Sandro coy over proposed Everton move

I'm sick and tired of all the drama involved with the likes of Witsel, the fella from Kiev, Sissoko etc Let's get Dembele and keep Big Rom.

If he wants to join us... great. If he is trying to tout himself around for a better offer, then tell him to chase himself.

There could be all sorts of reasons he's been asked not to comment on the deal at the moment. We should just be patient and let it play out. If he doesn't sign, because his heart isn't in it – so be it; much as we hope he does but only because he wants to.

Let's not feel victimised though, most other clubs are facing identical situations with their targets. For example, Defoe seems to have been on the verge of joining Bournemouth for about 6 months.

I don't know how much we can read into this. Probably nothing.

This is what world football authorities love. We spend off season dancing to the tune of rumour and it increases anticipation for the new season.

If we had strength or something more interesting to follow close season, we would ignore the rumours but we don't. Hence I am on TW tonight looking for latest rumour.

Sadly this article has not got me one step forward and wasted another 10 mins of my life!

Back tomorrow!

Could be he's under instruction that Evertonfc.com will make any announcements when it's done.

Best to remain tight-lipped if there is any element of doubt – Mino Raiola, take note.

See ya tomorrow, same time and place...

Seems like a thoroughly professional response to a journalist's question and nothing more. What do people want him to do, jump up & down and scream that he's an Everton player before the deal is done? He'd look like a right plonker then, wouldn't he?

This is just filling inches in papers and means absolutely zero.

There are a lot of points that have to be worked out and when they are, we'll know about it. If talks break down, I'm pretty sure the club will make it known very quickly. In the meantime I prefer to believe that no news is good news.

Oh for the days of clandestine meetings in motorway service stations, shock announcements in the Echo, the Boys Pen etc...

If Arsenal or the RS were/are interested then we may have a problem. Money talks but so does selling the dream of the adventure that the club is embarking on, but it means that we're likely to gain a few but also lose a few over the journey.

I'm putting my faith in ToffeeWeb rumours and nonsense.

El Mundo Deportivo (a different paper) picked up on this with a sensational headline implying he had said the quote about knowing nothing about Everton today.

Also, the match commentator on Spanish TV has described him twice so far as an Everton player but this may not mean anything as they often get things wrong here. As others have said, we may just have to be patient on this one.

They interviewed Ronaldo the other day and he said "I'm focusing on the match with Portugal, he didn't piss his pants and start saying "I owe ٧ million in taxes", did he?

The transfer is all but done; stop panicking, Mr Mainwaring

Sandro will be signing on Wednesday after the U21 match with Portugal.

And Keane on Wednesday or Thursday.

Wouldn't that be nice from a centre-forward?

His heart isn't in it. Sick of the drama. Let's keep Big Rom.

Notice the contradiction? :P

Nothing to see here.

(The kid scored a great goal tonight, BTW.)

And I wonder what Deulofeu is telling him about the current coach? Everton should give him an ultimatum: sign for us in 48 hours or we will move on to the next target. Cut out his option and show other players we are a big club and will not be stuffed around or used by any player or club.

Time to chillax a little and just see what happens. If it happens, great; if it doesn't, we go elsewhere.

For what it's worth, I really like the player and hope he signs, but let's not start jumping up and down when there are no facts whatsoever on the table. Unless the same journalists who wrote 'done deal' actually prove they know what's going on and supply us with an update on the delay.

Journalists everywhere seem to know nothing. So are we still set to announce Sandro and Keane over the next 2 days? Or has there been a hitch?

In some ways it's great that nothing is coming from the club as we are acting professionally and doing business under the radar of the press. Just leaves us fans sitting around looking for scraps!

Moreover, the Everton deal may flush out other more attractive deals. The player probably does want to focus on the Euros. Also, he seemed set for Atletico until a week ago, so maybe he's undecided.

It's kind of like if say Rashford never got a game at Man Utd, joined Swansea for a year and did well. Then Chelsea tried to sign him before getting a six-month transfer ban. All of a sudden, Valencia put in a bid. Would Rashford be all over it? Or would he wonder about a January move to Chelsea?

We already have a striker who talks about leaving all the time, and now this guy is showing a little respect to his current club & fan base, yet we question why he isn't talking about joining us.

I think he will sign, I look forward to him occupying the Number 19 shirt and watching him score & assist goals; hopefully for Dembele in the Number 9 shirt.

