Everton said to have made another bid for Allan

Transfer market has just opened, we have time to make decent decisions, not rushed ones. £35M is probably too much for a player this age, no matter how good he is.

I can only hope this becomes a reality! We are crying out for a mobile, box-to-box midfielder. I hope we at least try to add a pacy, creative midfielder too as we currently have no-one who can fill that role.

Sigurdsson is never going to be the creative type player we need.

He's 29. They want £30 million. Move on.

Allan will be a key signing as Carlo wants him in for starters as his main man on the pitch. But we need another central midfielder too as back up and to challenge to start. Delph is regularly injured and who knows if/when Gbamin will be 100% match fit and ready to play a season.

The second central midfielder needs to be a younger and more dynamic player, strong, aggressive, masses of energy and ability to drive forward with the ball. I love the buzzing natures of Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, we are desperate for that energy and dynamism in central midfield. Gomes needs to get 100% fit and it is a hope he could fulfil that role to an extent, but at the moment, especially with his recent injury, he is a million miles away from being mobile and dynamic and there's big question marks over whether he ever will be the same player.

I don't really think Højbjerg comes into that category but he would certainly add some bite and solidity to our central midfield which would stabilise and improve the whole team.

Buendia needs consideration too because of his versatility to add strength in depth to the right- and centre-midfield position. I would rather have him in the squad than Iwobi if we could trade on that somehow.

On the whole except for, Carlo's choice, Allan. I want us to be signing young quality players on the up aged approx 24 and below. I want to see a bit of desire and energy injected into the team. For example, only as I haven't really much of a clue:

Højbjerg 24, Buendia 23, Aarons 20, Brooks 23, Cash 23; in general, players who would be energised by a move up and be on the same wavelength as our fine young players. Helping create a unity, identity and collective purpose. In short, a team.

He must be a good player, but we have erred with players of that age before, like Sigurdsson. Brands should state his top price and not be moved.

I wouldn't pay more than£15 million for him.

Let's make the massive assumption that there's truth to this.

If so, this move represents the most depressing Koeman like move in the transfer market possible. If we're going to overpay for Ancelotti old boys what purpose does Brands actually serve?

Hoping this is more newspaper nonsense.

At the top of his game (as he has been for about 7 seasons before this one) Allan is a very impressive and quite complete central midfield who makes a good amount of tackles whilst also linking play effectively.

But unlike Barry, Pirlo etc his game depends to a degree on his physicality and athleticism. As such you'd expect him to drop off as he gets older. Plus he's developed some recurring injuries this season.

In an ideal world you find someone who's going to be the next Allan (like Zakaria – no chance there, sadly). But Carlo and Brands may well feel they cannot take a risk on someone who may or may not develop. Carlo needs someone who can come in and play 38 games in the middle of our team next season to a high standard. if he stays fit then the Brazilian could well be that man. Having said that I'd not want to pay more than £20-25M for a player who relies on athletic qualities and will be 30 in January.

At best he becomes our Fernandinho. At worst he becomes a much more expensive Delph.

Hope this is not true. Sounds like another big salary player on long contract with little resale value if things not work out. I would rather spend the $35M on 2 younger players from the relegating teams / lesser teams that already adapted to Premier League or Championship.

Nearer 30 than 29, with recurring injuries (stated above) £35M offered, £4.3M for how many years? Seems he'll fit right in with our expensive aging crocks.

Hopefully he will join us but I think we probably need four or five more with a will-to-win mentality and to get rid of a few fancy fans who think they are better than they actually are.

Please no. If Marcel and Carlo want any advice, I can put them in touch with my 11-year-old son. Through many hours spent on FIFA, he has developed an extensive knowledge of up-and-coming players who would fit the bill!

We need quality, but we can't be overspending.

I won't pretend I know much of this player, and don't believe anyone here truly knows that much about him I mean, how much Italian football are we actually watching?

