the battle to make the first team. Personally would feel happier with Gueye & McCarthy rather than Gueye & Besic.

Davies: top quality. Hopefully a breakthrough year for the lad.

Good luck Idrissa (hope he wears that in his jersey).

Big question marks over Besic and McCarthy for me, who both have had a fairly average 18 months. Shape up or ship out. Both would be sold for above the £7.1m we just shelled out, so looks decent business.

Williams to come, a top keeper, right back, left winger and striker required excluding the inevitable sale of Stones and Lukaku. Really hope we can get some big stars, and not a load of mid table mediocrity.

Koeman's comments reveal everything about the pressing game that he's after. He'll soon find out who isn't willing to put in a shift!!

The question I have at the moment is reports are true about Lukaku leaving, who are we replacing him with??

Sam, I like the look of that line-up for the Tottenham game. At the same time a really do question Witsel's desire, also Lukaku' desire to be in a blue shirt.

Pity the manager that has to rebuild the squad in 2 years time.

He will add a lot to our midfield – mobility and bite, good reading and hunts down the ball with more athleticism than any of those we have.

He can dribble and find a pass too.

Fits RK press and force transition ball then counter at speed.

He's a solid DM, with great attributes, and entering his peak years as a professional.

Ok, he may not score overhead kicks and 30 yard screamers every week, but he does a good job and may excel in a better team (Ronaldo would've struggled to shine at Villa last season).

At ٥m, due to release clause, he is low risk and may prove to be an absolute bargain... whilst also allowing us to spend more at those "exciting" signings you so desire!

Glass half full, or half empty. I think your glass is bust.

This is a great signing; if we get Williams as well that would be really strengthening the defence.

COYB

I am hoping we will get a marquee signing – but this is good business, in an understated Moshiri sort of way.

When you are the wrong side of retirement age is the time to worry about not being excited by anything. I don't think RK has sought your advice before signing him but his former team played Aston Villa TWICE last year and he also tried to sign him before Villa did so my guess is there must be a bit of football in him.

You don't have to cost the earth to end up winning trophies and play for your country.

Great business in this hyped up market imo.

Two excellent attacking full backs in Seamus and Baines rearing to go!

We are still shopping at Lidl here, perhaps Moshiri is saving up for the new stadium. We could do with a marquee signing as a statement of intent.

People spouting stats about Gueye and his "interception" rate make me laugh. He had so many because Villa were constantly on the back foot, probably their keeper was a high-number shot-stopper too... it's because Villa were shite! I don't recall one person on here saying how much they admired him and hoped we bought him! Utter dross of a signing and almost as uninspiring as the keeper signing!

Utter bollocks, not even two weeks to kick off and the only thing that's really changed is the names at the top!

Kinda strange the Official Website has decided he shall be known as 'Gana', which seems to be his middle name, rather than Idrissa or Gueye. Maybe it's the 'single-name Brazilian' scenario kicking in, where the club (and/or his 'people') have taken this branding opportunity to create a new identity.

I guess we'll see what goes on the shirt, with the new squad numbers having reportedly been delayed by his signing? What's in a name, eh?

I know it's probably a one off but look at what Leicester did with players, some of who cost under a million.

Our statement of intent, IMHO, would be holding on to our two very sought after players, plugging the gaps elsewhere, and beating Spurs on the opening day of the season.

For those posters "finding it hard to get excited" please name the DMs in world football that would "excite" them?

Rom will seek forgiveness and repent of his foolish blabber mouth and it will be like a new signing!!!! ;-)

The midfield from last season was just not good enough, it needed changing not sentiment and their will be casualties!

Hopefully Williams will be with us to and we can then see the team having a more solid look about it.

I have a feeling that we may get the Moyes/Martinez embryo here with Koeman, hard to beat, with the full backs not venturing to far forward a la Leicester, but useful breakaway football using the flanks whenever possible.

Why are so many unhappy? Because it's not another overpriced prima donna super star? Sometimes they are more trouble than they are worth. However ,I do think that we will need to lose at least one DMF. As long as it's not Barry.

Kante - ٣.6 million
Mahrez - 𧷤,000
Stones - ١ million
Coleman - 㿨,000
Vardy ٟ million

I could go on but I'm sure you get the picture.

The value of a player is not a guide to how good he actually is. If we got a player worth millions on a free does that mean he's crap or we did good business?

How much a player costs should be the last consideration when looking for good players. Attitude, skill, injury history, age, do they fit into the manager's tactics.

I see no point whatsoever in buying a player just because he costs a lot. Man Utd paid 㿨 million for Di Maria and he barely lasted one season.

If at some point we have to pay top dollar to get a player the manager thinks we need then so be it. But it has to be for good football reasons and not just to keep the fans happy.

As far as I'm concerned this deal and hopefully the Williams deal are good buys. Proper players at proper prices and not overpriced overrated "marquee buys".

Was Makelele exciting? Are any of Carvalho, Witsel, Kante, Busquets, Matic, etc, exciting??

The likes of Cleverley and a few others just don't seem to be able to get a run of consistent good form being in and out performers contributing to a weak team.

Only time will tell if this signing will bear fruit. However he is one of us now and that makes him family. My irrational exuberance will be limitless. I have high hopes for any signing and with four central defensive midfielders in the team already, a starting position would speak volumes.

I'm not head over heels merely because it's not a position that holds as much importance as a new nNumber 1. It may not be the signing we need at this moment but if it brings us one step closer to redeveloping our squad then I'm ravished. ٥m is chump change for those stats.

