Everton offer terms to Meunier

Good player but I would have thought his age contradicts what M & M have outlined as their plan for not only the rebuild, but for the future too.

Although I believe that Burnley have enquired about taking JJK on loan, or on a permanent basis, so there could be some substance to this story, but can't see us getting him cheaply, even though he has only a year left on his contract.

Again encouraging that we are looking at players of his quality, or similar, but I always hope deep down that Marcel Brands introduces some unearthed gems, like he has a reputation for recruiting in the Netherlands.

The Santiago Sosa story has gone quiet too. Could be the dreaded Work Permit issues impeding progress.

Makes sense to me. We need the cover in that position if not a replacement for Seamus who on all honesty is 31 and will never be as good as he was before that horrible injury.
I 'm not impressed with either Holgate or Kenny as permanent competition for that spot.

At 27 years old, he wont be coming in from PSG to be a deputy. So either the story is a bag of balls or Seamus is being demoted Bainsey style.

Meunier is very defensive though. He’s not like Digne. He doesn’t strike me as a Silva type fullback and he’s also older than the “profile” they’re looking for. Makes no sense to me.

Steve@4 id disagree with and say that he’s more proficient attacking than defending. Very technically gifted full back with good crossing and passing. Can dribble a bit too.

Generally speaking an excellent player on his day though a bit inconsistent.

He’d certainly challenge Coleman and possibly replace him. He won’t be cheap. In the region of £20m I’d expect.

Can't see it to be honest.

Again, don't expect any signings until we've shipped a few, so let's wait and see what happens.

"According to the Euro United website, Everton haven't made a formal offer to the French club yet; if the story is true, Marcel Brands is presumably sounding the player out first."

Isn't that the definition of tapping up?

This is an odd one. As others have said, Meunier isn't coming here to sit the bench, so are we looking to cast Coleman aside? For a player a few years his junior?

Makes more sense to bring in someone younger to groom as a long-term replacement (particularly if Brands and Silva have doubts about Kenny).

I hope you’ve seen more of him than me, Sam. He always looked cautious to get forward whenever I saw him and I was not impressed. I’d love to have the wrong idea about him (if he signs).

Sam's on point, Steve. Meunier definitely knows how to get forward in attack. Remember, England found out the hard way at the WC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4kQoe7Hyoc

And he also scored against the RS last year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfW3YfyaMvU

He is well beyond Seamus' abilities in attack, and clearly he'd be the starter. I love Coleman, but this guy would upgrade the side in the same way Digne did.

I'm glad you rate him as an attacker Mike. If there's any substance to this I might do some YouTube scouting.

Surprised if we get him before Utd do. If we do though and he replaces Coleman as a starter, and with Jags probably going. Who would we like as captain? I’d go for Keane. I think he needs the responsibility, might make a man of him.

David, make a man of him? Are you serious???

Keane played all last season on a foot so infected it bled through his boot, and he never said a word publicly even as he was being criticized for his play.

This season he came back in four weeks from a fractured skull, and he never once flinched from an aerial challenge.

I'd say he's all man and then some.

But in answer to your question, my captain would be Siggy. No better example of hard work and commitment, and he's more vocal and demonstrative than Keane.

Funny. I remember certain posters on this very website pegging Lucas Digne as "not very attack-minded" and "not a like-for-like Baines replacement". How wrong they were...

Yep, one of 'em was me, Joe. I'd seen Digne play left back at Barcelona in a much more defensive role than the starter, Jordi Alba. Turns out it wasn't his mindset, Barca just wanted him to play that way. Silva took the wraps off.

Ahat happened to the supposed interest in Almeida? A seemingly younger and better alternative.

From what I've read, Meunier's form has fallen away but I stand to be corrected by those with more insight.

Don,t see Siggi as leader material at all,he simply does,nt look the part for me.I have never noticed him being very vocal either.

Joe,

You beat me to it. I remember being told that Digne was very defensive. Shows that you don’t really know a player until he actually plays for us

Not sure I'd call a 27-year old a long term option and I doubt he'd agree to be backup to a 31-year old.

So far absolutely nothing is happening to make me think our management know what they are doing.
Talk of more clear outs and mediocre signings is no indication that we have a wise man at the helm.
We need to make a couple of astute signings (one being a character player who can lead the team) to knit our team together.
Once we have made the signings we can think about off loading a couple of players.
And there is nothing wrong with having 31 year olds in the team. We need experience. It is all about balance.

JIm, so paper talk in the ten days since the league finished hasn't convinced you that our management knows what they're doing?

Come on, these pages are to keep us amused in the off-season, nothing more.

I don't see Sigurdsson as captain material. I've never seen him being that vocal either, and he certainly doesn't strike me as being a leader. He's gone missing too many times when were behind... Roy Keane he certainly isn't.

I'd always have a centre-half as some of our best captains have played there. Labone, Lyons, Ratcliffe, Watson, Weir etc. Yes. I know Lyons played a number of positions but he was best at centre-half for me. Funny what the armchair fan sees that the matchgoing fan doesn't.

Don't take it so seriously, Jim - 95% of these rumors are completely baseless. The only reason we're discussing them is there's nothing else to talk about at the moment.

As for your faith in the management team, you act like the last transfer window never happened. You know - the one that produced Richarlison, Digne, Bernard, etc...

I think if we had signed all the players the papers linked us with we would have to extend Finch Farm to cope with all the new players. My golden rule is believe nothing until you see a player at Finch Farm wearing an Everton top. Likewise with stories of out going players only believe it when you see him at another clubs training ground with their kit on.

This time of year agents are working overtime either to get their players to new clubs or to increase their salary at the present club. So if you want to increase his wages release stories to the press that x club want to buy him and pay him double what he is getting from his present club. Same rule applies to agents of players who are looking for a new club, let the press know that there are 2 or 3 clubs after him, then potential buyers up the ante to get him. Talk about not being able to fool all the people all of the time these agents are past masters at it.

Bill & Shane, I keep telling myself the same. But, after 20 odd years of horrendous management, in my opinion, and the self-destruct management of last season until near the end, I have absolutely no patience left.

I want to see a couple of excellent signings sooner rather than later... then maybe I might start feeling a bit more confident. Memories of that Milwall game still dominate my thinking!