Barça must decide on Deulofeu by Friday

Was it ever in doubt?

Sold him to us for ٥m and bought him back at 㾶m... take out his wages and they've lost nothing.

Got to be worth 㾻-20m in today's market.

I'm praying we keep him.

Such a talent, such a tricky, speedy, out-of-the-box player who can transform a game in seconds. One of the best crossers in the League and more influential than Bolasie.

All these players we've been linked with and none as naturally gifted.

Embarrassing player, good riddance. Naturally gifted maybe, shame never shows it.

On his knees after half-an-hour, out of breath, how can a professional footballer be that unfit! Decision making on a par with Barkley's... awful.

Didn't take Koeman long to suss him out.

Fantastic player but, boy oh boy, so inconsistent. If only he could maintain his flashes of brilliance for at least an hour, he'd be as good as Ronaldinho was.

I've heard he's not too happy to go back to Barcelona.

We bought him for about half of the ٥m you suggest, Drew. The reduced fee on buy-back was testament to that.

Jason Broome and James Stewart – authors of "Gerard Deulofeu: a ToffeeWeb play in two acts."

Jason #2...

"...can transform a game in seconds."

Can. Almost never does.

"One of the best crossers in the League "

What league would that be, exactly? Certainly not this one.

"...more influential than Bolasie"

Well, that's definitely true. But only until Bolasie's knee heals.

Actually, I like Geri too, but if he were as good at performing on the pitch as you are at doing PR for him, he wouldn't be sitting out in the cold.

Some seriously fickle, knee jerk artist on this site. How easily we forget.

When he gets a run of games and his fitness improves, he is explosive and an amazing passer/crosser of a ball.

Kid is only 23. Game time will sharpen his play.

I don't think Barca are too bothered about Geri and, at this late stage, I don't think it's going to happen, which is great news for Everton. I can't wait to see the lad back in a blue shirt!

For the life of me, I cannot understand Koeman's thinking of shipping Geri out when he has so much talent and can turn a game, as we saw in the FA Cup semi-final, and yet Koeman sees the very ineffective Bolasie as a better option!

Deulofeu has pace, takes on men, sees a good pass, and imo is the best crosser of the ball at the club.

Barca can want him back all they want but, if he doesn't want to go back, then they're onto plums. Having said that, should he not fancy going back, I can't see him being at Everton long.

I watched him in the U21s games recently and his performances were like a cameo of his Everton career. Some moments of brilliance, but many more moments of frustration.

I know he can be frustrating. It was like that for Arteta at first until he came to us at 23 years of age and found his game. He never looked back after that.

We sometimes don't have enough patience in football. At 23 years old and with a run of games, his game can only improve. Just hope it does in an Everton shirt.

Type of player we should try to keep. He could well star in the Europa League, and be used as an impact sub in the Premier League.

As part of a 3-man attack, he could be some player.

Europa League needs to be in our plans, as it is a more realistic chance of Champions League football and is Silverware. Players like him will be very suited to It.

Type of player we should try to keep. He could well star in the Europa League, and use as an impact sub in the Premier League.

As part of a 3 man attack he be some player.

Europa League needs to be in our plans, as It is a more realistic chance of Champions League football and is Silverware. Players like him Will be Very suited to It.

Deulofeu is the type of player we should try to keep. He could well star in the Europa League, and use as an impact sub in the Premier League.

As part of a 3 man attack he be some player.

Europa League needs to be in our plans, as It is a more realistic chance of Champions League football and is Silverware. Players like him Will be Very suited to It.

Nobody has forgotten, Jason, and nobody is fickle. The kid had a nice run of games a couple seasons ago. Then the league figured out that he was a one-trick pony and the veteran defenders shut him down. He was totally ineffective this season.

Drew O'Neall – he cost us ٢.2m, not ٥m.

Why do people just make things up to justify a post? 'One trick pony?' 'Figured him out?'

I've already put forward proof that he can pass and cross the ball better than anyone at the club and his passing is better than anyone save an on-form Barkley.

He has insane, blistering counter-attacking pace and he can also dribble better than anyone at EFC. So far I'm counting 4 tricks to this pony.

Mike. With all due respect, he only played 11 league games for us last season. Figured him out, did they? He was excellent for AC Milan.

Come on, dude, give it up. Come on.

Jason. He wasn't excellent for Milan. He was good sometimes and poor others.

Now who's making stuff up?

As I said, Brian, he can be frustrating at times. But he showed moments of excellence and brilliance at Milan.

