Everton looking to finalise Tosun deal

The only thing that gives me hope with this player, is that Chelsea were apparently interested, or was that just journo speculation?

We so need a striker, and one who has to hit the ground running. I don't know whether he is a Walsh recommended signing or what, but let's hope he is as good as the YouTube videos made him look.

He's scored 13 in 23 in the Turkish and Champions league but it will be harder here. I can't help thinking that Oumar would probably have similar stats playing for Besiktas in Turkey. As Lyndon says, Arouna Kone has similar league goal stats.

On a positive note, these days £20-25m is not a great gamble however, and it could pay off. Walsh must think so.

But I have nothing but admiration for the lad now. He plays out of position and looks very awkward, but he hasn't let us down once during our unbeaten run of 8 games. He will never be a first choice full back for us, but I think he's proven a capable reserve who can come in and cover for injuries on either side. Considering he was free, I think he's shown to be a worthwhile acquisition.

This Tosun fella is a gamble but let's hope we get lucky. A proven Premier League striker going into their prime will cost double this reported fee, so he's probably worth a punt.

This is all the more interesting because he isn't an Allardyce type target man. It suggests that we aren't going to be playing hoofball, hopefully.

From what I've seen of him, he has a great touch, intelligent movement and is a brilliant finisher on the floor and in the air. He won't unfortunately rectify the lack of pace in the final third, as he doesn't have much himself, so a wide player with pace is essential to get the best out of him and others.

The reason his goal tally doesn't seem that impressive, is because he's been playing behind Aboubacar, who is Besiktas's Number 9 and is in a team that plays with such fluidity, with the front 5 players interchanging positions constantly and all chipping in with goals and assists. I do think he's more than capable of playing the No 9 role, but like I say, he needs pace around him and other intelligent players, to allow him to be more of a threat in the box rather than in deeper positions.

I was hoping we could land someone with goalscoring Premier League experience, eg, Giroud or Dzeko.

This acquisition may need us to still use Calvert-Lewin whilst Tosun adapts.

I can't imagine the likes of Pierre Aubameyang wanting to come here, unless they're paid silly money. And Moshiri doesn't strike me as that kind of owner.

Nobody can say how this will work out, but the law of averages say we have to make one great signing shortly, hopefully it's this lad. Good luck, Cenk!

Laughable.

If Tosun is the best of what we are looking at, then Tosun is welcome. And why not? He is scoring goals and in his prime years. If there is ever a good time to sign him, it's now.

It's not as if we haven't known what we need and, if, we are going to sign anyone in January you would expect everything already in place to get the people in asap.

Hopefully we don't just buy anyone just for the sake of it.

Buys:
Tosun (Striker)
Nzonzi (MF)
Kurzawa (PSG, French national team left-back, might be a sold in January reportedly)

Outs:
Mirallas
Besic
Barkley (I am increasingly resigned to his departure, although would love him to stay)

Send on Loan:
Sandro, Klaassen and Vlasic to Premier League teams until end of season to teams struggling to stay up. For example, Vlasic might flourish under Howe in Bournemouth, Klaassen to Southampton, Sandro to Brighton, Stoke or Burnley. Let them get valuable game time and then Sam Allardyce can decide if they can hack it at Everton.

I would also send out Lookman to a Championship team until the end of the season to fine-tune his skills.

Team in January (4-3-3):

Pickford
Kenny Holgate Williams Kurzawa
Gueye Rooney Nzonzi
Bolasie Tosun Sigurdsson

Backups:

Robles
Martina, Keane, Jagielka, Baines
Schneiderlin, Davies, McCarthy, Baningime
Lennon, Niasse, Calvert-Lewin.

What do we need in January? A left back would be a priority for me. Whether we get Garbutt, The lad we sent to Sunderland (name escapes me) or we buy in I'm not fussed. Someone to hold the ball up. We need to be able to bring our more creative players into the game in our opponents half.

What we don't need anymore:

Schneiderlin, Mirallas, Sandro, Klaassen, Barkley, Robles, McCarthy, Besic, Jagielka, Stekelenburg and Henen.

Please feel free to make a case for any of the above.

From all accounts, Tosun is a good all round centre forward. The million dollar question, can he cut it in the Premier League? Only time will tell, but for now an area sorted where we have been threadbare, and gives an added option to our game style, especially with Bolasie making progress.