If the 𧴜M 'warchest' exists, it's not there to be spent just because it's there. Being a 'big club' primarily means not having to sell your best players, like Wayne Rooney. I believe that's the position we're in now. I wouldn't like us to be like Liverpool, throwing dosh around to no great effect.

To me, buying a 32-year-old centre-half from Swansea is a very short-term measure when we should be able to afford someone equally good [sic] with less miles on the clock. Keeping John Stones would be a better option but Moshiri obviously needs the money to fund, eg, the purchase of Williams. It's a strange world.

I accept though that, if Williams can give us a couple of decent seasons as a player and leader, then, at today's prices ,it will not look too bad a deal.

On the whole, as far as decent new blood coming to EFC is concerned, the results of our 'rejuvenation' under Koeman to date have been disappointing as those who we are hoping to challenge for the top places in the EPL continue to add strength and skill to their squads, apparently at our expense if Stones and Lukaku take off.

I agree with Big Nev in that at the start of every season the club's goal should be to win the league...otherwise what's the point in running the race. But when a new system and management team with a change in style enters the club there's a certain reality to the necessity for patience and a steady build.

As Evertonians, we're a knowledgable and patient bunch and so please let's not loose our heads and turn into a shower of abhorred muppets. We've endured a lot of disappointment and dross but also have had the luxury of witnessing the antics of other clubs and their supporters through the Premiere league circus and hopefully have learned a lesson or two.

I've got to say, when City found themselves bankrolled, I was genuinely happy as I'd always felt something of an affinity for them as supporters in their parallel universe of Manchester. Then came the muppet show 'we've got Robinho' and steady decline in restraint and class.

Thankfully, Moshiri seems to have his head screwed on and is quietly building the foundation of a club which has had it chipped away over the past 20 years. This simple article says it for me I have to say:

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-Evertons-flushed-new-owner-wont-be-following-stereotypical-sugar-daddy-mould

Glad we're off the mark at least.

If the team pulls together and gets rid of its sulkers and work-shy psuedo mllionaires it can improve literally overnight. Let's give Koeman a chance to get our new team to gel and do a Leicester. Sometimes a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts.

Tony Dove at 87, so effectively you are saying Moshiri is a fraud who has to sell to buy?

I heard of one Premier League team that spent £13m on a forward who managed 40 minutes of football and scored no goals before being shipped out on loan to Turkey (at best).

Don't worry about signing players for low fees... worry about signing players for high fees.

If you add the gross spend of those four teams, they have spent more than all the other 38 teams that have competed in the history of the Premier League COMBINED. Seems to be a bit more than a coincidence?

We now have a solid manager, let him get on with it and forget about the media. Why are some of us so often moaning about the media in general, or wanting more media coverage? It's like an obsession with some.

Judging the ability of a player by the size of their fee is too simplistic.

I'm rooting for Koeman to do well but apart from being linked with Mata (which seems to have cooled) nothing has really happened to excite me.

I really hope I am wrong but the rumours that he would have £100 million to spend plus any money from potential sales of Stones and Lukaku, seems to have been just that, rumours. Seems to me we will only be spending big if one of the two leave.

Stones can be replaced but it took us almost 20 years to find a striker that will consistently score 20+ goals a season. Finding another one will not be easy.

I know we need to be patient but I am starting to worry...

But you may have a point. There may be some marketing exercise involved.

It will take a while to remove his malign influence but I believe our new coach will do it. It looks like he is going to make us hard to beat, and that is a start.

I have way more faith in the Koeman/Walsh combo to do the right thing and so does Mr Moshri obviously as it is his money at stake. Idrissa Gueye is a fabulous signing. I think that Koeman will also make Besic a better player. Besic already has quality but he is inconsistent. It would not surprise me to see these two start the campaign as the holding mids.

There is more than a dozen footballers, past and present and almost all of them Senegalese, with the surname Gueye (including, of course, our former French/Senegalese Magaye).

Fills a position that we do need to address. Credit to Barry for his sound contribution last season, but it would be a big ask to expect that again this coming season. The ominous sign has been Barry's lack of time on the pitch so far.

It's a real shame Mata has fallen off the radar as he would be prefect so, when the likes of Sunderland and West Brom come to town and put 10 players behind the ball, which we see season after season at Goodison, we have a player that can thread a pass through tight defenses.

The few players we have that are capable of those types of passes are Gibbo who is always on the treatment table, Deulofeu who is likely to be playing up front this season, and finally John Stones who by the looks of it is heading towards the exit!

We definitely need a playmaker because I think Ross is better running with the ball when there is a bit more space but lacks the spark of creativity when defenses are tight.

Looking forward to the new season.

Barry's a quality player but his legs aren't there; McCarthy is by far the most limited of all our midfielders, just passes it sideways or backwards.

I think Barry & McCarthy might play a bit in the first season for Koeman but will be phased out by the end of the season. Both players were suited to the Martinez regime of slow build up, slow tempo passing going nowhere.

Quite surprised about some people's views of Besic on here. Everton fans I know rate him highly, as do I, but, it's all about opinions. He's the one I'd envisage Koeman being able to work on and develop and suiting the type of Koeman's game that Koeman wants to play – high energy, tempo...

Besic is also a fighter and he has nice touch and ball control. He was fantastic when he was given a run in the side last season, one bright spark that brought energy, tempo and spirit to the team and bossed the game against Man City at home in the cup. He's a winner and I like that.

Davies would be the other player that long-term will come into the fold.