We desperately need a midfielder who will bring with him authority and confidence. The biggest weakness of our current lot, beyond their poor passing, poor tackling, and non existing pressing, is that they lack absolute any authority on the pitch.

We need 2 new Central midfielders and a winger at bare minimum.

We need to move quickly in the market as the 7 weeks until the season starts will creep up very quickly.

At his age (30 in January) and the punitive fee it will certainly be a major gamble for Ancelotti. One that could determine his reign one way or another.

Carlo is putting his chips on him coming in and creating quality and stability in central midfield. Someone the younger players can learn from and rely on.

I have to agree that, if the figure is £36M, it does seem an awful lot for a 29-year-old, but there is no saying he couldn't be a brilliant signing for us for another 5 years. We definitely need some class players in to bolster this squad.

Carlo, obviously sees him as being worth it, which will do for me, hopefully we can recoup some money from deadwood sales, although that would be something of a miracle.

Only need about 5 or 6 others now, and we should be good to go! :-)

Carlo needs players who can come in and offer immediate improvement. Spending the same amount on two relegated midfielders who may take a couple of years to gel might get us relegated.

Every good team starts with an older head ie Peter Reid who knows every trick in the book. As a Jock once said you don't win anything with kids. Branthwaite is exceptional and looks like he has played in the Premier League for ages at 18, but fill the team with 18-year-olds and you can't expect to win anything for 5-6 years.

As it stands, Carlo being safe on the restart should have given more of the U23s a chance but he seemed to want to be assured how bad our side is.

Len, you've hit the nail on his head.

We are so far behind now, Carlo needs to build a team for now and slowly bring youngsters through. He has managed Allan before, and obvioulsy he's won the Premier League before, so he knows what type of player it takes.

He needs to be backed if he believes Allan has what it takes to succeed. In 2 years we've fallen behind Wolves! God help us if Newcastle's take over goes through and they go big!

I have no particular problem buying players who aren't 18 anymore. I don't consider 29 to be that bad anyway. We could still get four years out of him. As long as he is a big improvement on what we currently have then it's fine with me.

After all, we grumbled when Gareth Barry was signed and he was in his mid-30s. It turned out he was our best midfield player for the next three seasons. Sometimes, experience is more important than youth or sell-on price.

I just want to see some craft, running, drive and bite instead of the feeble lack of effort we're getting now.

This will be our most important transfer window in years and I don't care how young or old the players we eventually buy are – just as long they are better than the crap we have now and can start moving Everton up the table. If they don't, then – next season – we could be Bournemouth.

Frank @19. Wasn't Gareth Barry a free transfer? Bit different than spending the best part of £35 million.

Frank @19,

I agree, I don't think 29 is too old as long as they are good enough. What I do think is strange is that we sold the best box-to-box midfield player in the Premier League according to the stats.

He covered more ground and made more tackles than any other midfield player, but we sold Gana Gueye for £7 million and are now trying to buy a replica who is just slightly younger for in excess of £30 million. He still had 2 years left on the contract so please explain that, Mr Brands.

If he was 23 he would be £80M plus.

We need to be signing class players – not 'potential' nor 'has-been' nor 'never-was' players...

That is the difference.

Brian, we can't keep players out of the clutches of teams like PSG! Apart from the obvious, playing with Neymar and Mbappe. He is guaranteed some trophies to show for his career.

Maybe we can tempt him back this summer now he has his league winners and cup medals?

Seems Sidibé is returning to Monaco. Can't say he will be missed. At the moment, that only leaves Seamus Coleman as the only recognised right-back, so Kenny should be recalled until or unless a new right-back is signed.

Gana Gueye was sold for £29 mill. At the age of 29. Now 30 so is €35 mill similar in sterling? However, Gueye was Premier League proven.

Brian @21,

We brought Idrissa for £7M and sold him for £29M, big difference. However, it was still a bad move for the club.

Brian, we sold a Gueye for €32 million, around £29 Million.

