Seasons2020-21Rumour Mill
Everton 'make contact' with winger Diaby
Foot Mercato suggest that the Blues have made contact with representatives of the 21-year-old who has scored 10 goals in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen this season.
Together with his team-mate Leon Bailey, Diaby is likely to attract a good deal of attention from England this summer and neither will come cheap.
Bailey, 23, has nine goals in 25 league starts this term and has also been mentioned in connection with Everton, although nothing more than idle gossip at this stage.
Reader Comments (53)
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2 Posted 16/05/2021 at 00:15:26
3 Posted 16/05/2021 at 01:01:47
4 Posted 16/05/2021 at 01:11:24
5 Posted 16/05/2021 at 06:44:16
6 Posted 16/05/2021 at 07:42:50
It should not matter where players have come from if they have been properly scouted. Though there is always a risk, of course.
Diaby looks quality to me. Very fast and agile but intelligent with the ball and a good crosser. Bailey would possibly be my preference as he gets more goals and that is something we need. Bailey also plays more on the right, which is where we are lacking.
Either would be an exciting capture though. Getting the appropriate right-winger to add goals and spark for next season is arguably the biggest priority this summer, I'd say.
7 Posted 16/05/2021 at 07:54:39
8 Posted 16/05/2021 at 08:03:53
Leicester bought Maguire for half the price of Keane and sold him 2 years later for a £70m profit. That is good recruitment.
9 Posted 16/05/2021 at 08:05:36
For me and where we are now, as well as the manager we have and will have next season, a combination of ready-made, established players – with the odd potential Godfrey-like punt.
10 Posted 16/05/2021 at 08:24:15
Keane is as good as Maguire and Man Utd paid far too much for an over-hyped feller – it's not Everton's fault that Leicester pulled United's pants down on that one.
Let's face it, we could easlily be in the Top 4 this season were it not for tactical blunders and a poor midfield. Certainly not because our centre-halves are poor. Therefore, Keane could be considered good enough for a Top 4 side. Mina and Keane, when fit, are as good as anything in the Premier League (bar Man City).
11 Posted 16/05/2021 at 09:02:47
And Diaby is ahead of all these players in his development. So he is first-team ready now – having demonstrated real end product for a good side in a high quality league.
Fofana, Tielemans and Ndidi aren't bad either.
12 Posted 16/05/2021 at 09:05:57
Its too early before the end of the season to say who Ancelotti will keep and who he will move on, for contractual reasons, but changes must be made if the owner, board and manager have ambitions to contest for the top four in coming seasons.
13 Posted 16/05/2021 at 09:47:01
We have to scout players better and target players for the weakest part of the team better. I think we are further down the line in knowing what we need to improve now and targets such as Diaby at 21 or Bailey at 23 are a sign that Brands is now scouting players of a younger demographic.
Bailey may be the most productive now but Diaby looks like he is not far behind. Also, we have to take on board that Bailey's agents may have already discreetly informed of his intentions, and it's not us he wants to move to.
Anyway, I would imagine Diaby is one of a few we are looking at for that right-winger / forward. There'll probably be a new rumour next week, and another the week after.
14 Posted 16/05/2021 at 09:52:32
Pickford's form and stats for the last few years have been very low down the league. His save % for the last few years has been abysmal. I don't see him in the same class as the likes of Allison and Ederson or even De Gea, Lloris and Scmeichel. He has been better this last few months and if that form continues he may prove up to the top 4 level but he's certainly not been there for the last few years.
Same with Keane. He has been a bit better of late but he's limited to a deep playing line and still inconsistent at times. Yes, Manchester United overpaid for Maguire but he is a better player than Keane and cost (leciester) less. There's a reason United went for Maguire over Keane, who to my knowledge has never been seriously linked with a move to a bigger club.
Mina is better than Keane in my opinion and could prove a top 4 player if he could stay fit. As a pair I think they are slightly limited though by lack of mobility (which is fine if we keep playing deep). If we are to play better football next year then I suspect Mina (if fit) and Godfrey will be the first choice pair.
15 Posted 16/05/2021 at 15:23:52
16 Posted 18/05/2021 at 04:52:07
17 Posted 18/05/2021 at 07:23:40
Over the past few seasons, with numerous managers, how many of our kids have stepped into the first-team squad as regulars?We've sent countless out on loan, how many have come back and gone into the team?
We've had loads with “potential” and released them. I can't think of one who has gone on to play regularly for a top 10 team.
We can rightly moan about the quality in our squad and the price we have to pay to bring “potential” into the Club but really serious questions need to be asked about our youth set-up.
18 Posted 18/05/2021 at 08:59:20
I take your point about bringing on your own youngsters but, with the exception of Man Utd and the Busby Babes, how many clubs have produced droves of talent from their own academies in recent years? Chelsea might have the beginnings of such a movement but I'm hard-pressed to think of anyone else, not even Barca!
19 Posted 18/05/2021 at 13:02:03
I would never expect loads of youngsters to come through from the academy. I think Man Utd with Beckham etc was a one-off. Surely with all the money we pour in to the academy system, we can get one, say every couple of seasons?