"But for a footballing institution that refers to itself as “more than a club” to be openly tapping up players the way Barcelona did with Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezman was truly ugly."

From a fan of a club who were warned off for "openly tapping up" Van Dijk.

Yes, Andrew, I was just pointing out how ridiculous all these figures that are being thrown about are but if you hear that figure often enough it becomes "fact".

A left back is also needed.

As some have said, one of these signings has to come off.

One thing's for sure, at least he'll start in a team that's organised and knows what it's doing, unlike the poor souls we signed in the summer.

Jason #20, I'm not yet ready to give up on Sandro. He's only 22, averaged 1 in 2 in La Liga and has stepped into a chaotic situation up front for us. Both of the goals he has scored for us were quality. And his price tag was small. I'd give him another year.

And unless you think Pickford is invulnerable to injury, we also do need to keep one of the two backup keepers.

Also, 㿀m today is the equivalent of ٤m 5 years ago, so it is going to be something of a gamble at that price. If we wanted a guy with Prem experience at the right age etc, we would be paying something closer to 㿲m for him.

If this guy works out and Sandro fetches 㾻m from someone (assuming we are giving up on him, which I am not ready to do) it equates to a net of 㾶m spent so far in search of replacement for Lukaku – peanuts by today's standards.

The guy's been around for 8-9 years now. He's in the U-23s because he couldn't even cut it out on loan. At a certain point, he's 24-years old now, the player needs to be moved off the payroll and let's give another guy the chance.

I though Sandro was poor against Chelsea but, like Klaassen, I'm not going to give up on either of those two just yet for the reasons given by Paul Tran.

Good luck, Cenk, I'm hoping you score one on your debut, and two at our arl ground, next week!

Turkish Lig stats: Eight goals in 1153 minutes played. That is one goal every 144 minutes. Plus only one assist. One might think he should do better as he is playing for one of the top top teams in his league.

Three of his league goals were penalties which means he only has five goals from open play in 1153 minutes. To be fair he was the person fouled twice that resulted in penalties.

Champions League stats: Four goals in 469 minutes = 1 goal every 117 minutes. A bit better. One was a successful penalty he did not create.

Tosun was Man of the Match once in the Turkish Lig - same as Niasse in the Premier League.

Niasse: 5 goals in 454 Premier League minutes = One goal every 94 minutes. Not saying Niasse is better, stats are just for comparison.

Tosun should immediately become our penalty taker – excellent record. That's something.

I wouldn't be swayed by rumours that Chelsea are interested as they were also interested in Niasse.

Michael

That's a good breakdown and it might be better just sticking with Oumar – at least we know he will score provided he gets enough minutes.

At best, he's our Alan Shearer. At worst, he's another James Beattie.

One thing that will endear him to the Toffee faithful is his work rate. A few years ago, Besiktas bought him for peanuts to be their third choice striker. Since then he has worked his proverbials off to see off the like of Mario Gomez and Vincent Aboubaker.

He has scored goals in derbies, Champions League and Europa League; his scoring record over last 1½ seasons is pretty useful.

He's more Calvert-Lewin than Mesut Ozil but has more experience and know-how than the youngster.

I can't say this signing would excite me massively but I can see the sense in it and if he's able to adjust could prove a wise move. His work rate and willingness to keep learning will help ensure he doesn't let anyone down and if he can bring the goals to join the blood and sweat maybe he'll become a Goodison hero!

I think he'll have a bright future with us and I for one can't wait for him to shine!

I'll get my coat....

Let's use the breathing space Big Sam (again I was aghast at the thought of him at the club) has given us – use it wisely to get rid of half-hearted players and get some real passion players.

How come, when we spend £25-30 million, we get lame ducks? Liverpool, Man City etc seem to find real gems for the same money.

There was a point at the end of the West Brom game when we defended a corner and it fell to him on the edge of the box. He simply controlled it about 15 yards ahead of him to an opposition player and put us right under pressure again. He also had a chance to break when a ball bounced and he got it hopelessly wrong.

A great lad and good for throwing on and upsetting the opposition and grabbing a goal... but as a regular Premier League striker, I think he is miles away.

All the others are not really up to snuff except maybe Gylfi who may only grab one now and again.

If this fella can come in and do well with Bolasie then we could have a better second half of the season attacking wise.