So not much difference in the fee being asked for Allan.

Look what we spent on Iwobi, yet some are saying Allan is coming up to 30 in January, that still leaves a good few years for Allan to come in and hopefully improve our midfield.

We cannot gamble on hidden youngsters or squad players from other teams, we need to bring in proven talent now, not wait another few seasons, hoping our bargain buys come good – we've been doing that for near on 30 years.

Bring in quality now, get an identity back at Everton, no more cast-offs from other clubs who are only getting the odd game.

Get out there and buy players who are quality, who are first-team players, let's raid these clubs for their quality players who are regulars in their first team, and not settle for players who are making numbers up at other clubs.

Carl,

When a player still has 2 years left on his contract, of course we can keep them, although it was common knowledge that Gana wanted to play for PSG.

Remember Arsenal bidding £40 million + 1 penny for Suarez, despite his contract saying he was allowed to speak to any club who bid over £40 million, and he had said he would like to talk to them, Liverpool rejected the offer out of hand and didn't let Suarez speak to them.

So, as the great Brian Clough said when asked about what he would do if a player wanted an increase or to get away before his contract was up. Clough said, "I would get him and his agent in, get the contract they both signed out of the draw, ask them were they their signatures?"

Then, when they said, Yes, he said he would then tell both of them: "You were glad to sign the contract. Now fuck off and come back when your contract is up."

Sorry, guys, thanks for putting me right: we did sell Gana for £29 million not £7 million – that's what we paid Villa. That's what happens when you get over 70, sometimes you muddle things up.

If Allan was slow, then I wouldn't be tempted. But he's not. Got world class acceleration, very intelligent on and off the ball, and does things it would take some players 3 or 4 years to learn.

Sigurdsson never had the legs as he was average at sprinting, however, he had everything else better than most Premier League players, that's why the drop off after 31 in physical condition. Technical ability won't be lost at same rate.

Even if Allan drops off physically, it will be maybe 33 when he drops to average Premier League sprint speeds, similar curve I'd say as Distin went through. By this time in 3 years, Carlo has a good squad and has time to train the next two defensive mids.

Jason @30, Distin is an excellent comparison, much better than Barry. Distin was a player who relied alot upon his physical attributes. We actually signed Distin when he was 31 and I remember him being our fastest and strongest player for at least another 3 or 4 years, during which time he played 30+ games for us per season.

If Allan keeps himself in the same incredible shape as Slyvain then there's every reason to expect he could be a top player for us until he's 34/35 which would make his signing a lot more sensible. Carlo will have a better idea as to his levels of professionalism than any of us.

Bayern bid for Max Aaron apparently. €20M.

Jamie Vardy just won the golden boot at 33 years old and still looks as fast as ever to me.

We need immediate quality in the spine of the team and if that means signing a 29-year-old then I'm all for it. I'd like both Allan and Højbjerg and I know that's being both greedy and unlikely but the need outweighs the greed.

5 players for me, a goalkeeper, centre back, 2 CM and a right-winger.
I'd take an average goalkeeperat the moment as anything is an improvement on coco the clown we've got in goal now. I think Romero is a good shout, won't cost much and seems to be a very steady Eddie which is all that's required this summer. Can improve the goalkeeper position in windows to come but I'd snap anyone's hands-off for anything close to what we paid for Pickford. Worst keeper in the prem by a long way.

Hopefully the Gabriel rumour comes to fruition, not pretending to know a whole lot about him but many a good word is said about him. Wouldn't be sorry to see Mina go, doesn't play enough games even though I do like him. Again, a decent offer and I'd say sell.

I like David Brooks for the right-wing, a lot of potential there and provides the left-footed option that we're after. Sell Bernard, Walcott, Bolasie. I'd keep Iwobi just for his versatility and the fact that we'll get nowhere near what we paid for him.

Simples!