COYB

I reckon we might well be seeing both Sandro and Deulofeu line up in pre-season in a few weeks time.

This tournament is just putting him in the shop window for potential gazumpers; with this in mind, my usual optimistic mind tells me we are going to lose out.

I get the feeling he came to meet them as a safety net but he knows, if he does well in the U21 Euros, he'll bag himself a better deal somewhere sunny with maybe Champions League football.

I guess you're referring too the Echo?

"Some interesting stuff in SportBild this morning. The German newspaper speculates about the future of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who is expected to leave the German giants this summer. And they also outline potential replacements for the Gabon striker – with Malaga's Sandro mentioned as a possibility."

WIth the key words being potential replacements, and Sandro mentioned as a possibility – all of this in a newspaper/website. Hardly even worth mentioning, let alone getting worried about.

The moment Sandro played a blinder last night was the very moment other clubs sat up and took notice. :( Talk of Dortmund now showing an interest in him, and I am sure before the Under-21s has finished there will be many more ready to snatch him from our grasp.

Thing is, I thought Sandro would have been the one signing that I could help Everton bridge that gap to the top 6. Now I know he is still lined up to sign for us after the championships but I am sure there will be other clubs now contacting his agent.

If this actually does fall through then its possibly going to have repercussions for the rest of our signings. Because if it is true that we could have had him for ٤m, it meant we could afford to take a hit on Sigurdsson and Dembele and pay way over the the odds for those players because of how much we would have saved on the Sandro deal.

He was going to sign for Atletico Madrid until the ban was upheld, so it's not as though he will have any affinity to us either. I so so hope I am wrong, but gutted if I am right.

You are also right that he must be chatting to Deulofeu as the squad spend loads of time together, why would they not. Deulofeu wont have good things to say about Everton or Koeman after making it clear he is not wanted and sending him out on loan.

If we do sign Sandro, then I would want Lukaku to stay.

If Lukaku did go, then we should get Dembele to play with Sandro, who I think will be better than Lukaku.

If Sandro doesn't sign and Lukaku does leave, we should go for Dembele and Iheanacho.

Remember Spurs, Liverpool (January) and up until a few weeks ago Atletico Madrid were all showing interest. Now nothing. Just us.

It would be nice for someone to give us a hint on what is actually going on.

We have to hope the Dortmund news is just speculation, invented because they commonly target younger players. Imo they certainly won't be buying Sandro as a replacement for Aubemeyang – he is a very different player and doesn't run in behind in the same way. So many of Aubemeyang's goals come from through balls, whereas Sandro commonly shoots from outside/edge of the area and comes deep. He might be brought as a supplement but not as a replacement.

I also like Ihneacho, Dembele and Dolberg as potential other options.

Deulofeu has had nothing but good things to say about Everton and the fans. I have read that he was happy on Merseyside particularly with the reception he generally got from the fans so I don't know why you imagine he "wont have good things to say about Everton".

Do you have any factual evidence to back up your comment? I'm not having a go, I'm just interested.

Despite reportedly having passed a medical for Everton, he hasn't as yet signed. Can't blame him or his agent for delaying while still being able to impress other clubs while playing in the Under-21 tournament.

Lets hope we do sign him, as the Liverpool Echo are reporting that Lukaku has agreed personal terms with Chelsea, although the Echo also says Chelsea wont pay the 𧴜 million asking price.

Now seeing as he still has 2 years of his contract to go, how as he been allowed to agree terms with Chelsea not agreeing to match Everton's valuation. The arrogance of Chelsea if this is true is unbelievable! Maybe we need to grow a pair and report them to the Premier League, as Southampton did to Liverpool.

I wouldn't worry about what Deulofeu says to him, as he's not wanted by Koeman, whereas Sandro clearly is.

Apart from one excellent conversion, I felt he was mostly uninvolved and out of touch with the game especially considering it was only Under-21 and not the Premier league.

I just hope that those more in the know than me are right to rave about this guy.

That is, of course, if he signs.

I think it will happen but, as many have already said, the lad is otherwise occupied right now. Will you all be expecting and demanding signatures this time next year when players are on World Cup duty?

Not heard anything to say it's not happening.

If that is correct then the vetting of the player using Walsh's in-depth method is surely flawed.

