Everton waiting on Tarkowski

El Bobble just reported we've offered Tarkowski a contract and are now just waiting on his decision.

The only way this makes any sense is if Mina is on his way out?

Everton wouldn't be that stupid to bring a guy in on crazy high wages and be stuck with the player until the contract runs out?

Would they? 🙄

No to the Burnley giant, who is such a good defender that his team were relegated.

As others have stated -he is nearly 30 and is a brute. He nearly broke Richarlison in half.

I would echo Andrew Grey @6, go for Coady, the RS-supporting organiser of the Wolves backline. He might fancy it. The defence has problems but it is partly down to our overrun midfield.

Incidentally, in my opinion, Godfrey will never make a centre-half. His main attribute is pace, he is not particularly tall and has little positional sense.

Perhaps he could be a back-up covering various roles in the backline but he seems to have gone backwards.

I am with Frank Crewe on this one. 29-30 years is really the prime age for a central defender. Real Madrid have got in Rudiger (similar age) at an insane £340k per week.

If we are selling Mina for a fee (I would say about £15-20 million), then securing Tarkowski on a free and about £80-90k/week makes absolute sense to me.

I would also sell Keane for a similar fee and bring in Bassey or Carter-Vickers. I like how Holgate stood up to be counted during the crucial period of the season, and I believe Frank relies on him.

Our centre-backs next season: Holgate, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Bassey, Branthwaite. On paper, a pretty decent line-up and gives Lampard quite a few options for his favoured back 3 approach.

Do we ever learn? Relegated players are traumatised. Richarlison is the exception. Steer clear. No, tar, to Tarkowski...

Worrying this one for me.

1) We don’t need another right-sided centre-back, we already have 4 of them.

2) Another centre-back would point to Frank maybe wanting to carry on with the 3/5 at the back.

If it’s a direct replacement for Godfrey, Holgate, or Keane, and we end up with £15m-£20m that we can spend elsewhere, then it may not be a bad call. Anything else feels like a waste.

Well, Paul, let's just say Richarlison, Pickford, Jagielka, Andy Robertson and Roy Keane are the exceptions.

I remember some years back when many here sneered at the idea of us signing Mark Viduka, who had just been relegated with Leeds and even got disgracefully sent off in their last game to stay up. Boro signed him instead and enjoyed three immensely successful seasons with him.

Trauma can be pretty motivating. And the "loser's mentality" thing just makes me laugh. Richarlison is no loser. Keane was no loser. Jagielka was no loser. Come on, folks.

Mike, you can add to that Godfrey, Doucouré, McCarthy, etc and you can see that we can make a pretty decent team from the relegated clubs.

Hmmm… Depends what he’s on for me. If it’s £120k p/w then it’s a firm No. If it’s nearer £80k (as is reported) then he’s barely in our top 5 earners and will not be interfering with our wage structure (in the way Bernard did).

As a player, he would be our best centre-back alongside Mina, with the difference being that Tarkowski barely misses a game.

If we can sell Keane (who’s also on around £70k p/w) as a result of this move, then it is sensible business. My worry is that Lampard is eyeing up a back 3 which I have doubts over.

Essentially, the wisdom of this potential move would lie in the detail and its place within our wider business of the transfer window. But the lad wins his duels (more than any defender outside the Top 6), and that’s often a good start.

I've seen this lad play many times and he's just another Michael Keane. Good when the game is in front of him, good in the air and can play a decent enough pass.

But, he's awful when forced to play up the pitch with space around him. Turns like a submarine and has zero pace!

The only thing I can think of, is that Frank wants someone to help us defend set pieces and this lad is merely a stop-gap. I suppose you could also argue he's a nastier version of Keane so he may toughen us up a bit.

If we sell both Keane and Mina and raise funds to strengthen elsewhere, then maybe this transfer makes sense. Just keep him away from our Richarlison in training.

Sam, I think we're in a strong negotiating position with Tarkowski if he wants to stay in the Premier League. I would be very surprised if we sign him for more than £80k/week.

But I think also we should take a strong look at Carter-Vickers, whom I have previously dismissed based on his poor USA performances. I saw a whole new player last night when the USA demolished Morocco. Playing 49 games for Celtic this season seems to have matured him immensely. And he's 6 years younger than Tarkowski.

Eddie, positional sense can be learned. Godfrey slumped this season because he got so sick, and because he was never established in one position. He's the same size as Jagielka and can jump. Don't give up on him yet.

But forget Coady. No way in hell he's going to transfer down the Premier League table at age 29. Wolves love him. Ain't happening.

Every team needs a strong spine. Signing Tarkowski gives us better defensive options than we have today.