I like Aarons, but not watched him a lot so don't know his commitment to winning every game, and his defensive ability. Could be cheap, could be right price? Will he be happy as Number 2 to Kenny, and what price can we pay for a Number 2 to the Number 2?

The reason I'm suggesting this, is I think Kenny will keep driving hard, even when other "big names and superstars" in the team decide to coast through some games.

I'd like Kenny to be in the squad as he's a driving force with a captains mentality. He might still develop on a bit more too. Who knows? But definitely should be in the squad for September.

I read somewhere it is £15-20M up front and the rest would be as add on, etc. Nonetheless too expensive for a soon-to-be 30-year-old player.

Whether Allan turns out to be a masterstroke or a disappointment, only time will tell. The fact is we have got a manager in on 9 million a year who has more experience and more success than just about anyone in the game. We have just got to put our trust in him, there's no alternative.

He will see our weaknesses more clearly than anyone and he will know what is needed to make a proper footballing team. If he wants Allan then trust him. We won't be signing many 29- or 30-year-olds so there is an argument as well that one or two experienced heads in the team is a good thing in itself, especially when they are top quality.

We have one of the best in the business as manager, we have give him a chance to build his own team. I will wager we will be a different outfit next season. Much tougher and much more organised. I agree with those that say it will take another season until we are challenging, but starting September we will be looking like a proper team again.

The focus shouldn't be on his age. When we got Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Gomes, Iwobi, and Gbamin. a combined £150+ million. no-one has ever complained at their ages, the quality is the issue... If we are after Allan, I just pray he is of optimal quality and the best we can get.

If we could combine his signing with someone like Eberechi Eze. I hope Gbamin gets fit, and we have Davies, Gomes and Dowell as reserves, that could be good enough for top 8 (our realistic target next season).

I'd also take Lallana (even though he's a redshite) on a free, he'd be a far greater creative outlet than anyone else we have.

What tickles me is, (if any of these "reports" can be believed), why the immediate jump of £10m in the offer?

I would expect increments of £1M or £2m at most (whatever happened to £100,000.00, £250,000.00, £500,000.00 or £750,000.00)?

But, nowadays, its " Your bid hasn't been accepted - Oh! OK - well up it by £10 million then - is that any better?

It's Monopoly money.

At the beginning of the lockdown everyone was saying - this is going to have a huge impact on football finances and clubs are going to have to start living in the "real world" from now on.

Not so - apparently.

Hugh, I think that represents just how much reports and speculation are to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Deals for players are more a result of continuous negotiation, back and forth, rather than some sort of Champ Manager style 'bid'.

At 29 he would be a stop gap, but coming from Italian Media it is more likely not true. Would he have the engine for the Premier League??

It seems that the manager wants him as much for his influence in the dressing room and training pitch. He may be the guy that gives a bollocking and raises the energy and effort level by his presence and attitude. He may be the Sgt Major to Ancelloti's officer ? He is also a fine player in his own right which helps.

Rumours of Boga now, ex Chelsea player from Ivory Coast. Plays in Italy for Sassuolo, scored 11 times this season. I think he is a right winger.

Sky Sports reporting Everton face competition for him.

Jason @34 if we buy Aarons it won't be to be number 2 to Kenny. Jonjoe Kenny may have grit and determination but he lack dynamism.

These days the modern full-backs are expected to bomb up and down the pitch all day and the best tend to be pretty rapid and to be able to beat their man when they get one vs one. Jonjoe is not quick and is not a great dribbler.

Kenny may well prove good enough for a midtable Premier League team. And at the moment, that's exactly what we are! But if we have aspirations of being more than that, then I suspect he will not have quite enough in his locker.

Sam @ 43, yes I would agree Kenny doesn't have world class pace.

I guess it all comes down to Brands getting a buyer and a decent transfer value for a number of players, just like the Red Shite by selling Lovren their fault-a-game defender for £11 mill. If Brands can match them for selling on players at top dollar, Carlo can make a good go in this transfer window. Plus another caveat is he'll have to move very quickly to get players out, so Carlo can budget and decide on positions and back-ups.