Ken I'm finding it really difficult to reply as my tongue has become somewhat "stuck" in my cheek. ;-)

I hope we get Sandro in but has he 20+ goals in him? Dominic Calvert-Lewin certainly hasn't,

If Rom goes, we need at least two strikers in, but I won't hold my breath for top class coming in.

Koeman's just not going to do that after making two very good early signings and then follow it up with the likes of Deeney, ffs.

However, surely something needs to give as the recruitment of two capable strikers must be our highest priority (I would have thought).

The "Great Man Shanks" only wanted players who wanted to play for his team and was happy to pass on / say goodbye to anyone who didn't. Seemed to work for him.

See what you've done!!!!!

Do you think Sandro is Rom's replacement?

Even with you having your tongue stuck in your cheek, we all have to actually consider whether your 'joke' is not quite close to the truth... :D

I can understand him distancing himself to concentrate on the U21 tournament, though!

I think Sandro is just one of three strikers we'll sign, if he signs, tbh mate.
Lev (#72). Please look at #55.

I did take a long breath, then looked though it all again. And I hoped I'd be able to edit my post before I looked too foolish... And I did! Almost... Hah! Too bad you caught me with my knickers down... ;D

I think that's a good approach to have when it comes to transfers in general – you're apt to go mad otherwise.

As has been said before I expect at least two new strikers before the start of the season.

Time to sit back and see what the next 4 weeks will deliver. I think we may need to be careful regarding the FFP rules on total spend.

If Lukaku goes, gloves are off. Either way, nice to see Everton do early business and we will be playing football in just over a month, so time to trust Koeman and Walsh to get it right.

Keep Lukaku and play him up front next season, he'll score 25-30 goals. Sell after him scoring two scuffed penalties in the failed Martinez World Cup campaign for 㿷m

Stoke at home first day with no Lukaku?

We've bid. He's supposedly had his medical and agreed terms. He's playing out the rest of the tournament before sorting his future out. Like he said he would. What's the problem? This isn't Bungling Bill days anymore.

And what if he doesn't sign/changes his mind? It's hardly the end of the world. He's decent but no Messi. We'll just move on to other targets who do want to play for us but let's not shoot him or Everton down just yet, eh?

Surely anyone who will improve us will take a look at their options before committing?

This is dragging out, that tells me the player thinks he's a chance to do better. Sounds terrible, but I want players who think they are better than 7th!

I know that we have gone down the "He's all but signed" route for a player who'll join Dortmund, Sevilla or similar next term.

We pulled this part-time rubbish with Pickford then someone realised we might have to go and actually sign the guy rather than agree "in principle" fees.

Let's sit back, relax and see Sandro win the U21 Euros and sign for Everton for £5.2M, ffs

It doesn't matter hugely as he'd be a Lucas Perez type anyway. Selling Lukaku would be much more emblematic of small-time Everton but the fact we can't get this old looking kid in within a sensible time window smacks seasoned observers as being "typical Everton".

I count myself as a seasoned observer, but we are entering a period that is not "typical Everton". To not see that is a bit silly, don't you think?

And why is it Everton's fault, which you seem to imply? From what the kid said before the Euros started, he wants to wait until the end of said Euros before deciding on his future. What's wrong with that? It has nothing to do with our "part-time rubbish".

There is no "in principal fee" agreement. We'll met the release clause if he wants to come to us. We can't force him to sign now but waiting another week or so for him to finish up then sign is hardly a big deal is it? Who's to say he hasn't told Ron that he'll sign once the Euros have finished as he wants to concentrate on that?

And if he doesn't want to come, well good luck to him. We'll move on to other targets. He's hardly a world beater.

Nobody else was in for Pickford & Davy Klaassen though, so nothing to bungle. This lad, we've bungled it. As you said, he's pretty crap anyway, but still.

I don't think we've bungled it. There are many reasons why he may not have signed yet, but I just can't see that one of them is because we messed up. There isn't a whole lot to mess up as the fee was the easy part.

And I didn't say he was crap, he's just not a world beater right now from the games I've seen him play in. But he has time. Whether that is with us or not we'll no doubt see in the next week or so.

Stay positive fella! It's a brave new world!

His movement to get on the end of Deulofeu's pass for his goal against Portugal was absolute class.

We will see – I haven't given up hope just yet.

I'm still very confident he'll come. But I'm also confident we'll get someone else decent if he doesn't.

Not worried like I would have been pre Moshiri.

Well... 99.9999% done!!

