World Cup duo back for Algarve trip

Leipzig can't afford Lookman if we told them the price was silly money, like the 㿞M we're meant to be paying for Richarlison. They don't have that. But instead reports say we're looking for 㿀M which they can afford.

Seems to me like Lookman will leave and the question is only the fee. I trust that Brands and Silva have carefully evaluated him and come to the conclusion that he lacks the skillset to become the level of player that a lot of us fans think he can.

I disagree with their assessment, but they're able to assess him more closely and carefully than me and they have a better eye, better knowledge, and a plan for Everton's progression and if they decide Lookman is not part of it, who am I to argue?

I agree with the fact we do have a somewhat mediocre squad compared to the top six and maybe a few more and Silva needs to evaluate very quickly now if additions are to come in and be ready for the season start.

Lookman according to reports did well in Germany but Leipzig don't seem to keen on Everton's valuation price and may be pressing for a loan again so I guess it's down to Silva and what how he rates Lookman,

Lookman not going to Portugal has a whiff of EFC making up some of the fee they are allegedly about to pay for Richarlison. So my question is - if this is, in fact, the case, is Richarlison 㿊M better than Lookman?

However, if I sat down and applied my mind analytically to Lookman and whether we should sell him, I think I would have to concede that the moments he has had that showcase his skill are few and far between. For sure, a lot of this is down to lack of opportunities.

I can't stand Sam Allardyce, but he would not handcuff himself by ostracising Lookman for no reason, nor would Koeman. They both clearly thought that he was not good enough (at that moment). Even Unsworth, who rates the kid, only started him once, but then hauled him off at half-time, and gave him a handful of substitute appearances.

Compare and contrast with Richarlison, remembering they are in fact the same age, and I think applying things analytically then Richarlison is the better player. The water is then muddied by his impressive spell at Leipzig (but remember it wasn't all perfect at Leipzig).

Is Richarlison 㿊m better than Lookman, certainly not. But if you are Brands, and Silva tells you that he wants Richarlison and you make the following clear:

1. That's half the budget gone and you still need a left back and a centre-back;

2. We'll probably have to sell Lookman;

3. It's a massive price tag to put on the young man's head and may affect his performances that tailed off so dramatically last season.

If Silva takes all of that on board and still wants him, wouldn't you back the manager, after all he scouted him before, and worked with him for around 6 months?

Bottom line has to be do we trust and respect the judgement of M&M? My answer is yes because I have no option really and their pedigrees are impressive and the logical structure of their respective roles seems right.

The thing that worries me about Lookman is how easily his head seems to have been turned? Again, speculative opinion, but if I were the manager and he was serious in wanting to move, it is a very difficult task to make a want-away player reverse his focus and committed individual.

Also, while I believe Lookman has a lot of promise; but I also think Richarlison is the real deal. Some Watford relatives and fans think it was sad how Marco left a real void and his influence on the players was a huge loss in spite of publicity reports to the contrary.

We could be talking about any players in this narrative, the real message is let's trust the skills of the management team and see where it takes us.

I won't lose as much sleep over losing Lookman as I did when we lost Ross. That was the real tragedy of Koeman's era for me. Left field notion; I wonder what he would do with Ross given the opportunity...?

On Ross, would you rather have kept Ross and not signed Sigurdsson?

He comes across as a very single-minded young man judging by what we witnessed last January when going against Sam Allardyce's advice and pursued RB Leipzig of his own volition. Lookman may feel that he's had enough of Everton and feels slighted by the club of his own perceived treatment, RB Leipzig may well of given him the royal treatment and made him feel welcomed, wanted and respected?

Brands and Silva may well rate him but, still only as a bit part player initially and still view him needing the required coaching to fulfill his potential. If as reported we're signing Richarlison as early next week, Lookman will have to settled at the beginning of the season at least to being on the bench behind Richarlison and Walcott, who in my opinion will most likely take to two wide attacking berths up front in support of Tosun.

Will Lookman have the patience and temperament to fight for the right to start? And, if video clips are anything to go by Lookman didn't look the happiest of souls on the team bus on the way to the Irdning match last week, kind of looked to be isolating himself a little from the other's with his head buried in his mobile phone.

Rangnick is obviously doing his best to pursure, unsettle and land his intended target, possibly with the knowledge that Lookman wants to leave. Do Everton keep an unhappy player or, sell for the sake of team unity? If he is unsettled and remains at Everton, it is going to take some seriously good man-management by both Silva and Brands to keep him onside whilst he earns the right to be wearing the starting jersey.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/ralf-rangnick-gives-update-rb-14936603">The Echo implies that Leipzig seem to be losing confidence that they can get their man, and Silva in the same article seems determined to keep him. Maybe we could have both in blue next season.

And as I said elsewhere, and perhaps Jay and Fran our resident Brazilians might know more, but it's said that Richarlison played as a central striker before Watford, and so couldn't they both play in the same side, without necessarily being on the wings?

As regards head in his phone, doesn't that apply to most 20-year-olds? He was probably on ToffeeWeb.

On to tonight's game. I can confirm that there's a video on the official site of Everton training in the new pink training kit (proper pink!) and Calvert-Lewin is in training and in Portugal. He must be available for selection and wouldn't have gone unless they intend to use him. Good news ahead of the new season then.

Only time will tell but for me personally I would be happy to see Mirallas, Bolasie make way for Richarlison and keep Lookman, as long as we buy a dominant centre-back!

Now that Dowell is back, he and Lookman can give Sigurdsson plenty of competition for the No 10 position. Surely this would mean the end for Klaassen, and even Vlasic.

Personally I'd like to jettison Mirallas, Bolasie, Klaassen (sorry Davy) and send Vlasic out on loan for a season.

I know some on here have their doubts, lack of pace being one but, what I saw of Cenk, if he times his runs properly he's coming in late on the back of the defenders having the run on them and can do damage, I'm hoping we see more from Cenk this season with a structured attacking approach rather than the hoofball of the previous regime, but, this is just my opinion.

I've read that Richarlison can play across the front three, adding that dynamic pace to get in behind which we will need when plan A doesn't work, Walcott can also do this too. To play him behind Cenk down the middle, is this not Siggy's job or hopefully Dowell if he kicks on this season?