This gives Carlo the cash to cover Digne (Jarrad is the emergancy left back currently?) and sort out the right back problem too. Although, I think Kenny will be much better than when we saw him in Blue over a year ago. A part of me is hoping for a Mason Holgate Mk 2 situation after his loan period, where he's improved into a terrific top flight player.

Check out the video half-way down, a pretty interesting scout report on Kenny – good points and where he can improve.

https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/12/13/21020632/jonjoe-kenny-news-latest-everton-loan-deal-schalke-bundesliga-title-gladbach-leipzig-dortmund-bayern

Exactly the calibre of player we should be targeting. Champions League quality. Worth the money. Far more so than the likes of Iwobi and Zaha.

We never learn if this is true. Too old for the rigors of the Premier League and too darn expensive.

When Villa went down a few years ago, we picked up Gueye up at a bargain price.

With Watford going down and the players prices dropping, any takers for Abdoulaye Doucouré? He could turn out to be a steal, if the price is right.

Always rated that player and he could put our current midfield to shame.

Is this the same OAP who stifled the rs front 3 twice?

Colin. that's the fella. The guy that had salah exactly where he wanted him. The same niggly, narky guy that didn't give them a moment's peace on the ball.

But he's too old for us if you listen to some. Won't cut it in the Premier League. Sounds similar to what gets said everytime Thiago Silva gets mentioned... didn't he also have a certain Liverpool front 3 under control a few times recently?

He is probably the best player in the world in his position who would be prepared to join us. That is both a positive and a negative.

His engine is probably good for circa 3 years (look at Milner) but we may have to give him a longer contract to get him to come.

It's expensive and short-termist. I have my doubts. Whether it is a success comes down to his motivation. Ancelotti knows him so will judge better than we can.

Other signings will need to be much younger, however. As I keep saying on various threads building a champs league quality side is about developing under-24 players and especially 18- to 22-year-olds.

What, stifled the RS all by himself! What a player! He wouldn't be playing for Napoli, he would be playing for us.

Robert,

I presume you're talking about top 4.

Can you name any successful side since Ferguson's Man Utd who have got anywhere near the top 4 based on developing 18- to 22-year-olds?

Leicester rely almost solely on Vardy who is 33 now.

The average age of the top sides is around 27 with only Man Utd again coming in at 25.2 and look at the money they have spent.

Our current average age is 26 which might go to almost 27 with Allan.

It seems like this is the guy that Carlo wants to sort out the disgrace that we watched yesterday so let's give him our support. He can sign a youngster to do all the running further up the pitch.

Curious how we’ve made two bids yet the temperature gauge doesn’t suggest it’s even a dead trail.

Jay – Dortmund, Leipzig, Lyon, Ajax, Atletico Madrid. In the Premier League... not so much. It's been more about spending big. That's okay if you've got loads of money – but we haven't.

We've been spending big in our own relative terms and it resulted in the playing staff deteriorating in quality. West Ham and Newcastle have been doing it too. It's a bad plan.

Leicester do rely on Vardy. They also developed Chilwell, Barnes, Gray, Tielemans, Ndidi, Maddison, Soyuncu and a few others. That's a good plan. Vardy isn't scoring all those goals on his own.

Jay, Chelsea also have a lower age with Arsenal and Leicester just behind us.

There needs to be a blend of course. But our best chance of having top-class players in their mid-20s is to buy them with potential in the early 20s.

I'm keen to buy Allan because we really need a reliable leader who can hit the ground running in the middle. But I'd also buy the likes of Gabriel and Sarr for centre-back and right-wing; good young players now who could develop into top-class players in 2-4 years time.

That, Sam, is a good plan. 👍

Robert: you say it is short-termist? I question that.

