Everton eye defensive duo on Continent

Luke Shaw for me.

Can't see Shaw leaving Utd now, Colin. Utd took out a years extension option on his deal recently and he seems to of worked his way back into Mourinho's thinking and doing well.

Juan Bernat is class and I'm not so sure he would come to us?! But he would definitely be the kind of player to bring in and replace Baines!

Don't know much about the Lille lad but we tried scouting him in the week and he was out injured. Apparently he had an Achilles injury last season and only back this season and only played 7 or so games so £20m seems a bit steep for a player that sounds like he's struggling to get fit and recover properly from previous injuries. Maybe this one could go to the last days as Lille are desperate for money and need sell to tie in with FFP so we may wait while they get a bit desperate and take less than £20m?!

If we come out of a second transfer window without a left back someone needs shooting! I could accept no centre-back until the summer with what's available as we could arguably make do with what we have considering Funes Mori is yet to return. A partnership of any two of Holgate, Keane, Funes Mori, Williams and Jagielka may have to do.

But no left-back would be a dereliction of duty from Mr Walsh. We said it in the summer and it was bad enough not heeding them warnings once. Lessons learned you would think. But to come out of another window with Martina being forced to play left-back?

It would undo the excellent early work this transfer window. Much like the summer when we got signings in nice and early then didn't strengthen key positions.

Shaw has played himself back into Jose's plans – he was excellent vs Stoke. Bernat may not fancy swapping Bayern for Everton. The guy that plays for Wolfsburg has always looked like a top player to me; he scored a free kick at Goodison in the Europa League.

Agree with Aidy, Shaw will no longer move.

Bernat is very handy though I like my full backs a bit taller and stronger. My pick (as I've mentioned before) would be Alex Telles from Porto.

As for Soumaoro he seems fairly unremarkable to me, an average looking player in an unspectacular team. Sounds perfect for us! I'd be surprised if he cost anywhere near that much.

As I live reasonably close to Lille I tend to follow the club. I don't watch every match of them but I see them play from time to time.

Soumaoro has been playing for them for a couple of years. Missed the end of last season and the start of this season due to a ripped Achilles tendon, but he is back in the team since November. He is second captain of the team. Very strong and athletic, quick as well. Reasonably well on the ball. He is one or two inches longer than Williams and Jagielka.

I like the lad and think he could do well in the Premier League. Lille is in financial turmoil and might be forced to sell on the cheap, although any continental club will double their asking price when Premier League clubs come sniffing around.

Although he has occasionally played at the right- and left-back positions in the past, he is a real centre-back.

I can't see us getting Luke Shaw either Col, unfortunately. There're plenty of good left-backs out there but it's having the leverage to get em to leave in January.

We're not likely to get someone's first choice unless the club's desperate fro money (a la Lille) or he's nearing the end of his contract, or we offer silly money.

Interesting couple of weeks ahead...

Erik Dols @5

He is one or two inches longer than Williams and Jagielka.

Lost in translation I'm sure but made me laugh when there's not much to laugh at the minute being a blue. Thanks

In Sweden, they use 'long' to describe someone's height too, as in 'Wow, you've become really long' – they don't have 'tall'!

Kenny/Eric. Eric's description made me laugh as well but I chickened out of posting a comment for fear of being accused of being "penisist."

What's his girth like?

Sorry, someone was going to.

Can't understand why we haven't made an offer for Kieran Tierney, I know the Scottish Premiership is poor, but he's a class act at Celtic.

Thanks to the abysmal transfer performance of the last two windows, at least, the chance to get Luke Shaw may well have gone.

I honestly don't know where a decent left back is going to materialise but given we have been beyond desperate for left sided defensive cover / quality Baines replacement since the end of last season. How we are 12 days from end of the window without these signings is just how it is at the club right now.

I suppose the opposite of 'longer' is 'shorter'...

I would move for Joe Bryan from Bristol City. Having seen a few of their games recently he looks quality.

We do need a centre-back and unless this lad is top quality we can get by with what we have. Holgate is our first choice imo due to his speed and better passing compared to our other centre-backs.

Cresswell would do, but isn't he one of THEM?

Erik rates him and that's a good start, but it's still a risk that the club have to assess, can he do it in the Prem.