Jason,

The lad obviously has a fitness problem. He is blowing for tugs even in the U21 games. He has talent but it is more suited to the slow pace of the Spanish League rather than the Premier League. He is good in two-minute cameos but is not suited to the Premier League, unfortunately.

I agree, Jason, he did. The problem people have with him, including me, is that those moments are too few and far between.

"Moments of excellence and brilliance" aren't enough, Jason, he needs to be more consistent and he isn't.

I think the clue is in the word "Moments".

Just think about this for a minute. The England Under-20s win their World Cup and that is used to justify the likes of Calvert-Lewin and Lookman being players that could make an impact for Everton next season on many many posts on this site.

Meanwhile, Deulofeu captains his Under-21s side, is the leading goal scorer for his country at that level of international competition, and has them as favorites in their competition this Summer. But many many posts on here talk about how poor he is.

Under-21s is a much higher level than the Under-20s, don't be fooled by it only showing as one-year difference. It's much more than that.

He's bounced around at a very young age, came through Barcelona, did well at AC Milan and, when given a run of games, did well with us. To say he was poor in some games is ignoring the fact that anyone can say that about any player at any club.

He's scored a lot of goals for Spain with the Under-21s and captains them. He can't be all that bad.

David Barks, how dare you come on here talking sense. Be off with you!

Jason! Someone will be along soon to tell you they where all scuffs or miss-hits.

If one of the Sky darlings had played some of them balls, it would be headline news everywhere.

The lad has got the skill but is lacking in the stamina for some reason. He would be a great impact sub to bring on for the last 30 mins or so.

David, I think the difference between Gerard and the U20 boys is that he's 23 now and doesn't seem to have moved on. For those lads, only time will tell.

Only time will tell, Jay.

Andrew @27. Haha... I wasn't plagiarizing your post mate... great minds think alike.

Bill @ 7 top post. Write me the Final Act. How will it play out?

First half of Martinez's last season, when he was actually playing regularly, Deulofeu was way out in front in terms of creating chances for others. He'd successfully mixed up his game, whipping in threatening early crosses at pace and measured through-balls down the centre, rather than continually trying to outrun the full back. Then, from late January to the end of that season, he only started a further 3 games.

Under Koeman, he started 4 in total, before saying (in what was probably perceived by the manager as a dig at his playing style) that he wasn't suited to hoofball and being swiftly shipped off to Serie A.

How can any player be expected to find form and consistency when limited to just 7 starts spread out over the course of a year?

I'd keep him around for a number of reasons. First and foremost, we've got no other wingers worthy of the name until Bolasie gets back playing (with the absence of Coleman further negating any threat we might potentially pose from out wide).

His pace and direct running will always be a useful outlet if used right and, if we do end up signing Sigurdsson and playing him in front of Schneiderlin with Williams further behind, then we're going to be so incredibly one-paced right down the centre, we'll be screaming for a burst of speed from... somewhere.

The kid was pretty awesome to watch a while back but I don't think he fits the pressing game we'll be deploying this season. A goal down and coming on as an impact sub... yes: starter... no. Would he want that?

Fighting a lost cause, Jason and David. Koeman wants his forwards to press. That immediately rules Geri out. Same when Emery had him at Sevilla.

Football is as much about what you do off the ball as on it. Playing with Geri is like playing with 10 men when we don't have the ball.

I'm a big fan of Gerard. He needs to build up some stamina and focus on consistently delivering the finish or cross. He may never be the all-round team grafter, but how many players do we currently have in our squad who can really run at defenses like he can?

If he goes elsewhere and fulfills his potential, we will be kicking ourselves for letting such a talent slip through our fingers. I hope Koeman gives him another opportunity, at least give him until Bolasie is fit again.

He is a Five past Three player.

You put him in the team at half two and hand it in to the ref. The match kicks off and either he is awful or he is brilliant. Nothing in the middle.

It is only at Five past Three do you know whether you should have played him or not.

If he is in or out, only Big Ron knows but Deulofeu has stiff competition with Lookman and Mirallas around. Skill is one thing but putting it to good use along with work-rate is the requirement in the Prem. these days.

By the way will Everton be playing cricket soon as they are trying to bring in a ''Bowler'' from QPR?

Isn't it up to Barcelona? If they don't take him, I'd keep him and give him another season as a squad player as we will need the option of width and pace, though we'd presumably forfeit any transfer fee. Anyway, I've always liked him, in part because he obviously really loves Everton.

James (#33),

Or playing with Deulofeu is like playing with eight if we don't have the ball if Ross and Rom are on the pitch with him.

Put me down on the 'keep him' list, but its pretty obvious he's not in Koeman's plans.