The top 8 is incredibly competitive at the moment. All of Wolves, Leicester, Chelsea, Tottenham, Man Utd, and Arsenal will invest and be targeting vast improvement from this season, and then there is Leeds who, with Bielsa, could well ruffle some feathers.

If we aim to compete with them, we need players who can walk in our team and lift the level. I don't think our midfield will improve by signing just 22-year-olds.

Who will they look up to? Who will guide them? Gomes, Sigurdsson, and Delph? Are they the consummate senior professionals to guide our youngsters? I don't think so.

So Allan appears to tick those boxes too. Someone to tutor the youngsters, while at the same.time increasing our quality.

We also need to keep Richarlison. I am very certain clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham, Utd and clubs from abroad will be looking at him and thinking. We need to show Richarlison we mean business. Signing Doucouré won't do that. Signing Allan will.

We do need to target high-quality younger players too, but to only target young players would be a mistake.

And if Allan costs the same as Gueye was sold for, good deal. We all agreed that we got mugged on Gueye.

Sam,

I agree with you moreso than Robert's proposal but again would emphasise that, without a good short-term, there won't be a long term.

Supporters are already bitching at Carlo and the players after a few months.

What we are missing is class, not youth, in fact our problem has emanated from seeing off the likes of Jagielka, Baines and Coleman and Barry and then trying to get youth with potential and I quote: "Old Age And Cunning Will Overcome Youth And Skill Every Time".

Look at Peter Reid and Andy Gray. They transformed our team.

I think there is at least 6 players we should be looking at from the relegated sides.

Sarr, Doucouré, Arrons, Allan, Gabriel, Foster and Zaltan – think of what our young strikers will learn from him. Around £130M and sell many players get a good £80M back... job done.

As an exception, Allan is fine. Top class player. If we buy, it will be because Carlo believes he's motivated. Doucouré, as you say, would not be a good signing. Just stockpiling more mediocre players with no room for improvement.

Keane, Sigurdsson and Schneiderlin were supposed to be our experienced spine and bought in at great expense (for us). But they have taken us backwards.

The players now taking us forwards are Holgate, Digne and Richarlison & Calvert-Lewin. Unless we sell (for big fees) they could be with us 5 years or more. They were all examples of good recruitment.

Yes, Jay. Class is certainly needed but that may not necessarily come with age more than youth. The likes of Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin, Williams, Bolasie and Delph were all bought in as more experienced and tested players. Very few have added significantly and all will be sold or released for big financial losses. Old or young the key is good judgement.

We need consistency. And we need balance. Which means taking both a long- and short-term view. Let's see what Brands and Ancelotti come up with.

Jay @60, spot on.

Getting the chemistry and charismas to be a consistent proper fighting football unit for Everton has become our own Holy Grail.

Turning this mess around will be arguably one of the greatest achievements in the last 30 years.

Let's hope so, and for those doubting, judge Ancelotti 10 league games into next season.

That’s a lot of money for a chap closing in on 30.

Gavin, are you really complaining that we didn't spend £70 million on Zaha AND pay him £130,000 week to score four goals this season? Missing out on Zaha was the best deal we never made. And if Carlo wants him as bad as Silva did, we can get him now for a hell of a lot less than before. With or without the Iwobi deal on our spreadsheet.

It's like people here still moaning that we missed out on Zouma. Seems like nobody actually watched these two guys play this season.

Stop being ageist. If they are genuine top class, are what we need and what the manager wants then I'm happy signing them, however old.

All we need is 2 good seasons from a top player (or 2) to help bring confidence and start to knit the team together.

We have some potential, Arsenal have had potential for 10+ years but it never grows beyond that. What we need is quality for now and the following season.

You never win anything with kids... Hmmm.

Young, hungry players needed. Not overseas players coming for a final massive contract. No thanks.

His age is the issue. No re-sell value means money down the drain. This matters because it gives us less money to spend on other things (like better players). We have done this time and time again – Williams, Sigurdsson, Bolasie. These weren't all rubbish players but we paid too much for what we got and had no way of recovering anything.