Our problem as I see it, is that we really can't afford to make a boob of a choice, we've done enough of them. We really need to bring someone in who is and experienced Premier League full back who can more or less be guaranteed to produce what's needed, yet I don't think the club would want to buy someone just to plug a temporary gap either.

It would be a good move for Luke Shaw but, isn't it funny that just after we're assumed to be after him, Mourino starts playing him! Possibly to increase the price we'd have to pay.

I'm not so sure it's criminal that we haven't brought in a full back, as I'm not aware of what full-backs the club have been after.

What seems to be the biggest hurdle is the paucity of good players available, as their own clubs are likely to want to keep them. That'd narrow down considerably, our options, to those who clubs aren't too bothered to keep or those who are looking for a golden egg to come along; and charge a fortune for even an average player.

We're not, I think, in a position to go in the transfer market and just pick who we'd ideally want. Not during this window anyway.

So "weighed up as cover and competition for Leighton Baines"?

Replacing ageing Leighton Baines, more like!

Kieran Tierney would be a great signing. He's vying with Andrew Robertson for the left back role in the Scotland team, and it's arguable which one is better. (Robertson is doing well at Liverpool just now.)

He's fast, good going forward and has a cracking left foot. Whips in some great crosses, and has sccored some crackers too. He's like Baines, but taller and faster. I'm not so sure about his defensive side, but I'd still say he'd be worth a punt.

Bernat is not going to come to Everton as cover for Leighton Baines. Promises would have to be made.

Good shout on Tierney. He wouldn't cost the earth and he would probably jump at the chance to make his name in the Premier League. I hear bigger clubs are sniffing around so we will probably lose out on a gem.

Oh and big Sam – can we please start offloading our bloated squad of misfits please?

Big Sam has just had his 'presser' and has stated he does not expect to bring anymore players in this window!

He says the squad is too big and Seamus and Keane are on the way back as well. So the left-back is not important, we all obviously know sod all. Total bollocks is my opinion.

One name not mentioned is a lad in the Under-23 squad Luke Garbutt. I cannot understand why he wasn't registered by Mr Koeman – surely a better option than our current stand-in left-back? And no fee involved.

If Allardyce stays, expect big defenders, and if Allardyce goes then we have still got to expect the same. Our team is too small, and even Liverpool dominated us in the air all over the park just two weeks ago.

Andrew (19), I reckon Sam is looking for a replacement for Baines rather than cover. Bernat would be an excellent signing.

Just read that big Sam doesn't expect more signings this month . This may mean bringing in Garbutt and a return for Galloway .

I'll echo the calls for Kieran Tierney, what a player he is. Even though it is Scottish football, some players just really stand out as being a cut above. Van Dijk did at Celtic too. Tierney is another.

He's at a good age too, plenty of football in him and will only get better.

At one stage under Martinez we had four left-backs with top flight experience. All four for various reasons lost form/fitness, granted, but there was neglect in our left-back position once Koeman and Walsh took over.

After Oviedo was sold, and with Galloway and Garbutt already out on loan, Funes Mori was our only cover for Baines.

How could our so-called professionals think that was acceptable? Did they think Funes Mori was really good enough to play there?

Funes Mori then getting injured was unfortunate, but then bringing Martina as the only cover to Baines has proven to be clear folly.

What is more, Baines is on the decline. Where was the thought process, planning and ambition to acquire someone to eventually challenge and succeed him?

These are matters, in my mind, which the Director of Football has to answer for.

Just as the last two coaches have been put under scrutiny for results, performances and style of play, our Director of Football has to receive scrutiny on what he has contributed to squad depth in each position.

Our striking position was a clear fail at the last window.

Martina's acquisition, as cover at both right- and left-back, is an absolute fail. We knew we had no left-back cover and our first choice right-back was out.

Garbutt and Galloway were then not given a chance (fair, so they were not options) Browning was loaned out.

Funes Mori gets injured 2 weeks before transfer deadline.

Squad wise we were left with Martina, an untried Kenny and Holgate to cover both full back positions. Holgate of course then actually became a preferred centre-back option, so we ended up with the two full backs we have now.

Both have tried hard, but is it surprising to see us getting exposed down the flanks when teams want to attack us with width? Is it a surprise that the team has to be set up to compensate for our weaknesses, especially down the left?