I don't regard Calvert-Lewin, Holgate, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Rooney, Gueye and Lennon as lame ducks. Nor do I think Lookman falls into that category.

Okay, we've had our share of bums but we've had as good a squad of low price bargains over the years since Moyes arrived as any club and we'll have to be patient to see if any of the young signings Walsh has brought in are up to the mark. Look at the dross that the Shite have bought, found out that they were crap, and sold them on.

It's easy to target Niasse or one or two others but let's be fair, we've unearthed some beauts over the past few years.

https://imgur.com/a/55OZ6

People who know him say he is terrifically hard working both on the pitch and on the training ground. They also say his improvement in the last 12 months has been astonishing. He has also proved himself in the Champions League games with 4 goals and 2 assists against Monaco and Porto. Also is good at holding the ball up and is two-footed, what's not to like?

Bit odd if he's coming here immediately?

As you state we need a keeper on the bench in case Pickford gets injured but who? We have tried Stekelenburg and Robles and neither look good enough.

Take a look at Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd, etc. They have much better 2nd choice keepers. If we have the ambition to break the current stranglehold, we need to improve the quality of the squad – not just the 1st eleven.

I have more faith in Niasse then this dude. I say lets give Klaassen and Sandro another try.

Dont know why we have to by Nzozi?

Havent we had enough DM already?

We need an LB but either we buy locally or we give Garbutt a chance.

We gave Jonjoe a chance and look how it repaid us.

I trust our home grown talents then these European gambles

If we fuck up the next two windows then in my view we will have missed our chance probably once and for all. Moshiri now needs to show whether he's serious about transforming Everton and has 7 months in which to do so.

Sandro makes less impact than Arouna Kone and Davy Klaassen can't even get in the squad they both are both shite!!

If we sign this Tosun he has got to be given a chance. To say you trust Niasse more who has only just got into the first team squad is ludicrous. Just by looking at Tosun's clips on YouTube, you can see he can strike a ball well with both feet and can play a bit too!!

Lay off whatever it you are smoking pal!

A more accurate comment regarding both would be 'unsuited to the English game'. No crime in that. I recall Diego Forlan being mediocre over here and then turning into one of the top forwards in Europe when Man Utd sold him. I don't follow European football that closely but I'm sure there are many many others – Per Krøldrup springs to mind for us.

I do think both may be better of spending the next few months at loan at a side they would get games in - thinking maybe Swansea, Bournemouth or upper half of the championship. I believe both players need a good run of games and then we can decide their futures next summer. Give them a chance to show they can adapt to our football.

As for Tosun – he cant sign for us until Monday and wont be eligible for us until Tuesday at the earliest so I don't see him playing for Besiktas tonight as anything other than he's 'their player' so why wouldn't they play him.

The Turkish international does not usually start cup games but will be given a send off in front of the fans at the Vodafone Park Stadium.

First time, left foot under the oncoming keeper.

http://www.talkingbaws.com/2017/12/video-everton-target-cenk-tosun-scores-last-besiktas-appearance/

I'm sure Sam is aware that we all need to see more than a rescue act if he's to get beyond the end of this season. Here's hoping.

Will he transcend into a target-man given his height, or a prolific scorer in a league where pace is king, even if it's confined to the first few steps? And the stat comparing his scoring prowess with the very similar success being achieved right now by Arune Kone in Turkey is also a real concern.

If 㿀-25mill is to be the extent of Moshiri's January expenditure I think his Champions League demand is on the back burner of the back cooker in the back kitchen of his former house back in Iran.

Hey ho. Happy New Year folks.

I won't judge them till Sam starts ironing out the forward play, but it may be that they're both sold to pay for more 'solid' signings.

If Tosun signs as likely, let's judge him on what he does, rather than who signed him.

I know bugger all about this bloke but it'll be good to have him, Calvert-Lewin and Niasse as options at last.

From that goal above, the kid certainly knows how to hit a ball too. Not too expensive either so we're on a hiding to nothing buying him.

I'll start this though, if he's being compared to a young Alan Shearer then a lack of pace doesn't mean shit. Shearer wasn't quick, he had a strikers instinct and ability to finish. You don't need pace if you have that.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSKn57QWAAALVCz.jpg:large

I'd probably have us conceding 4 a game again.