We've also bought rubbish young players... but that's a different category of error.

Signing Allan for me would be a fantastic move. He's a box-to-box type player who's tenacious and aggressive. I believe signing him would also bring out the best in Gomes and Sigurdsson. They need this type of player to play to their strengths. Signing a certain type player can also improve the players you have.

Normally, I want to see re-sale value. But Allan takes us into a challenging for Champions League category, so a no-brainer financially too.

Also, we have lots of young players that have re-sale value, not just the obvious ones, Richarlison, Pickford and Digne, but Gordon, Kean, Branthwaite, Holgate, Calvert-Lewin, Kenney in 2-3 years are worth a decent amount if we are in the Champions League.

Finally, if we sell on Sigurdsson, Bernard, Sandro, Delph etc. etc, Carlo has the cash and buys well, we can have a good core of say 18 very good hungry players next season as a good base to build on.

I agree with the opinions of those who say that age need not be the most important consideration when buying a player if we are desperate for proven quality in that area. Maybe Brands can soften the transfer fee by being smart – for example, trade in Bernard for Allan plus 15 million. I think Bernard's size and pace may be more suited to Spain, Italy or Germany.

Now, if you want quality and age, then Grealish would be fantastic for us - but he will cost £60 million plus at least 100k per week on wages (£5 million per year). Again, a trade-in with one or more of Delph, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, Tosun, Mina, Bolasie, or Besic may reduce the outlay.

As someone above mentioned, Brands had better get busy now, wheeling and dealing. The 'outs' are as important as the 'ins', because that is when Ancelotti and Brands will know what budget they have for buying new players.

2 classy midfield players like Allan and Grealish could be transformational for Everton. Postpone all other purchases for other positions to subsequent transfer windows and build up the squad gradually – including replacing Pickford, etc.

I know I am contradicting myself from my opinions on another thread, but the point is: there are many ways in which Brands can improve the squad; he needs to get clever and aggressive with his dealing and work very closely with Ancelotti.

Where would Allan's motivation be?

He doesn't want to come to Everton over other clubs and has nothing to prove coming here. Therefore, he'll only come if we offer him big money. Then, we have yet another overpaid player with little passion or affiliation for the club to add to the growing list of players who already fall into that category.

In a years time, we'll be moaning that we have no passion, play pedestrian football, don't compare to teams like Sheffield Utd who run through walls for their manager – and we'll float high-profile names around as the solution to all our problems.

It's like Groundhog Day on here.

David Ellis: the signings of Bolasie, Sigurdsson and Williams were not mistakes because of the ages of the players. They were mistakes because they were all perennial mid-to-lower table, average Premier League players.

None were Champions League standard players. So comparing this to them is absurd.

And players only have resale value if they're any good. Iwobi was young, but no resale value as he's crap.

Richarlison has massive resale value, but selling him will turn us into relegation fodder.

So I'm more concerned in buying quality players, rather than profit-making players.

We should also go for some younger players: Sarr, Eberechi Eze, Aaron's are players I think we should be after. But Allen (or another top-level midfielder) is desperately needed, someone who has confidence and authority and will lift us a level immediately.

Doucoure's time has gone. What somebody like Marcel Brands should be doing is finding the next Doucoure.

Ajay @72, I like that idea of offering Bernard. I'm not sure Napoli need him but certainly he's a good player who I think may be better suited to other leagues. The only trouble being that we pay him a fortune so he'd have to take a big pay cut!

Maybe Bernard + £15M for Boga at Sassuolo? Or with £20M for Ferran Torres at Valencia?

I said on another thread that I think we have such a bloated squad that trying to include player swaps where possible would make sense. I was hoping that we might offer Sandro + £5M to buy Salisu at Valladolid; now that would have been a win-win!