It is another example of outright failure by Steve Walsh. It has to be his remit as Director of Football to ensure the squad has players capable of performing in the top flight in every position.

The neglect in the left-back position is second only to the striker situation in terms of fails.

This squad constructed under Walsh's reign – whether by him, Koeman, Kenwright, or all three, is like a dam with leaks. Plug one gap and another is there, which has been there all along, just overlooked by our Director of Football.

A proper Director of Football would have a plan to replenish and upgrade certain positions in a steady and constructive manner.

Walsh is more like a glorified scout and not a very good one at that.

His recommendation of Ishak Belfodil, who even Koeman turned up his nose to, was an example of the man's weak talent spotting abilities.

Perhaps he is good at scouting lower league players or those with potential.

But finding the right characters to fit into the side and perform in our first team? So far, I see more mistakes than actual positives.

I hope Tosun and Walcott turn around our fortunes. If they do, perhaps Walsh will have bought himself some credit to rectify his neglect and mistakes.

If it's true, that Allardyce is not going to sign anyone else, ie, a much needed left-back... that's downright criminal.

So, in the summer, we signed Sigurdsson instead of a striker, and now we sign Walcott instead of a left back? Two very different managers, but the gross negligence (this goes way beyond incompetency) continues.

No disrespect to either Sigurdsson or Walcott, both are welcome additions to the squad, but neither were actually needed at the time, and certainly not at the expense of a hole in the first eleven.

How on earth can we let the window shut without signing a left-back? I'm not suggesting protests or anything, let's see if Garbutt is a surprise addition to the team tomorrow, particularly after missing the U23s midweek, but if we don't have anyone come February, then we have to demand someone's head for this.

I'll be surprised if nothing else happens this month, even it's just a cover at left-back.

Ludwig Augustinsson

Leighton Baines has been a very good servant to Everton, but reality is that he's been declining for a couple of years at least and now needs to be replaced, a process which Martinez should have started. Why not give Luke Garbutt a run for the rest of the season? And seek a replacement in the summer if he shows he's not up to it.

Also, all my Man Utd pals reckon Shaw is a big risk owing to life-style issues, rumours about which started under Louis van Gaal soon after Shaw had signed for them in 2014.

In general, I think our recent full-backs have been too small and have added to our struggles defending dead-balls into the box and against hoof-ball percentage football teams – if we had a team of real quality players, it might not be an issue, but we're a long way from that.

Tony (#23) - spot on. In our last game we faced a team who fielded five 6ft-2ins+ players in their starting eleven. Amongst the subs they used was another (Wanyama) and they also have 6ft-4ins Llorente in reserve. By contrast, I think Robles was the only member of our match day squad who was over 6ft-2ins.

Tamhas (#31) – whilst going against everything I've said in my previous paragraph, Augustinsson (although by no means small) looks to be the type of modern full/wingback we could use but as he's only been with Werder Bremen for a year, would he be available?

Yeah, I can't imagine there won't be some kind of addition to the squad at left back this month, whatever Sam is saying. It may just be Garbutt though.

Still, those who are slagging him off for being dour should be delighted to see that he's signed two forwards and no defenders in the window.

My reckoning is he will look to offload as his next bit of business, in doing so will trim the squad and allow Garbutt in the squad to see how he does before buying, Coleman is almost back for a call up so do not rule out him trying Kenny at left back as well.

For now he needs to offload some players; I am not saying for one moment we do not need a left back, that is a must, but the way I see it is he is going to try out either Garbutt, Galloway or Kenny there first, before bringing one in, unless Shaw, Tierney or the like become available.

And here we go again .

Nothing in the press doesn't mean we haven't made enquiries. I suspect we're doing lots of that right now.

Yes, Tierney is an excellent young defender. A really good left back/centre back. He's playing for his dream club and when he moves, it'll be for a better team than us unless we improve very quickly in the next couple of years.

As ever, I'll pass final judgement on our window when it's finished. So far so good for me.

If we could just sort out the left-back situation, this will have been a very good window. I'm not opposed to the idea of giving Garbutt or Galloway a go, though I'm a bit skeptical.