If we are getting rid of Mina (who I love but he can’t be relied on to stay fit) and we can bring in a pacey centre-back to play alongside Tarkowski and Godfrey, with Branthwaite or Keane and Holgate as back-up, then I’m all good.

At Chelsea, Lampard had Silva in the middle with two other players either side of him. Now I’m not comparing Tarkowski to Silva but not being the most pacey player isn’t an issue when playing a back 3 so long as the players either side are quick.

Just need to solve central midfield and one or two attacking options and suddenly things will look rosey again

Jeez, just jeez.

I’ll assume Keane will be sold if this happens.

If a replacement for Keane, then good move. Money in for Keane and replaced with a free. A 3-year deal is above right

Look at Dawson at West Ham, or Johnny Evans at Leicester. Both were cheap signings who we were linked with, similar in ability to Tarkowski. The reaction to those players was equally disappointing. But both players have proven to be excellent performers.

One thing is for sure, Burnley didn't get relegated because of Tarkowski.

Ideal dream signing? No. Steady eddy to improve our woeful defence and help us to a stable 10th place? Most likely.

Mike @11,

Cameron Carter-Vickers has looked great this season. Could be a bargain. Though there's a few others I like and Kim Min-Jae is apparently talking to us and Spurs.

Does this mean Keane leaving? And Mina or Holgate?

A curious summer awaits.

Another player from a relegated team, and at the age we seem to consider players... wow.

It's a pragmatic signing that doesn't set the heart a-fluttering. Champagne corks won't be popped; even the old bottle of Pomangne in the cupboard will remain in its cobwebbed lair.

I can see the sense of it though, looking at the situation with our finances. It gives us more reliability and hence stability at central defence and is a hard aggressive experienced head to play alongside any one of Branthwaite, Holgate or Godfrey over the next few years.

Also, it probably means one or two of our defenders are moving on. Probably initially Mina sold and Branthwaite out on loan.

Finance wise it allows us to compete better financially, in conjunction with other possible sales, for one or, more likely, two players in the big priority area of central midfield.

Paul #5,

Where do you stand on Pickford?

Neil, people were still saying Pickford was shite until this season; I wasn't one of them btw. See how many Top 6 sides come in for any Burnley, Watford or Norwich players this summer – in-fact, I'd like to see how many of the Top 6 over the last 5 years have picked up players from relegated sides.

Yes, it's where we're at financially, but it still sucks, just like offering Kenny a new contract.

I like the signing as I think we'll be seeing two of our current centre-backs move on this summer — Mina sold and Branthwaite on loan, maybe even one of Keane or Holgate flogged as well.

Selling Mina for ~£20M and bringing in Tarkowski for free on lower wages to play, week-in & week-out, is bloody good business for a team in the financial predicament we're in. He makes us stronger in a position of dire need, immediately.

I have no doubt most of our business this summer will be for younger players with potential, but this move raises the floor of our squad and directly addresses our weakness on set pieces. Depending on the Outs, I think we may see another centre-back come in with a bit more on the ball.

Not sexy, but very effective for the needs we have and the cash we don't. Townsend-like.

We don't seem to have a plan. Lampard wants to play the ball out from the defence. But realised that our defenders are really poor on the ball and gave up on that the last two months of the season. We saw Pickford play it long all the time avoiding our defenders to be in possession.

I would expect Lampard to try to change this with transfers fitting his way of playing. I agree with Lee (10) that Tarkowski does not seem to be that ball playing central defender that we need.

He might be a prudent transfer as an upgrade on Holgate or Keane defensively, but he is not the answer to what we need to play modern football.

Christensen is leaving Chelsea on a free on his way to Barcelona. Barcelona seems unable to register him so we should take him on loan. He would make a difference.

Great signing on a free, we simply cannot pass opportunities like this up in our situation.

Interesting to see who he's paired with if he comes in. I've always thought he's very similar to Keane, and they're surely both too slow to play together.

I don't think we'd be interested if he wasn't free. It's hard to know if he's actually any better than Keane or Holgate since all 3 seem to perform well in a low block.

Whether he's a good player to push the defensive line further forward (as Mina does) is also hard to know. He's never been asked to do that Burnley.

Whether he's accomplished enough on the ball to play 3-4-3 / 5-3-2 etc is unclear too - although I really hope Lampard admits defeat with those formations. We haven't got anything like the right players.

If we're going to stick with a 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 etc compact defensive shape, and fairly rudimentary football while rebuilding the side, then this is logical.

The interesting thing is who he partners: Keane, Holgate or Branthwaite?

Everton finished on –23 goal difference, we let 66 in, Burnley went down with –19 goal difference, they let 53 in.