At 29, with no Premier League experience, I wouldn't pick him.

I like Højbjerg's profile: 24, Premier League experience, resale value and his best years upfront.

Having said that about the Danish boy, I wouldn't pick him either, by the mere fact he didn't want to come.

I was wondering a few hours ago who were our best signings in the last years and they all have one thing in common: Cahill, Arteta, Distin, Richarlison etc... the all wanted to come to Everton.

There are a zillion players out there, the profile should be clear and prevail above anything else: if the Everton scouting and the DOF do that, they will hit it.

I'm just watching beIN Sport 11, the match between Inter Milan and Napoli, hoping to catch a glimpse of both Allan and Lozano, but both are currently on the bench.

Maybe get on second half, Lukaku doing okay for them (Inter) and has managed upper 20's in goals in all competitions. Inter leading 1-0 at half time by virtue of a D'Ambrosio goal.

I see reports of West Ham bidding for Eberechi Eze. I really feel we'll regret not going for him, akin to when we signed Sigurdsson for double the fee of Maddison.

We should have gone for Jarrod Bowen too. Moyes's eye and trust in Championship players has always been good.

You're right, Fran. Eze is a talented young man. Will probably fit in well with what Moyes is doing at West Ham. Interesting to see where the two clubs finish next season.

What we need are game changers and surely an experienced manager like Ancelotti who has managed the player knows and believes this guy Allan will make a big difference to the team, but who knows anymore!

In my opinion, the club would be better looking for the talented young hungry players who want to make a name for themselves and in doing so guaranteeing a big money contract.

If we are to spend any big money on players in their late 20s it must be a certainty they will do the business on the pitch. Ancelotti and in particular Brands can not fuck up with any new signings these next few windows.

Allan hasn't been playing regularly for Napoli – that is a worry for me.

Every transfer is a gamble, no matter what the age. I seem to recall buying two so-called elder statesmen, whose better days were way behind them. Enter, Gray and Reid – the rest is history.

This team needs what my father says are a few arl asses, who know how to run a game and get the best out of younger players. They also know how to get at refs and get in the faces of the opposition and not lie down like a scolded lot of puppies. I would like at least a couple of old heads to join the squad.

If Carlo wants Allan, let him have him. Silva wanted Richarlison and this worked out okay for Everton, if not for Silva himself. If Vertogen would consider us, I'd go after him as well – he's on a free, plays centre-back and is a useful left-back too. Him and Allan for £35M plus wages is a good deal in my eyes.

In this difficult financial climate, the cheaper we can get experience and nous on a football pitch, the better. If we want youth, then Sarr at Watford must be considered. That kid will only get better, so we should move now. We have several players we could offer Watford plus money, to get him.

McNeill at Burnley should also interest us, as we look for a more energetic midfield and test the water about Pope. Everton also need to make their minds up about Kenny. Either play him or sell him, or use in a part-exchange.

Pope,
Kenny, Holgate, Vertonghen, Digne,
Sarr, Allan, Gomes, McNeill
Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.

Subs: Lössl, Coleman, Keane, Davies (Gbamin when fit), Gordon, Kean, Branthwaite.

Sell, loan out, 4 from Walcott, Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Besic, Bolasie, Pickford, Mina, Delph, Bernard and Sandro. If we can bring in a further 2 players, then let 5 or 6 go from this lot. Hopefully the 2 other players would be another midfielder (who can play more than one position) and a forward, who can play across the line. It's either that or a couple of the kids from the U23s step up to the plate.

This DOF lark... it's a doddle really.

If Ancelotti wants this guy and he wants to come, then that's good enough for me. Can he cut it in the Premier League?

It may take him a season to acclimatize but I think Carlo needs his man to make things work the way he wants. I hope he signs.

Given the abysmal signings of Walsh and Brands, Iit would seem sensible to let Ancelotti identify the players he wants using his own trusted sources and leave the meeting and greeting to Brands... until his contract expires.