Everton identify Leicester man for sporting director role

Steve Walsh is being lined up to become Director of Football today. It's only a rumour though, like everything else at the minute.

Yes, Tony, The Telegraph are running the Walsh story today, saying that he has not travelled to warm weather training with Leicester although I'm not sure DoFs need to be involved to that extent.

Apparently, Walsh has been with The Foxes since he retired from teaching five years ago and numbers Mahrez, Vardy and Kante amongst his 'discoveries.'

Odd thing is, the report notes that he signed a long term contact with Leicester only SIX weeks ago!

Pardon my ignorance but who is Steve Walsh and is it a wind up? (I'm old and live overseas . . . . . . . )

William, I think he's Leicester's chief scout or head of recruitment, the guy who spotted, Vardy, Mahrez and Kante .

Steve Walsh was Leicester's captain back in the 90s and is now their head of recruitment.

Very odd Phil, unless Koeman, has personally requested that he would like Steve Walsh, to work with him.

A different Steve Walsh altogether, Andrew !

The one who Everton are seeking to appoint never played league football but began scouting whilst a PE teacher in Leicester. He eventually went on to scout for Chelsea and is credited with 'spotting' Didier Drogba for that club.

His recent history is as above.

Phil, I also thought he was their former stalwart, until I saw his photo.

Oh, that Steve Walsh... I get it now! Leicester's scout. Mmmmm... They did quite well didn't they? Has he got a brother we could try?

Blimey, both from the Chorley area too. And he's the brother of and ex Everton player. His auntie taught me when I was in the infants.

Andrew,

Mickey Walsh forward, or Mike Walsh centre back?

For those who don't know, he was at Chelsea for 16 years and spotted Drogba, Essien and Zola amongst others. Then obviously has done it again at Leicester. This guy is an Irish super scout! This would be an amazing move, no more dodgy Niasse deals.

I think this guy would be a great addition to the club but my only question is the title of "Director of Football".

Now that suggests to me he decides the way of playing and has a big influence on picking the team and outlining tactics. However, nowadays it just seems like a glorified chief scout role.

I don't really see why we need a DoF. Surely a good scouting team can bring players with potential to Koeman's attention. When it comes to the bigger signings surely that is down to the managers tactical plans and assessment of the players ability.

To say Walsh spotted Zola is a bit of a stretch. By the time Chelsea went for him he had over 200 Serie A appearances and over eighty goals to his name as well as being an experienced international. Drogba was a great buy, but he was hardly a fresh faced youth when Chelsea picked him up. Mahrez, Kante and Vardy were good buys for a team with a limited budget, but surely were shopping at Harrods nowadays, not Aldi.

I'm not saying Walsh isn't a great talent spotter, I just don't really understand the role of DoF. Surely that's what we pay Koeman all that money to make the right calls.

He taught me PE at Bishop Rawstorne School in Croston (near Chorley) in the mid-90s. He's a good bloke. My footballing ability didn't appear to make much of an impact on him though.

Drew is right... Drogba was amazing in his last season at Marseilles – both he and Essien were known to even casual fans, and Chelsea just threw their financial weight about to sign them. Zola would have played a part in 1994 World Cup Final, had he not been sent off earlier in tournament – Chelsea signed him 2 years later.

Quality players like Kante and Mahrez are few and far between. The money and competition for quality players is extreme at present, and signing hidden gems like these will be crucial in the coming years, especially for our club.

Maybe Moshiri has identified Walsh as the best around, on the back of the incredible job he's done at Leicester. He clearly has a vision for the club, which includes a DoF. He went and got Koeman, and again, it would be a big statement if he can lure Walsh to Everton.

I just hope he can lure a few "marquee" signings as well, asap!

Sounds more like a chief scout rather than DoF to me but who cares what title he is given as long as he unearths a few rough diamonds?

True Colin. Obviously Koeman is the real "Director of Football" - the stuff that actually happens on the football pitch!

I do believe (if we are after Walsh) we will use a grand title like DoF to entice him, where in reality he would be a glorified chief scout. I think he's earned the "promotion" and could form a key piece in the off-field dream team.

Just heard from my Leicester mate. She said they would be gutted if he left.

For some reason I thought he was an ex-Leicester player. I'm sure they had someone called Walsh playing for them in the early '90s. Anyway my mistake, its not him. He's never been a player.

Besides from Monchi, I think this will be a fantastic appointment. He has a track record of spotting players other than the recent batch of diamonds in Vardy, Kante and Mahrez. Apparently he did work for Chelsea, and spotted Didier Drogba amongst others, so the guy knows a decent player when he sees one.

Sounds like a coup if we pull it off.

DoF is really chief scout but in his case I think he's also assistant manager. If he came to us, it would just be as DoF or chief scout. Is that what he would want? If he wants to come nearer to home, well Chorley is just up the road. Oh... and we would pay him more money.

Gavin(20), I too assumed he was the same Steve Walsh who played for Leicester, until I saw him interviewed on TV and heard he was a brother of Mickey Walsh (ex-Blackpool striker), who had a brief spell with Everton.

I went a googling and found this article Link.

Spotting Zola at that stage is not far off our scouting system spotting Bally in the World Cup Final.

Thanks for the link, Frank.

My brother and best mate are both Leicester season ticket holders. They are more upset by this news than they are about losing Kante.

Surely scouting isn't just about spotting good players, but identifying the ones who would best suit and therefore improve the team?

Saw today, if we can't prise Walsh away from Leicester, we're looking at Jordi Cryuff...

Leicester have just rejected our bid for their chief scout - ssn. I suppose we will have to offer a bigger compo package.

Leicester reject Everton approach for Steve Walsh...

Probably holding out for millions!

SSN reporting that Leicester have knocked back Everton's attempt to bring Steve Walsh to Goodison, but nothing on TW yet?