I can't possibly see how Galloway can go from bottoming out at Sunderland – currently dead last in the Championship – to thriving for us. And Garbutt's basically been irrelevant going on three seasons. But it would be nice to be proven wrong.

Nice I made you laugh guys, indeed lost in translation. I might have some insights on Lille but I can't judge THAT aspect of their players... of course I meant “taller”!

Interesting we are going for a left-back when Baines will soon be fit. It's right-back we need to look at. Coleman is a long way off fitness and Kenny is the worst right-back in many a long year in a blue shirt.

Ian (#41) – Baines is done. For all the criticism Martina's had, he would have been playing left-back in recent times if Baines had been fully fit. We need a left-back far more than we need anything else.

I can't agree with that, Ian (#41). Kenny has done well and is a promising youngster who is only going to improve and will provide competition for Coleman when he is fit again.

However, at left-back, Martina is really poor and, even when Baines is fit again, he is not adequate to cover in this position. A left-back is a priority in my opinion.

Baines, and Jagielka for that matter need to be replaced. If we are indeed a project in motion, as Farhad Moshiri recently stated, we need to move players at the end of their career on. I would even go as far as saying the same regarding Rooney at the end of the season.

Charles McCann (#43),

Kenny has been at fault for goals against Leicester, Spurs, Man Utd and at Bournemouth he couldn't even be bothered to track back and run after the player who score their first goal. He sprinted past Kenny who continued to trot back in a couldn't care less manner.

He continually loses his marker and the half-hearted challenge on Son for a Spurs goal was embarrassing.

His distribution is shocking and it is absolutely outrageous that Martina gets the abuse he does when he has not been responsible for a quarter of the goals that Kenny has.

Ian – worst right back in many a long year at right back? Alec Clelland, Lars Jacobsen, Tony Thomas, Earl Barrett, Marc Hottiger, John O'Kane....

Give the kid a break, he's been playing in an awful Everton team for what? About 4 months? He's still young and learning his trade at this level and doesn't look any worse than what is alongside him.

We thank you, Erik Dols, for clarifying the situation; some people were actually surmising that you had access to a peep-hole next to both Dressing Rooms. Not me of course!

It is good we can have a laugh, and you must be admired, as there are not many who could post on a Fansite in a different language; and not make either a grammatical or vocabulary error.

I am sure that you have taken no offence by the comments, as you are a fairly regular poster on TW. Glad you gave us some insight into our alleged target. Whether we will follow it up, is another matter.

Make a bid bid for Sessegnon from Fulham. Yes, Man Utd, Man City, Spurs and others are said to be interested, but we will guarantee first-team football. The lad is class and will be a 𧴜million+ player when he's 22.

If we are ambitious, that is the sort of statement signing. We'd also probably be a great 'step-up' for him, with less scrutiny than at a big club (look at the clobbering Luke Shaw has taken due to playing for Man Utd, he should have stayed at Southampton another 2 years).

The lad can play left back, and equally left wing/forward. Would be perfect for us.

Tierney, that lad from Bristol, or the lad from Bayern would be decent signings, obvious improvements on what we have, but for me, ambitious clubs go for the best available first. Offer 㿅 million, a sell-on fee, Lookman on loan until the end of the season and Connolly in exchange.

For a centre-half, maybe offer Keane in exchange for Johnny Evans.

Ian (#40), I have to disagree completely with your opinion of Kenny. You blame him for four goals but I think he has saved as many as that by his last-gasp defending.

We all agree that the defense needs overhauling.

Jagielka and Baines may have a little left but are way past their best and Williams is average and not really the answer. Funes Mori may be finished and Seamus, although back in training, may take a while to be what he was. Holgate and Keane may still be the future central pairing but Martina and Kenny are also average.

Problems still exist elsewhere in front of the back four where tackling and closing down is not sharp enough. I am sure Allardyce and Co now recognize these problems and they must be addressed now if they are to have any hope of improvement for next season.

Kenny has the makings of a good full back, he has to learn when to go and when to stay. He has been caught out as Ian mentions each time he has gambled going forward.

When we sat tight as a regular back 4 not much if anything got past him. We have to give the lad a chance.

Left back is the worry, we can't go into Feb without one. It's putting too much pressure on the other side of the pitch to produce. There have been some great right footed left backs but Cuco isn't one of them.

