Everton 'make contact' with winger Diaby

Yes please, Bailey and Mbeuno either side of Calvert-Lewin. Berardi in midfield and Hakimi at right-back.

It would be so typical of Everton to go for this lad rather than Bailey.

Tony, I'd actually take Diaby over Bailey, just barely. He's two years younger and just as talented, if not quite as polished. We would do well to bag either one, however, given the CL clubs that are after them.

Just reminds me of a young Yanick Bolasie.

I'm always dubious of our "young potential" signings from the continent, we have been burned too many times for my liking.

Jim, what's the alternative? Surely we have been burned as much if not more by over-priced average players from the Premier League: Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin, Bolasie, Walcott, Williams, Iwobi, Delph, Keane, Pickford.

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.

Sam, to put Keane and Pickford in that category is very harsh. Pickford is deemed the best English goalkeeper and Keane has had a good season and is as good in the air as most in the Premier League.

Eddie, of course Keane and Pickford are better than the likes of Schnedierlin and both have been pretty good at times this season. But neither has been great, certainly not good enough to entice a bigger club to go for them. Neither have become Top 4 players to my eyes, which is what we should be looking at; players with the potential to play at the highest level.

Leicester bought Maguire for half the price of Keane and sold him 2 years later for a £70m profit. That is good recruitment.

Any transfer is a gamble.

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.

Sam, on the contrary, Pickford is ahead of Henderson for England, who is a Top 4 goalkeeper. He is more agile than Schmeichel and I could see him in a Top 4 team, no problem.

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).

Jim - which young potential signings from the continent have been failures? If you mean Kean, Vlasic and Onyekuru, they actually made us millions (or will do) and are all very decent players. Vlasic would be a very good bet for our right flank – better than anything we've got now.

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.

Having noted comments on the forum over the season, I think that it is fair to say that we need to make changes in midfield and definitely need another striker.

It’s 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.

The side needs an adrenaline shot of of pace and energy. Buying young potential isn't the be all and end all, but I do agree that it's the only way we are going to have a tilt at the Top 4.

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.

Eddie, wouldn't put too much stock in who Southgate picks for England, a pretty poor judge i'd say; plus Henderson has not been first choice at Man U for most of the season.

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.

exactly the kind of player we need. hope this rumour is valid

According to reports Harry Kane wants away from Spurs so offer them Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean in a straight swap.

Isn't it a sad indictment of the club when we talk about bringing young players with potential into the club when we can't bring in one from our own set-up?

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.

John (17),

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!

Tony,

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.

If we sell Richarlison, could we have Bailey and Diaby?

Tony @18,

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!??

Totally different days back then though, Tony, when clubs just recruited from the UK market. Seven players were recruited from two single years in my school and three went onto become first team players with Bolton Wanderers. It's a global market in the Premier League now.

Ray,

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?

Tony #21,

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”?

Trigger!!

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!!

Sorry John, I only read Tony's post. I agree with you. We don't seem to bring enough players through the Academy, irrespective of where they come from. Having said that there are currently 3 in the squad: Calvert-Lewin, Holgate and Davies, I suppose.

Tony (21),

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.

Osman is wasted as a pundit, Tony, and should definitely be coaching at Finch Farm.

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.

I think change is needed. Frankly, the days when we had a proper 2nd team of players in the Central League, banging on the door, playing games is far better than the Unde- 23s. They are needed but they are way below where a 2nd team were in terms of experience, ability and playing against tougher opposition, week-in and week-out. The gulf is so wide now, it's almost laughable.

Christine, I posted about the drop in standards since the Central League was disbanded and was accused of backward thinking.

This kid could be good, he could be rubbish (as you say).

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.

I'll be honest, Christine and Andrew, I was never a huge fan of the Central League.

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.

Danny, my issue with the Spanish B Team route is I see it as a bit disrespectful to the clubs in the lower divisions. I may be wrong, but those teams aren't eligible for promotion to the top flight and players aren't interchangable between squads?

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.

Jamie 31 - "A central fucking creative fucking shit-daddy midfielder please!" Are you sure?

It is a fallacy to think Ferguson's academy or Chelsea's academy produced good players.

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.

Personally I like the look of Perriera at West Brom. He has scored and created quite a few in a poor side.

If three players made the grade from two school years, Ray, it just shows you that the talent is there in the first place.

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.

Everton always get ''good ''young players'' but very few establish themselves these days.

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.

I'm not being biased to my roots, Tony but I feel the Liverpool region has so much natural talent. We just don't tap into it and that is further reflected on a national scale.

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!!

Tony #38,

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).

Tony @38, I beg to differ.

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!

Danny(#40); There was a lad just up the road from you in Macket's Lane, David Johnson. I don't know if it ever changed but at one time the only Grammer school lads to play for Liverpool Schoolboys since the war were Brian Labone and Joe Royle. Joe went to Quarry Bank School as did Steve Coppell and Graham Smith who played for, I think, Chesterfield and West Brom and organized those Texas tournaments Everton played in with some Mexican teams when Moyes was manager.

Alan J @ 16, I don't know whether your post was tongue in cheek, or there was a hint of serious wishful thinking there, but I see this all the time, especially on here, offer them 'so and so', etc.

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. :-)

It is a different ball game Ray, and the most truthful thing I’ve heard about this new modern game was muttered by Marcel Brands, just after he arrived at Everton. He said money can make you lazy, and I think this is so very apt, when I look at football right across the board now.

Is Tom Davies good enough? I’m not sure, but he’s done as well as most players this season. He’s 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 he’s the player that’s dropped.

I look at Chelsea, they come fourth last year, had to use a few kids, but if they don’t 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 it’s always been difficult, but modern life demands instant results, and that’s why patience has been replaced by anger when things don’t go according to plan. (Look at the stick DCL has taken in some quarters, but he’s been very lucky to be at a club like Everton, otherwise he wouldn’t have been given this much time to develop imo)

It’s 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.

Jamie it would be good to have a Fernandes style creative midfield general but at the moment we don't have any pace or movement in forward positions - which means the passing options for this creative maestro are limited to say the least. We'll still be in the position that mediocre sides can get the team behind the ball and we go backwards and sideways.

In my view we desperately need players like Diaby who can dribble, run in behind and give our midfielders some passing options.

What EFC should do is join hands and make contact with Sir John Moores and find out how to run a successful football club.

Chelsea are after him so may as well put this one to bed

Derek (#43);

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...

We need exactly that type of winger. Direct and blinding speed. We also need that at center mid and a right full back. Imagine how having that speed on the right would effect how defenders play Ritchie and DCL.

I might disagree on the positions that should be a priority, but I’m very happy Everton seemingly is looking young and talented.

Ajax model moving forward please.

Young, talented, sell-on value.

I'd go for Neto instead. Tried and tested. Fail safe option.

Neto is quality Soren but given the injury and subsequent surgery to his knee, maybe one for next summer...

Agreed Dan! He's an excepcional player. But next summer he'll be worth twice as much! How about Trousard from BHA?

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.