So, on the balance of probabilities, Tarkowski could be better matched with one of our other central defenders and improve our goals against, which is important to tighten up at the back and improve our goal for stats.

On that basis, we should improve our league position.

On the face of it, it's difficult to make a case for this signing. As a unit, our centre-backs did not perform well last season, in a large part due to injury.

But, if Tarkowski were to join us, presumably one of the exiting four would be leaving. Loads to sort out this summer.

Smacks of Ashley Williams. Okay, we are not paying a transfer fee but we will definitely be making up for it in signing-on fee and wages. Let Villa have him.

Having looked at the free transfer market he appears to be the best available. Others, who maybe better, are no doubt looking for European football. It's were we are at the moment. He will improve us as he has leadership skills, which we have sadly lacked for many seasons at the back. He's also tough and will get stuck in - just ask Richarlson.

Fascinating to hear all the pros and cons over the back four possibilities.
Who really knows what is true or false.

The back four player we have to choose from didn't really shine last season and to be honest very few of the whole squad did and it was Pickford who got us out of jail near the end of the season.

This is a problem Lamps. has to resolve quickly and get a settled three or four whichever he wants to play.

If the Tarkowski deal is on then obviously there will be outgoings and it will be interesting to see who they are.

Paul at #5 as others have stated, also I might add idrissa gueye to the list. Who went to PSG after his time at the blues.

Paul # 20. Just off the top of my head……Season 2019 / 20, Bournemouth relegated. August 2020 Man City sign Nathan Ake from Bournemouth. Just because a player is relegated, doesn’t mean he’s a bad player. Supposing, just for one moment we had been relegated, would the likes of Richarlison, DCL and Pickford have been headhunted, or would clubs have thought “Nah, they’re shite they’ve just been relegated”……….……too right they would!!

I hear you Rob, but filing a team with relegated players, how many have we got ? There’s a losing mentality there from the get go. I just get pissed off that we can’t dine at the top table or even try to. Nothing changes.

We need to have at least 4 centre backs. I suspect Mina will go, Michael Keane has shown his shortcomings. We need to sign at least one experienced player who can head the ball. From what I have seen of them, either Tarkowski or Mee might be that guy.

I like Branthwaite, but he needs more experience. I expect the Ben Godfrey we saw in his first season to make a comeback next season. The jury is out on Holgate, although he ended the season well.

Paul, again off the top of my head, I think we have three players who we signed following their previous team being relegated……….Pickford, Ben Godfrey and Doucoure. All three haven’t done too badly for us, and we have even turned Jordan Pickford into England’s number one goalkeeper. So not all doom and gloom.

The interesting thing about this is that it looks like we will be playing a low block next season.

I don't believe it, I think it's just paper talk. He just doesn't fit the Lampard ideal of bringing the ball out, makes no sense to me.

If my memory serves me right, he used to partner Keane. That's the only plus but I still don't see it fits with what Frank is after. I reckon he is more likely to find a partner for Holgate. But what do I know, just hope it's what both Lampard and Thelwell want...

Barry # 36, I think Tarkowski was their Keane replacement. Mee was the partner for Keane - and possibly the superior player on reflection.

Steve # 35, a season or two playing unsophisticated low block football is a horrible prospect as a spectacle - but may be no bad thing from a results point of view.

Leicester over achieved with Huth and Morgan at centre half - and have since transformed into a very good footballing side

Perhaps we can do something similar if we get the midfield set up right ahead of that defence.

I think this means that Mina might be off then. As much as I like him, I think he only played 11 league games all season (could be wrong on that). Not good stats, them. No good to us sitting on the bench or in the stands.

Get £20M for him and get this lad on a free. Makes it good business because Tarkowski seems to play every week and looks a tough git.

Barry #36, I believe Lampard has recognized that his "ideal" of carrying the ball out simply isn't possible with the talent he has available. He tried it when he arrived and it failed. In fact, I'd argue he stuck with it a little too long.

Robert #37, at the time I considered Keane much the better of the two Burnley centre-backs. My objection to Keane was that he wasn't Steve Cook, a similar player who was available for less than half the price. He wound up staying with Bournemouth and will now be returning to the Premier League with Nottm Forest. Cook's leadership, the kind of leadership Keane cannot deliver, would have made a big difference to this club over the past 5 years.

Personally I don't think this guy is an upgrade on what we have. He has sat deep and played safety first football for 5 years at Burnley.

Ben Mee has been the best defender at Burnley for 10 years.

Similar to Jagielka with us. Lescott, Distan and Stones looked good due to Jags sweeping up for them.