I say again (because no one has responded yet) Alex Telles!!

The Porto left back is rapid and strong at almost 6 ft. He solid defensively and very useful going forward. He has 6 assists already in the league which is the joint highest plus one or two in the Champions League.

Tierney and Sessegnon are good calls but this guy would probably cost the same (around £20-25m) and has more games/experience under his belt.

Try a different record, Ian – you're getting boring about Kenny. You're also, as the young one say, "chatting absolute wham".

You've made the same claim on several threads now and it's still shite you're talking, in my humble opinion of course, and no offence meant and all that.

James (#21). Allardyce also said after Tosun signed that no players would be going out on loan and there wouldn't be any more incoming until some of the fringe squad players were sold.

We've seen Mirallas loaned out and Theo Walcott arrive.

Having looked at both defenders on Transfermarkt, I'd be happy to see Bernat arrive especially as the site has him as being able play anywhere on the left. They don't particularly rate Soumaoro, giving him a value of just €2.5m plus he's right footed, we've enough of those plus the French league isn't particularly competitive.

I keep thinking that Boro's Gibson could be a good move but with Forshaw going for £4.5m he'll probably cost £12m or more...

There are plenty of good left-backs out there, we should be able to bring in one of them... Tierney is a good shout.

But what about Philipp Max, a 24-year-old from Augsburg. He has 10 assists in Bundesliga this season...

If we don't purchase a new left-back, we need to bring in Garbutt or Galloway. Martina simply isn't good enough on left-back... Christ he's not even good enough on right-back.

Interesting that Sam mentioned in his press conference that the squad is ‘bloated' – he specified calmly mentioned the number 33 and that being too much, which I 100% agree. We should move out the following in addition to Mirallas and Barkley:

Martina (if we sign a good left-back)
Besic
Niasse
Lennon

Sandro, Klaassen and Baningime on loans, preferably to Premier League teams to see if they are worth persevering with after this season.

Ajay, much more than to be cleared out.

Martina and Keane (Williams in the summer, Jagielka made a player/coach).
Besic, Schneiderlin and McCarthy.
Lennon and Rooney and maybe Bolasie.
Niasse.

An entire team of outfield players.

33 players but not one left-back!!

The Everton squad is bloated and with a lot of players who seriously should be moved out as they have not been up to snuff.

Whilst some may argue they a haven't been given a real chance yet under Allardyce I am sure the likes of Dunc and Unsy have passed on their assessments.

It's hard to see any future for Besic, Lennon, Klaassen, Sandro or Niasse.
Others like Mirallas, Jagielka, Baines, Williams and Martina will probably not have new contracts offered come the end of the season.

If Allardyce is to get anything going with this team then Spring cleaning is a must and new blood arriving is necessary.

They have some youngsters with great promise but far too often they do not step up to the next level when required to do so.

I agree Tom but wouldn't you rather the new manager does the spring-cleaning in the summer?

"Sam Allardyce has indicated Everton may not make any further signings this month – with moving players on now the priority". Liverpool Echo

Bluff, bluff, bluff.

There you go, Sam @38 – the transfer Gods have been listening:

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/01/19/everton-identified-alex-telles-as-left-back-target-hed-be-seriou/

Pprobably just speculative, or page-filling journalism but it's there.

Sometimes, Sam, there is no smoke without fire.

Hope it's right because we need someone.

We've needed a replacement for Baines for the last couple of years and yet the potential new kid is coming in as cover and competition for him? Give me a break.

Stand out comment... stand up Clive Mitchell. If Baines was fit, Martina would still be picked as our left-back!!

Pass me the tank.

Derek (#55).

You beat me to it Derek, just found the same one myself.

Sorry Brian, but keep that Garden Chair handy as an emergency upgrade to Martina.

Martina is going nowhere in this window whilst Leighton and Seamus are both still out.

Aaron Lennon is on his way to Burnley for an undisclosed fee...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42753700

Best of luck to Aaron... his comeback has been inspiring.

And tough break Rafa... he really wanted Lennon for the barcodes.

Apparently Martinez turned down any interest in Robertson for £750k when he was here.