In any case, keep a chilled Peroni on standby for me please. :-)

If it doesn't work out, we would likely recoup our money, if it does then we've got a real bargain, and if it works out and he eventually leaves in a few years we would make a big profit.

A winning deal all round.

Dembele would certainly be worth a shot (although scoring for fun in SPL isn't necessarily proof of much).

Appreciate he's out the door, but would be super interesting to see Lukaku play alongside someone like this – ie, direct target man alongside someone with guile in a Hazard/Silva style.

I know people will say we sort of tried this with Barkley but I don't think it's the same, Ross just isn't quick thinking enough to play in this role – when he can operate on pure instinct it works, when he has options it all tends to fall apart.

I think he'll be good for us. A really hard working forward with good movement and the potential to score from distance.

I'm not so sure about Sigurdsson now we have Klaassen and Swansea are talking about 㿔m. I'd be looking for a more mobile playmaker in the Mahrez, Silva or Eriksen style. I still like Boudebouz as a value option.

Then for Michael Keane and most crucially to sort the Lukaku question.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/06/21/leicester-plan-25m-move-man-city-striker-kelechi-iheanacho/

RE: Sam #108 - I think 㿔M is a lot for Sigurdsson, but I'm sure that's not what would actually be paid (ie, we're not getting 𧴜M for Lukaku, probably more like 㿼M tops) but equally I think he's a smarter, tidier and more dangerous attacker than Barkley who would create a lot of chances and weigh in with goals too. You'd have to be hoping for like 15 assists and 10 goals say (based on what he's achieved to date).

Yeah, I was looking for you earlier...

I'm getting very excited now as I'm going to watch Transformer, bring my son, this is his first movie. One day I will be even more excited when I bring him to our new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.

No, the above is crap!!

Getting all excited, transformers, Sandro and NBA draft tonight.

Agreed that Sigurdsson and Klaassen can (and hopefully will) play in the same team. I think Klaassen and Davies will compete for the same spot, with Gylfi in the #10 role. £40m for proven Premier League quality in that role is not over the top in my opinion. The more so if its offset by whatever we recoup on any potential Ross Barkley sale.

On Barkley, I have a suspicion he's been told by Koeman that he's not going to be an automatic starter and that is why he's not signed the contract on offer. If we do get Sigurdsson, I reckon that will spell taxi-time for young Ross.

It'll be a real pity, but as others have mentioned he just doesn't have the quality football brain / decisiveness in the final third that a really top class #10 should have. I really wanted him to succeed, but after all this time he's been found out at the highest level.

If we get Keane and Sigurdsson (and another striker, if Rom does leave, which is looking rather inevitable), I'll be delighted with our business. COYB!!

I think if Lukaku leaves we'll be in the market for another two strikers.

Theoretically Sandro is a replacement for Kone which still leaves us with only two strikers, not enough IMO, three minimum required this season and four would be more sensible tbh.

Whether Lukaku goes or not I'd love to see Dembele brought in. If Lukaku leaves, then for me it would be Demblele, Iheanacho, plus another.

Playing next season with two mobile, tricky, pacey strikers would be a joy. Would increase the speed of the build up play from midfield too as there'd be many more options open to them.

I rate Iheanacho, think he would be great for us. Not hearing much about him at the moment which I find very stange – sure would be a surprise if he ended up at Leicester City.

Depends on what's happening with Lukaku in a way, I guess. But if we're getting big money for him then Iheanacho will hardly be a risky investment.

The RS have been found out for tapping up the player, although no sanction was enforced, and said they would not pursue the player any longer, and yet this gobshite is still encouraging VVD to go on strike.

This club, and all of its ex players are one big load of scum.

Colin (101), I'm not sure about spending the money quoted on Sigurdsson, £40m is a lot for someone who isn't very spectacular. What about Mahrez, Mata, Ramsey, Max Meyer, Arda Turan, Fabregas, Nolito etc.

This hurts, but I do have to recommend 'Aldo's' scouse recipe. The gobshite looks a right tool in his chef's hat but the recipe is top-drawer I'm afraid.

I think he rates Dominic Calvert-Lewin very highly and I believe this player will develop into a very useful option up-front. His physique and hold-up play will be a real asset, and I think he knows where the net is too.

Don't forget, he is very young.