He's one of the very, very, few players we have who can make something happen; we will never make top 4 boring everyone to death!

He is a 'looks good' player, he makes a pass that looks good and has so called natural ability what he doesn't have is Fitness Attitude and end product. Here are his Premier League stats:

https://www.premierleague.com/players/4777/Gerard-Deulofeu/stats

I respect Deulofeu has skills and pace but I'd have to back Mike @ 16. We're on the same page there Mike.

Is he physical enough for the Premier League? Saying that, it would be interesting to see him and Davies together.

Regarding Deulofeu having a stamina problem, the entire team had a stamina problem when Koeman arrived. Del boy should be given more playing time, and by God we need players of his ilk (and Barkley's) after seeing some of the hoof-ball shite dished up last season.

Talk of Gray coming in from Burnley and Deulofeu leaving. All points to a dynamic future.

He is a luxury no doubt, and I can understand the frustration of some. He is a great dribbler and crosser though, and I think there are more goals in him than we've seen.

What I find odd is the belief that Deulofeu cannot improve his weaknesses, and his fitness. There is no doubt that he has excellent talent and ability – most of his detractors acknowledge that too, so why not give him another season?

He is the best crosser and dribbler in our team, and sometimes a luxury is okay, especially if we need some magic at the end of the match (aka that Arsenal goal).

I want us to keep him – he offers the creativity and the extra something special missing in our squad.

Also, Paul re your lack of end product, I'd have to disagree. I don't think those stats prove it either. They represent 67 appearances (of which only 29 are starts), all between the ages of 20-22. He has 5 goals and 11 assists from that period.

Ross Barkley has played over double that with 150 appearances, and a far higher percentage of starts. He has managed 21 goals and 18 assists, and has taken a lot more set pieces.

So whilst Barkley is managing one goal every 7.14 appearances (Deulofeu is taking 13.4 appearances), Deulofeu is comfortably creating more chances and assists than Barkley (Deulofeu with on assist every 6.09 games whereas Barkley is managing one every 8.33 games). The minutes per assist and goal stats shine even more favourably on Deulofeu, and illustrate a higher level of efficiency.

I don't think his end product is the issue – in fact, I think it would be highest among our midfielders if he played every match. I think the rest of his game, and some of the stamina issues described, are the problem.

I'd give him this season, and then sell him if he fails to kick on.

He's fairly quick but no way does he have 'insane, blistering' pace.

Personally, I think he would benefit from working on his strength and explosive sprinting so he isn't shepherded away from the danger area so easily. He is able to shine with the U21s because his physical development matches the majority, but simply isn't as effective against stronger and quicker players.

With Lennon out for who knows how long, Deulofeu is a player we need as we have no one else on that right wing.

Lookman and Mirallas are not a proper wingers by any means, and Bolasie plays predominantly on the left. I reckon we should keep him.

Jim, I agree with your comparison to Barkley as I don't think he has enough end product for his ability either. However, in saying that, I think last year was Barkley's best for performance and productivity. (Although I would be willing to take advice on that as I have not looked at his stats to compare it).

I also think you are right about the starts and sub appearances for Geri he hasn't had a run but I do think the stats show three managers who see him in training everyday plus (including Sevilla) have not trusted him,that's was till he went to Milan where it's arguably his best run of form.

I think that is down to the pace of the league and not an improvement in attitude and it's his attitude that I think let's him down off the pitch it's great he does lots of community stuff. But on the pitch he can be like a petulant child.

He would need to beef up and grow up, which he could do, but I would think we will get more for him now than if we keep him and had to flog in a year. We would need to buy some more width if we do sell though.

We need unpredictability that he provides to turn games. So many times last season, we struggled to break down teams below us where having him could have changed things.

It all boils down to whether Koeman is willing to give him another chance. Personally, I would like to keep Deulofeu rather than Mirallas.

Also, it would be interesting to see how the U21 compatriots – Gerard and Sandro (assuming he joins) would hook up.

A front 6 of:
Schneiderlin
Davies Barkley or Sigurdsson Klaassen
Deulofeu, Sandro

would be very interesting.

As would be (when you need more protection):

Gana Scheniderlin McCarthy
Klaassen Sandro Bolasie or Lookman

Deulofeu is very quick which is probably why he "blows" so much after being in possession – you don't see Usain Bolt running marathons. A lot of teams double manned him in order that he couldn't pass the full back with speed alone and at some of those times I would have liked to have seen him moved inside occasionally.

Other teams did this also with Barkley and the more of this type of player, who can take on and beat a man, the less the opposition can mark players out of the game. However, to take advantage of this, some of our so called defensive midfield have to cross the halfway line more often.