We would be great for pace playing Tosun with Ramirez playing with him as the second striker, Vlasic and Lookman or Bolasie, Sigurdsson and Gueye or Davies. Switching around from the pedestrian Schneiderlin, Rooney and pointless Mirallas, Rooney, Niasse and one of the above can come on second half if needed.

A left-back and a strong, aerial threat; a big left centre-back is obviously needed but that depends on players sold etc as we don't know how much money Moshiri will allow after Koeman's and Walsh's flops rolled in. Will we bring back any young lads from loan? Who knows... and I haven't checked on their loan spells Tbh.

I'm not going to wonder because we could well get one striker in even though I'd prefer two, Dembele or Dzeko and a centre-back, with 4 or 5 which includes Barkley out. Nzonzi is 29 too so personally I'd pass on that one. Time will tell as per.

Looking at it from that angle, Tosun fits the bill. Credit to the board for getting it done quickly.

Just saying...!!

My god! He sounds like me, except I couldn't strike a ball. The kids could learn a lot from this guy. No appreciable assets and he scores in the champions league. That's my sort of player.

Only pulling your leg, Sam. :^)

And then I see idealised team line-ups with Tom "Headless Chicken" Davies in them and just pull my hair out.

Baines and Coleman are both out injured – Kenny in my opinion is doing a passable imitation of Coleman but it's a left-back we need and I'm 100% sure that if we can see it then the professional coaches and Manager of the club can. I'll be amazed if we don't bring anyone in.

Meanwhile, I'm glad we're bringing this striker; if nothing else he'll provide options to give Calvert-Lewin (who I think will be great) a rest.

Pickford
Kenny Holgate Keane Tierney
Bolasie Gueye Baningime Lookman
Onyekuru Calvert-Lewin

Other good news is that young Henry's injury isn't as serious as first thought and he won't require surgery. (That is from the club itself.)

Now, if we could get Nzonzi and Seri, plus a left-back, that would be better than I'd certainly hoped for.

This transfer window and the football we play once new players arrive will dictate if Sam Allardyce is here next season or not, in my opinion, so it is crucial in the short term. Therefore, let's just back the players, give the team our support and see what happens.

If all goes well, then maybe Sam Allardyce has been misunderstood all these years; or he is an anti-football dinosaur and Fonseca comes in over the summer and we welcome a bright new dawn.

"What we don't need anymore:

Schneiderlin, Mirallas, Sandro, Klaassen, Barkley, Robles, McCarthy, Besic, Jagielka, Stekelenburg and Henen.

Please feel free to make a case for any of the above."

Okay then Jason, I'll do my best!

Schneiderlin – Premier League experience, form is temporary, he'll improve;
Mirallas – agreed, attitude stinks at times;
Sandro – needs a season;
Klaassen – see previous;
Barkley – I think his problems are in his head and off the pitch... I'll be genuinely upset if he leaves and I want him to stay to at least the end of the season;
Robles – all Premier League clubs need 3 keepers;
McCarthy – might be time for him to move on;
Besic – probably not Premier League standard, but not a terrible player, certainly not as bad as many would have you believe;
Jagielka – really? Sell a quality defender? Probably no longer a starter every week but, with our defensive shortcomings, he'd just about be last on my list to move on;
Stekelenburg – See Robles;
Henen – couldn't say, surely he falls in with the U23 players that will move on if they don't make the grade at the end of the season?

I've not seen the new Turkish lad but I have seen Calvert-Lewin and more of Henry than The Turk.

Coleman “may” never be the same player but Kenny is capable of stepping up next season.

Sigurdsson and Rooney are too slow and are stop gap players for this season anyway. I'm talking next season remember.

Why aren't we in for the likes of Shaqiri who is a technically gifted footballer -– something we are badly lacking – with the ability to carry the ball and who is also physically able to compete in this league, surely Stoke can't be that much of an attraction anymore.

Okay – I'll switch to 5-3-2 with Baningime or Gueye in front of defence, Sigurdsson, Rooney and Bolasie in midfield, with Calvert-Lewin and Tosun up front.

The tricky bit is using the wingers, isn't it? Perhaps Calvert-Lewin should give way to Vlasic and Tosun is on his own.

I have to admit, I can see our current conundrum in that we feel we need to give the left- and right-backs cover – the purist wingers like Vlasic won't give it.

Hence at ٠.5M, Tosun looks like a decent punt. ٥.5M that the rs have paid for Dick van Dyke is a reasonable amount for a talented Premier League defender.