Could we not sell on a few who are not quite good enough for the Premier League to Championship clubs for a few quid just to cover our costs?
I might be wrong but it just seems our academy is a bottomless pit of wasted finance which could be better used elsewhere. The academy staff, facilities infrastructure must be considerable for no obvious return.
20 Posted 18/05/2021 at 13:34:34
21 Posted 18/05/2021 at 13:36:56
When I went to Nottm Forest, in the 3-year period that overlapped my 2-year apprenticeship, loads of players made the first team, mate. Crossley, Charles, Chettle, Gemmill, Glover, Stone, Wilson, Jemson (although he was brought in young for £100k from Preston), along with Gary Crosby, who was brought in from Grantham Town, and Ian Woan from Runcorn, so maybe it's just all about having good people in recruitment.
I look back at Everton, and Michael Ball, Richard Dunne, Franny Jeffers, and then Wayne Rooney, must have definitely kept the wolves from Bill Kenwright's door. I personally think that it's definitely worth having a very good academy, but I've said it before: Why aren't people like Osman and Pienaar in charge of coaching these talented young kids!??
22 Posted 18/05/2021 at 13:48:26
23 Posted 18/05/2021 at 13:56:58
That's exactly my point. It is indeed a global market and we have a scouting network to reflect that.
My issue is, regardless of where the youngster comes from, there appears no end result!
We have indeed recruited from the UK and overseas and who has actually come through? And at what cost?
Tony is right mentioning that era when British clubs in the main recruited British youngsters... but not recently. Think back to the '50s and '60s – we always had a couple of local lads come through.
Nowadays, nothing, not even foreigners. Something is far wrong?
24 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:02:12
Slightly off topic, but as someone who has played at a higher level than most on TW, would you agree with Michael Ball's assessment of the players on display against Sheffield Utd as “bottlers”?
25 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:05:20
It's not just our youth set up. It is English football at large.
The key in measuring the standard of our grassroots is ultimately the international team. Eventually the international team is represented by what we produce at grassroots, not what clubs buy and sell. And I caveat I don't care much for the national team but I do care passionately for football and grassroots in particular.
England still dines off beating Germany in 1966 yet, since then, can only boast "celebrating" a couple of semi-finals they lost on penalties. Living off past glories (or glory). Sound familiar?
Meanwhile, Germany has progressed to win 4 World Cups, be runners up 4 times, win the European Championships 3 times and be runners up 3 times. Semi-Finals? They are considered failure. Not something the team gets an open top bus ceremony complete with comedy breasts.
France and Spain have overtaken England whilst small nations like Holland and Denmark produce quality players and punch above their weight continuously.
There is a swinging debate about giving our young players a chance versus buying foreign imports. I get that and it is valid. However, I'm on the side that, if they are good enough, our (not just Everton) managers and owners don't look elsewhere. Why would they spend millions if something as good was literally on their own doorstep? It would make no sense if they were good enough.
Not so much an Everton thing but a grassroots football thing that is broken in this country.
Change is needed. At Everton and within English football.
Sorry!!
26 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:08:14
27 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:09:57
Add in the millions, when added up, for players like Dowell, fee not disclosed, not less than £2- £5 M, Liam Walsh £2M to Bristol City, Joe Williams, Fraser Hrnby, Antony Evans, Antonee Robinson – all had decent fees paid to Everton for them, along with other players I can't think of at the moment.
The Acadamy pays for itself at the very least, so is worthwhile... but yes, it could and should do better.
28 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:12:35
Much slated by a generation of Evertonians because he was apparently small and lightweight but I don't mind sticking my neck out and saying one of the most technically gifted Everton players of the Moyes years.
I used to continuously say to my son, if he'd have gone to the continent or been born German, he would have had an incredible career. Sounds dramatic and I'm no prophet but I'll stand by that!
As it was, he stayed loyal to Everton and fought his way in the Premier League. I don't think he ever got the credit he deserved for that.
I may get laughed at, but very, very good player in my view. To your previous. Surrounded by proper, decent and the odd good player, what could he have done? As it was, he played in an average / okay team.
29 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:18:15
30 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:29:29
31 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:31:44
I don't know, and I really, really don't give a shit. You know why??
We need a fucking creative central midfielder, not a fucking winger!
Jesus above Everton, can you please identify the weakness of this squad and use your time and resources to address said weakness??
A central fucking creative fucking shit-daddy midfielder please!
Fuck me, we're moronic sometimes.
32 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:34:25
I've said before, I'd like for us to have real good look at the Spanish style B Team idea. Roberto Martinez mentioned it when Everton manager.
But mostly, fix the foundations because, if you don't do that, you are not allowing the talent that is out there to flourish. And don't get me wrong, despite my criticism of English football, I am in no doubt the talent is there. It just gets overlooked, un-coached or badly managed.
33 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:40:17
With a Central League type system, players like Bernard and King could get regular match practice and the youngsters gain the added benefit of being able to play with and against more experienced pros.