Work-rate is a huge thing for Koeman, regardless of which position on the pitch you play. The first thing he mentioned about Klaassen was not his skill, technique, etc but "he works hard and likes to press" – I think this is a basic prerequisite for playing in a Koeman team, and incidentally, is another reason I think he's not too perturbed about the prospect of losing Barkley.

Obviously its not all about that, skill and technique, etc do come into it – but I think he likes players who are skillful and work hard. Sigurdsson being another classic example.

What would be great is for Lukaku to now remain and work with our reinforced squad to make a 'proper fist' next season both domestically and in Europe.

That would be the ultimate smack in the eye for this pesky media who depict us as a small club who cannot keep our best players.

Still this is good work by Everton. Keep it coming.

I have to agree with Rob about Aldridge suggesting that VVD goes on strike. I wonder if he would have suggested that Suarez did that when Arsenal met his release clause.

But how did the Daily Mirror get the quote and even more importantly why print it? I would hope that Southampton tell him he can sign for anyone but not them, unless he waits till his 5-year contract is up.

Also, I thought they released a statement apologizing and saying they have no further interest in the player.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/everton-transfer-news-live-sandro-13218843

So for example if someone was to come in and offer say 㾶M, 㾻M, 㿀M or whatever for Ramirez, so long as all parties are amenable, wouldn't that determine his destination?

This is a pure hypothetical, and I only use Sandro because this is his thread. I thoroughly believe this deal will be over the line imminently... And to pick up on Will Mabon's musical theme...

Wouldn't it be nice! (From probably one of the top 5 albums of all time!)

RS owner at the time talking about Arsenal triggering Dobbin's release clause:

"“But what we've found over the years is that contracts don't seem to mean a lot in England - actually not in England, in world football. It doesn't matter how long a player's contract is, he can decide he's leaving."

He then goes on to say,

"“Since apparently these contracts don't seem to hold, we took the position we're just not selling and it's been great for Luis, it's been great for us, and what will happen at the end of year. I think we're going to make Champions League and we have a small chance of winning the Premier League this year."

Couldn't help but smile at the last bit, ha.

Seems a player only has to be informed of the bid from what I can decipher. Club don't have to sell but that means a player can agitate for a move, which often happens.

If there is competition for the player's services then the competition will be all about how much to pay the player in wages/signing on fee. The club has to sell to anyone meeting the release clause amount so no-one will bid higher than that.

However the signing on fee to the player may be substantial – as much as the transfer fee itself if the release clause is set too low and there is competition for the signature of the player.

He was very highly rated a year or two ago but hasn't really pushed on yet which might give us a chance to steal in under the Champions League clubs' noses.

He could be a risk and might well go the way of Erik Lamela but still I think its the kind of risk worth taking; young talent with the potential to push us into the top 4 if he joins Stella in getting his groove back.

I never quite understood why both bids weren't accepted in the end.

If we have bid ٣.2m and therefore triggered the release clause for Sandro, what's to stop say Dortmund offering more, eg 㾶m? (That was my hypothetical point Erik. It could be ٣.3m but that is hardly a statement of intent).

Sure, personal terms and so on will have a bearing on the player's own decision as much as the attraction of one cub over another or a number of others, but surely the selling club will want to do the best they can and are a major part of the deal.

I may be being a bit dense but I don't really get the point of a low release clause.

Twelve months later, for example, a club may come in for the player with a bid below the release clause. The club who owns the player could say "Bugger off", and the player wouldn't have any justification to complain.

If a new bid comes in that matches the release clause, the owning club would have to 'accept' the bid. The player would decide if he's interested in moving to the bidding club, and negotiate personal terms. If another club also decides they want to buy him, all they have to do is match the release clause as well, after which they can also negotiate personal terms with the player.

There's no point anybody bidding over a release clause, as the player can negotiate with any team that matches the release clause. It all comes down to the personal terms and the player's decision.

Just read your comment, Ian. There was no need for my post. Very well explained.

Being upset at not getting a new contract with Barça he went to Malaga on a free knowing he was better than Malaga if you like. He probably had the release clause set that low so he could move easily in the near future.

He would probably have said to Malaga that he wouldn't go there if the release clause wasn't at the figure he wanted. They'd have agreed because they were getting a Barça player on a free and if/when he did leave they get €6M.

Capisce?

I guess I was kind of viewing it a bit like an auction reserve in my ignorance.

Due to the relatively low figure he negotiated into the release clause, Sandro will be getting a massive signing on fee from his new club and significantly enhanced personal terms.