㿊M is the fee for an average Premier League player now, so just divide by 10 and, hey presto – the modern game doesn't seem quite as ridiculous any more!

No offence to Kenny or Martina, who I think have both been decent defensively lately, but they do very little going forward.

Martina takes a lot of flack on here, but my view is that he's done well, especially given that he's been playing on the wrong side. Kenny has also done pretty much nothing in an attacking sense and this has stunted our forward play big time – my suspicion is that it's been part of the deliberate ploy from Allardyce to keep us from conceding goals, but it's definitely one of the main reasons we carry no goal threat. It isn't all about the strikers or forwards themselves.

Aside from that, soon we look like having Calvert-Lewin, Niasse, Sandro and Tosun, with Rooney & Sigurdsson in support – a much healthier feel to the forward players, especially given Bolasie is back as well now.

Options up front will really help, and it'll be interesting to see how Tosun fits in, and whether he plays alone or with support – I gather he usually plays with another attacker and it'll take time to see who fits in where, and how they all gel. Sandro could yet make something of this season given a run in the team with Tosun.

Also, I've been looking up pronunciation for his name, and in Turkish they would say it as: Kentch Tow-zun. Just an FYI really.

Messrs Mirallas, Besic, and Klaassen for example, are clearly not favoured by Sam and should be sold or loaned out for game time.

Also, even if we get another left-back in, we should get Garbutt into the squad, and bring back Galloway as cover on that centre-left side of defence.

Only time will tell; we will know a lot more about his intentions after the transfer window shuts.

I think we should be aiming way higher, to be honest.

I understand your sentiment on Coleman but this day and age it's easier for players like Seamus and Yannick to come back from bad injuries due to the new science and technologies available (Allardyce mentioned such in his presser regarding Coleman).

I like Lookman and Vlasic as well; both could play a big part next season but I certainly wouldn't write off Rooney and Sigurdsson. Baningime certainly looks promising but let's not get carried away just yet.

Tosun: £20 million; Nzonzi £25 million; Barkley and a few others out.

You have transformed the team for circa £40-45 million.

Yeah, them goals would be replaced by the two mentioned strikers playing every game and Rooney can come on around the 60-minute mark with Calvert-Lewin, who I think needs a rest as he's been battling up top on his own, depending on the game situation.

Whoever said Tosun was slow and unskillful clearly hasn't seen him play. He's definitely not.

Yes, Niasse can be cumbersome at times, but for me, he scores, causes havoc and is also very quick to react to situations. Given what we have at the club, I'd like to see him given a chance. His goals-to-minutes ratio is excellent and he chases seemingly lost causes and makes something out of them. He is actually a good finisher too! On top of that, he has strength of character!

Just my take on it, I think he is better than what he looks, even given the odd bouts of dodgy control that you mention against West Brom. Dodgy control and stray passing have been a theme for the entire team this year!

Everton remove T-shirt from online store after supporters notice the main picture is of rival club Liverpool's Kop

I know it's the injury prone million dollar question when the next injury comes, but a fully fit McCarthy would be the first name on the midfield team sheet along with Gueye for me.

Yes, it definitely has. The amount of passes that go astray – short ones too and longer ones to no-one in particular – has been the story of the season for me, well pre-dating Allardyce. We have problems keeping possession against teams that get among us; there is always a predictability that we'll lose possession almost straight away from a throw-in.

When you consider that the players are often internationals, ex-internationals or future internationals, it is baffling that they can't get the basics right. I guess after consolidating the defence, that is the next job on the agenda! One can hope anyway!

Made up we got Tosun & Sam called it right too. A few more additions, players returning from injury, and with some loan players recalled... I believe the future will be brighter.

We just need to start by putting them penalty-shootout loving RedShite bastards in their place at Mordor!

Not sold on Sigurdsson myself and, as I prefer the old 4-4-2, I can't really fit him in “my team”

Talking of youth and pace, I see Barcelona are selling players to buy Coutinho. Amongst them is Gerald Deulofeu...

Didn't we have some sort of arrangement where Barca couldn't sell him straight away??

If they do, we could get a percentage of the deal.

Not saying we should go back for him, just that Barca don't seem that convinced by him either. Such a shame – I thought he was the “real Deul” ... (See what I did there??)