I would like to give honourable mention to Callum Connolly and Tyias Browning who should both be back from loan spells in the Summer and look much better prospects than Galloway or Garbutt who both seem to have lost their way.

There are a bunch of left-backs we should be interested in – Shaw, Sessegnon, Tierney, Telles, Max, Bryan....

I suspect that the main target may not be available until the Summer so the club have decided to go with what we have for now.

This shows the lack of urgency in the club. I hope Steve Walsh can sleep comfortably in the knowledge that no matter how bad a job he does his future is secure.

I'm not getting the calls for Galloway. He'll be 22 in March and he's got less than 40 games under his belt. Surely he should be holding down a regular slot somewhere?

Guys, don't believe HiTC at all – its stories are so made up that I actually went to the effort of removing their BS website from my Newsnow feed. They make the red tops look reliable.

Sad to see Lennon go. A loyal hard-working player. Offers great defensive cover as well, something the likes of Lookman are completely lacking.

Derek @61, Fingers crossed! Wish it were reported in more reliable sources. Think he could be a great addition if he settled well.

Sam (#4), you are spot-on as regards Alex Telles. He even looks like Leighton Baines, on the ball. He's very good at crossing, and he can score from free-kicks too. And he is also very good at his main task, defending.

But I think Porto, like most clubs, hardly ever sell their best players in January, and they're still in the Champions League, where they're playing the Dark Side. Perhaps Sam will want to take a look at him, at Anfield.

James #72 agree. Really sad to see Lennon go. There are a lot more that should be going out of the door before him. :-(

Is it me, or Brendan Galloway arrived here as a centre-half and only started playing at left-back due to one of the now chronic Leighton Baines injuries?

Gordon, we can only sell who others want to buy.

Gordon, #75, spot on. Lennon in his relatively short career at Everton has always worked tirelessly for the club, whenever any manager has turned to him whether it was Martinez, Unsworth or Allardyce it always coincided with an upturn in our fortunes, you know why? Because his work rate embarrassed his otherwise lazy teammates to up their game too.

Just listening to his former supporters at Tottenham both home and away tells you how much he is appreciated by fans, he will always get a great reception here too, unlike a few who have hung around a lot longer than Aaron Lennon.

Why in the world are people crying about Lennon leaving? He's an example of a player that is far below the standard we should have been signing and one of the reasons why we are so awful to watch.

It's nothing personal, he's just nowhere near the quality we should be having in the team. Why do you go on about “defensive support”? It's such a small-club mentality. Our wingers should be attacking threats, not an extra defender.

Lots of talk about Shaw. He never impressed me going forward. Perhaps I missed something.

Sessegnon over Shaw surely?

After yesterday's latest Keystone Cops display by the back four, I'd take both of these lads, if there's any truth, but I sense the books need to be balanced by out going fees.

If the case then hopefully Garbutt gets a chance. It's become driving a car with two slow leaking tyres now and our back four seem to have lost any cohesion they may have once had and that's very little.

If Seamus gets back to the way he was, prior to his terrible injury then for me, he's straight back and is made Captain.

The other three places, I'd say are up for grabs. Kenny has done very well but is playing most games with no midfield support, and Keane doesn't look the player we need in my view. Jags has been a great servant but too weak verbally as a captain and leader.

Williams is now playing too many games like a mad dog, crazy horse and the team is exposed by his wild passing, but in fairness , Rooney aside there's no one else in the team with the eye for a killer pass.

Hopefully the team will put more effort in vs The Foxes and then The Gunners.

Our defenders are rubbish.

Forget about Shaw. Mourinho's got him back in the first team fold, and he won't be going anywhere.

I am sorry but none of our defenders are fit for the Premier League. Kenny and Holgate are not the answers right now (maybe in a few years time). Jagielka, 35, Williams, 33 and Baines, 33 need replacing.

If we have an opportunity to get Juan Bernat then it is a definite yes from me. He is a quality and quick attacking left back which we are crying out for, and is still only 24. He is unfortunate that he has a certain David Alaba in front of him at Bayern. Whether he would come to us is another matter though.

Stefan De Vrij, Hakim Ziyech, Phillip Max, Leon Bailey and Vincent Aboubakar in.

Besic, Schneiderlin, Lennon out.

And the rest of the deadwood out in the summer.