Player power indeed.

Mr Hoare (said that to a bird once and got smacked in the mouth, weirdly/deservedly). Your knowledge on players is quite broad, just how much togger you watch a week?

ps / Disclaimer: "an empty box still with dips" is not a sexual connotation of any sort!

Even the autobots have finished saving the Earth...

*Yawn*

You were anticipating the new film with a healthy sense of optimism and I'm sure you discussed the exciting times a head with your son. Unfortunately it appears that you've been left disappointed and underwhelmed.

Sport imitates art imitates life?

One of the reasons I was excited before the movie was I thought I would see the confirmation of Sandro deal once I'm out of the cinema. (That's definitely more exciting than watching autobots fighting)

Apart from Barça, everyone wins.

Hoping to hear of a bid of £15 Million for that Sessegnon at Fulham.

Sigurdsson will be a tricky deal to do, the player isn't one to force a move and Swansea will demand a king's ransom. Great player but there are better options at £40m for me.

It finally feels that this club is becoming professional commercially and operationally.

http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-edges-closer-signing-everton-demand-fans-receive-explanation/

The announcement was supposed to be today – according to the Echo – and yet... nothing.

Maybe the Echo have jumped the gun?

So many things I want to say here but I'd get banned *lol*.

That's a downright ripoff of my stupid made up rumour on here, and just as fucking stupid!

I think someone is talking crap to be honest. We might have people talking to him right now, but it's not finalised or it would be "breaking news" on the official site.

Might have to get laser tattoo removal now. :(

Ray (#176) I hope your right. :)

There is no way on earth Everton would agree to a deal like that.... surely!!??!

Oh and laser's gonna be painful in THAT area.

He may think we're just a stepping stone and that he can treat us like Malaga. If that's the case, then I hope we move on swiftly. The release clause that he had inserted into his Malaga contract was a total piss take. Great for us, but disrespectful to Malaga. It meant that he had all the power and Malaga would get the fee of an average Championship player. Their fans are calling him a mercenary, and who can blame them?

I am keen for us to sign him, but not on his terms. If he just wants to use us for a decent payday until Atletico come calling, then his heart isn't in it, and we should look elsewhere.

Listen to the soundbites from both Klaassen and Pickford. They're thrilled to be here and clearly proud to be part of our great club. Those are the types of players that we need.

In saying all of that, I guess we're not yet in a position to be too fussy when it comes to top talent. Maybe getting him here would lead to him falling in love with the club? Who knows?

So... not really sure how I feel about something that is just another rumour that hasn't been substantiated by anyone who knows anything... I'm turning off the wifi.

Edit: it would seem that the source of this rumour/information is a Malaga radio station. Whether that makes it more believable is anyone's guess.

But if money floats his boat then the Murdoch £Millions + Mr Moshiri must set a course for Goodison Park.

It is, as we reported first thing, done and dusted and it's now a case of what time the club officially want to announce it.

We're still pretty certain that'll be today but if not maybe they're waiting until the morning...

So it appears any delay in the announcement is down to the club, probably on Sandro's wishes after Spain play their semi-final.

Seems everybody's getting fed up of PP.

Edit. Just come to me. It was about Dick Van Dijk at Southampton.

Somewhere there is a club involved in this who have the bloody cheek of making their own decision when to announce a transfer. Disgrace.

We are all hyped up with stuff from the oracles at the Echo and how we are suffering.

A proud club should immediately comment on everything a journalist, pundit, player or agent says. After all they are the real bosses.

The club also owes it to fans to put us out of our hysterical misery every time a rumour starts.

Jesus the bloody cheek.

Has anything actually happened yet that can be confirmed? I haven't seen anything remotely like an official announcement yet Geoff Lambert appears to be patting himself on the back! Wasn't it Wednesday for Sandro, Thursday for Keane (and no concern about him being busy at a tournament)?

Geoff, you need to be providing more than you have on this thread if you are going to peddle supposed ITK gold. I'd rather not know until something has been completed than all this "It's coming soon, I've got a good source." pause and repeat melodrama.

Seems to me Malaga are well pissed off and intend to make things as difficult as possible.

However, I'd like to offer double or quits that it happens tomorrow instead!

The Mirror says Malaga are dragging their feet and Everton have sent over the club secretary to sort it out; I feel a lot more positive it will happen now.

Assuming it is also correct that we are prepared to meet the buyout clause, the only way in which Malaga could block the transfer is to refuse to do business until their transfer window officially opens.