Geri is worth keeping, better player than Mirallas. I would like to have seen him play as a No 10 as he has tricky skills and in central areas could be creative.

I like Geri and want him to stay. I think he adds a different dimension to what we have.

However, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't he only captain because he has the most caps? Is it not Spain (or maybe it's Italy) that give the armband to the most capped player?

During Everton (The Austerity Years), he was a luxury we couldn't afford. Now however, we should be able to keep players like Geri around.

At his best he can do things no-one else in the squad has the talent for, even if at his worst he is the biggest liability Sorry second worst, we still have 'The Irish Deulofeu' on the books.

I usually give Geri a hard time and say he'll never come good as he's not got the right attitude to working hard and getting the most from his amazing pace and skills.

He shows that at every club he's been to including AC Milan and if you read their forum you would see the exact same comments as on here where some love him and his skill but a lot complaining about no end product, frustration and not enough goals for the talent he has.

However, with Bolasie out injured and more urgent positions needing filled then I'd be more than happy to give him another chance as a super sub type of role or play against some teams.

I don't think he wants that role though any more and that's why he liked his time at Milan. The manager there was willing to start him in most games, even if he did play him on the left wing most of the time.

It's interesting that it seems like he doesn't want to go back to Barça, probably because he knows he will be put in the B team or always be a sub as well and get very little game time.

I'd say he feels he did well in Italy and that if Milan don't go for him someone else will. I think it sums him up well that no other Premier League clubs seem interested in him. That speaks volumes at how they don't rate him.

MailOnline reporting Barcelona have activated the clause and he is returning to them.

Just went on that site, Stephen... don't see it. Link please?

Mike,

Sorry for the delay:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4618758/Barcelona-news-Deulofeu-sign-10-5million.html

I thought it was up to the player if he wanted to return to Barcelona and, if he said No, then Barcelona cannot resign him? May be wrong...

Brian. You're right. He can't be forced to go back.

In the 'new and improved' Everton Geri might be more effective, with more players willing to get into the box and having the desire and ability to find the net. Also more players making intelligent runs that he can feed. Anyway, we need someone like him and the transfer window hasn't opened yet.

This new Everton buying machine looks much more like we were hoping for.

Albert, I'm not having a go but it's just more "wishful thinking". The same things are being said about Barkley. It's always "when this happens" or "when that happens"...

We can't wait forever for this so-called "potential" the pair of em have to be realised. Barkley and Geri are 23. Dele Alli is 21. If you can do it, you can do it by the time you're 23!!!!

I am with Albert, Deulofeu put some decent crosses in and played some great plays to the near post; on a few occasions, none of our players reacted or anticipated it.

He can be frustrating and at the same time have you stood out of your seat. Seems to be his fitness level; seems Ronnie doesn't want him... so I'd be surprised if we keep him.

Jose Baxter has been given a second chance by Everton. If that is the case, surely Deulofeu should at least be given a chance short term, see if we can get his fitness levels up. If not, then offload in the January window.

Jason (#8),

I'm not fickle neither am I a knee jerk artist I just know what I'm talking about. There's a reason why a succession of managers haven't give him a continuous run of games. Quite simply he's not good enough as others have stated he's got fitness issues and more often than not he flatters to deceive.

Anyone of us could make a YouTube compilation of a player's best moments. I could do the same with Kone and Niasse – would you want them in the squad? No, I didn't think so. He ain't coming back; get over yourself.

Brian (#61), I think in Jose Baxter's case he is been given the chance to get his life back on track with the hope he will find another club in the lower leagues.

Apparently he has knuckled down well and is making steady progress, so hopefully he will eventually get his career going again.

It would be nice if it was with Everton but I doubt if that was the long term aim.

It seems pretty straight-forward to me that Geri doesn't want to return to Barcelona and he also doesn't want to return to Everton and Koeman. He played most of the full 90 with Milan so it shows that it's not physical but his attitude.

The kid doesn't like playing for us any more and just gives up too easy. I bet you, when we get Bolasie and Lookman up to speed, we won't be too worried about Geri and his moods.

If he stays, then we have a decent squad player for the extra games. If he goes we turn a profit.

He must have something about him to be a key Spain U21 player, I'm just not sure Koeman thinks he's up to it. He's clearly better than McGeady, Atsu or Drenthe and a host of other gash wingers we have had in the past. Who was the last truly great winger we had? Kanchelskis?

Maybe we could revive our Yarmolenko interest...

Credit where it's due to whoever stuck in the clause that Barcelona could not sell on within one year.