34 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:45:48
35 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:47:45
They both went out and poached all the best young players from other clubs and, in Chelsea's case, loaned them out to top clubs to help develop them or sell them on at a huge profit.
36 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:50:17
37 Posted 18/05/2021 at 14:52:55
Tranmere's best ever team had Kenny Irons, John McGreal, and Ian Nolan, all from Norris Green, and Ged Brannen from Hutton, young kids who all come through around the same age, not to mention another Norris Green kid who ended up at Everton, Tony Thomas.
I have gone anti academy since I'm just starting to watch kids football again, and honestly now think that it's not doing many kids or grassroots football any long-term favours whatsoever, but that's another story.
Who could argue with Michael Ball's assessment Mike? But when you take this game with many others in isolation, something just doesn't seem quite right with Everton, because you never get the sense that the players expect to win, if that makes any sense.
38 Posted 18/05/2021 at 15:02:42
The gossip mongers will be linking Everton with many players but it's important to shed some of the dross they have now.
Everton probably have a bigger pool of overpaid underachievers than any other Premier League club if you include some of the loan players who may return.
Bringing new players in isn't bad if they can adapt to a system that will be successful. The system this season has been mind-boggling to say the least.
39 Posted 18/05/2021 at 15:02:54
Interestingly, and I'd be interested in others's views here, being a south Liverpool lad, what is it about the east / north east part of the city?
Huyton and Norris Green (as Tony mentions) along with Kirkby and Croxteth if we include Wayne seem to produce a disproportionate number of our players. Huyton in particular. Definitely something in the water!!
40 Posted 18/05/2021 at 15:26:11
I certainly got the impression that most of the players either didn't expect to win on Sunday – or were not that bothered. There was little or no reaction to going a goal down, while the later substitutions seemed to make things worse (hard to believe that was possible!).
This squad have had multiple opportunities to achieve a Champions League spot and failed to take every one. In recent games, the only ones up for a fight seem to be the rejuvenated Pickford, Seamus (though it looks like he can't manage 2 games in a week anymore), and Godfrey - who makes more forays upfield than the midfield players seem able to manage.
To your list of Tranmere players, can I add a mention to another from that same cohort – and one I was at school with – Old Swan's Dave Higgins (I believe he features on their Top 10 appearances list).
41 Posted 18/05/2021 at 15:34:19
In those days, we played football every day of the week but nowadays most kids would rather play on their games machines.
Secondly, kids made it more easily then because they weren't competing with the best across the globe. It's a different ball game!
42 Posted 18/05/2021 at 16:32:18
43 Posted 18/05/2021 at 18:09:15
Fact is, 'so and so's are under contract, and may not want to go, especially if it's to warm another bench. He's probably had enough splinters removed to last him a lifetime as it is, and he is well acquainted with the Splinter Plucker in the treatment Room anyway. :-)
44 Posted 18/05/2021 at 19:23:20
Is Tom Davies good enough? Im not sure, but hes done as well as most players this season. Hes been better than Gomes and Delph, possibly on a par with Allen, and maybe only Doucoure, has been better than him on a regular basis playing in our midfield, but even after good performances hes the player thats dropped.
I look at Chelsea, they come fourth last year, had to use a few kids, but if they dont win their last two games this season, then they will actually drop down a place, just as Tammy Abraham, has had to drop down this season.
My own view is that its always been difficult, but modern life demands instant results, and thats why patience has been replaced by anger when things dont go according to plan. (Look at the stick DCL has taken in some quarters, but hes been very lucky to be at a club like Everton, otherwise he wouldnt have been given this much time to develop imo)
Its the same at academy level, where is the innovation? Give the coaches the best players you can find them now, because even with all the money in football, everyone seems to be in a hurry, and nobody should be rushing a child.
45 Posted 19/05/2021 at 11:06:06
In my view we desperately need players like Diaby who can dribble, run in behind and give our midfielders some passing options.
46 Posted 19/05/2021 at 18:51:13
47 Posted 21/05/2021 at 07:28:00
48 Posted 21/05/2021 at 10:37:29
Don't be daft, Harry Kane wouldn't come to sit on the bench!
My #16 was more tongue-in-cheek with all this "We need players the Top 6 would want" and "Tell PSG it's £50Mill" and "We won't make Europe without better players" and "Better players won't come without European competition" and "It doesn't matter how good they are, if they are older than 28" and "Don't pay them too much or they'll just hang around in the lockerless deadwood section at Finch Farm."
Rather limits just who might be interested in whom...
49 Posted 24/05/2021 at 17:50:59
50 Posted 24/05/2021 at 17:55:51
Ajax model moving forward please.
Young, talented, sell-on value.
51 Posted 25/05/2021 at 21:26:48
52 Posted 25/05/2021 at 21:29:15
53 Posted 25/05/2021 at 21:57:54
Also noticed we're being linked with Valencia's Goncalo Guedes. Seen him play a few times.He looks a decent player and has goals in him (scored a hattrick in La Liga a few weeks ago). Decent hitter of the ball too.
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1 Posted 15/05/2021 at 23:29:44