Latest from the Mirror: "His club Malaga have placed every obstacle in the way of a swift conclusion to the transfer because of the low clause inserted by the player when he moved to them a year ago."

What this is based on is anyone's guess and I reckon just guesswork to fit a delay.

If I was a modern journo, I would go onto the like of TW, read what concerns fans, make up a story to amplify that fear, and then watch my readership/hit rate increase!

Latest from Times/Sun/Mirror etc

"Pickford Deal in Danger of Being Reversed in Brussels Standoff.

Football insiders are telling me that, in a shock development... blaah blah."

Back to Pickford though. Has anyone noticed he has an extremely large bottom? He either wears very tight shorts or he has a Bantu-esque sized rear end.

"Latest from Times/Sun/Mirror etc"

"Concerns about the size of Pickford's arse. Theresa May heckled. Could this mean a hard Brexit" etc, etc.

Colin, you're scaring me.

Is it on a Kardashian scale? If so, his post-football career is assured.

Is anyone else concerned about his handling of crosses? I'm sure it's an area he will improve on but it's a little worrying. I can see opposing teams bombing crosses over as we don't have any tall, imposing defenders, and now we also have a relatively short goalie.

I'd really like to see us buy a tall and aerially dominant centre back.

I think we should all boycott cheap holidays to Malaga, until they release Sandro to us.

Interesting that Bournemouth's cook came 2nd for aerial duels and 1st for clearances – by a huge margin! Hasn't he been championed on here before? I think by Mike Gaynes.

Those were the days, if you can overlook the whole Walter Smith thing.

Yes he's only young and has loads of potential but I have a feeling if he does come to us that he will not be happy to stay and will be using us as a stepping stone like Lukaku did.

We all thought it a little strange that he had a buy-out clause for so little but obviously this is how he does his contracts with clubs he's not overly happy to stay with long term. He probably wants to stay in Spain and play for one of the top 3 teams and moving to Atletico Madrid is probably his first choice but a year in the Premier League might improve his overall experience.

Derek, Josh King's stats are mediocre at best until 2017 when he hit a hot streak in the 2nd half of the season and scored 13 league goals. However, he only scored 3 league goals in the first half of the season.

Incidentally, Lukaku outscored him in 2017 (January-May) with 14. I was surprised by that because he dropped off when King seemed to be banging them in every week.

Reminds me of the Fellaini thread!!!

I've just made that rumour up, so it must be true.

Maybe they are waiting for the release clause to expire, so they can pay more for the player.

Isn't that what you argued regarding Fellaini?

I'm surprised there are no sound bites coming from the club though, which I deem as a positive, actually.

It's obvious that Atletico was his first choice, and with that in mind, I'm sure he would have insisted on a release clause that Atletico wouldn't baulk at. That's a bit worrying. Not sure I'm going to be able to get behind someone using us as a payday and stepping stone.

If (as it's just a rumour) the clause has indeed been inserted, I very much doubt we will hear about it as the club will not want to publicise its existence. No doubt his agent will let interested clubs know all about it before next summer.

Malaga may be dragging their heels but if Everton activated his release clause, there is nothing they can do. If they fiddle us around, they are breaking contract law and they could end up in trouble.

If it is true about whether his representatives are looking for a release clause in his potential Everton contract, we'd better have it at 㿀m plus.

If not, let's get some more done while we wait for Sandro and Malaga!

Don't ask me why. Well you can if you want, but I don't know. ;-)

What worries me is the exact details regarding any buy-out clause. I don't think we should be buying any player who seems to indicate he will want to be off to his first choice club 12 months down the line.

Hopefully these rumours are just that and any such clauses will be to our benefit.

Logic and TW? Now there is a thought.

It's about as rare on here as a kopite admitting responsibility! :-)

I know he is busy and all that but I've heard all the kids are on MySpace these days so why hasn't Sandro posted something reassuring like a big thumbs up next to a photo of Imre Varadi or something?

You don't need permission from UEFA to wear a Liverpool jersey! (nor any kind of self-respect or dress sense). But the registration won't have gone through yet. But contractually all done and dusted

Spain 2017-07-01 2017-09-01

No wonder there is confusion. They think there are 2017 days in July and Jesus was around last year.

Spooooky!

Brian, you told me not to worry, you said Koeman wouldn't sign any bums!