Mike & Rob, we'd probably have done okay with Mee and Cook as a pairing but it wouldn't have got any pulses racing.

In fairness, with Gueye ahead of them, Keane and Zouma were very good – and didn't look like something that needing fixing when we finished 8th.

So again, with the right midfield, it may come together.

I'm opposed to this transfer, unless we have a buyer for Keane, I can't see that either because the teams who would buy Keane and can afford his wages would surely just throw their hat into the Tarkowski ring?

He is similar to Keane, barely an upgrade. If we had a buyer for Keane then sure, if we can sell Mina I'd like to see Kim Min-Jae come in, the guy looks a beast on YouTube, which of course is an excellent indicator of a player's quality... (Take a bow, Oumar Niasse! :)

Now we're being linked with Ben Bloody Mee!!

Val #25,

ery valid point about Burnley's defensive record. Ten teams conceded more goals than them – including Man Utd.

@10 Lee

Keane has confidence issues and is too nice

Tarkowski is a shit house. We’ve been too nice as a team for many years.

Whether he is better or worse than Keene or Holgate or Godfrey, I believe we should go for mature fit and “nasty” center-backs. So, if this guy fills those gaps, then I give a green light to it. Mina is completely unreliable, it's about time we begin to make intelligent business.

Well, Benitez brought Townsend and Gray almost for free, so this would be a continuation of that type of business.

On Godfrey, I don't know what to think. I don't know if he has little ability with the ball or little positional sense. I believe it's the second. But he is our best center-back IMO.

Just following this thread.

Firstly, I think Tarkowski would bring a bit of badly needed bite to our defence. However, I smile when I see comments about traumatised players and relegated clubs.

Have you not forgotten that Pickford also came from relegated Sunderland? Although sometimes you would think he can be traumatised.

Going back 4 or so years ago, when we were aiming at the Top 6 or 7, I don't think we'd make this transfer. But we just finished 16th with 66 goals conceded (13 more than Burnley).

The target for the next season or two is to solidify, be hard to beat and avoid relegation while building a new team. I think Tarkowski helps us do that.

For the last two seasons, he's been better than Keane and Holgate and Mina. He wins one of the highest percentage of duels in the Premier League; 2 years back, he had the most blocks and the second most clearances in the whole top 5 European leagues.

Crucially (unlike Keane) he could be a leader and he always seems to be fit. He's a real battler and I think that would make him very popular at Goodison.

The worry is that he becomes an Ashley Williams (who was great at Swansea but struggled to adapt with us) but the Welshman was 32 when he signed and Tarkowski is 29 and relies more on reading the game than pace.

If he comes, I think he'd become a fan favourite and would be very useful for at least 2-3 years while we rebuild and try to get back to mid-table mediocrity.

It will be interesting to see who he plays with. I'm a big Yerry fan and I don't think many centre-forwards would relish coming up against two narky strongmen in Tarkowski and Mina but it depends which of the centre-backs get sold.

29 is not a bad age for a centre-back. In fact, it's a perfect age. But my son is underwhelmed by this rumour and he is much more wise than me on football.

We need a leader. I personally think Mina can be that, but he just isn't fit for long enough. Sadly, because aside from his ability, he is a character any team would want in the changing room.

Maybe this is where we are in the transfer market. My concern is that this is more of the same and not the type of player the manager wants to be able to play the style of football he wants to. Maybe it's needs must.

I'm well documented on Keane. He looks good when we sit deep, but I don't want us doing that. It invites trouble and gambles with the law of averages. Invite trouble and eventually you will concede. Play on the front foot with the right players and you win more games.

Holgate seems to have rapidly matured since Lampard came in. He's not a write-off. Godfrey is young and has potential. The full-backs are young and have potential. Branthwaite is young and has potential.

We might have to wait a season or two and add that commanding, forward-thinking centre-back, but our defence is young and full of potential.

I'm not convinced with this one and would rather we looked to the continent to get value for money. But I suppose the first aim is to fix the broken tiles and stop the leaking roof.

I'd be in favour of bringing in Tarkowski if they take the nervous wreck called Keane off our hands. Unfortunately the former is out of contract and Burnley won't be involved in any deal.

A few sources on Twitter saying this is basically all but done: £110k a week for 3 years is being thrown around.

Surely if true, then it would mean Mina is off; it would be ludicrous to keep Mina's £120k a week on the books while adding north of £90k for another centre-half in our current financial predicament.

I think he will be a solid signing – not glamorous… but steady and reliable – almost like when we signed Distin. My only worry is will he be able to play in a higher line? I'm sure that is what Frank will want to implement this season.

Joe,

If they're not offloading Mina and they do this?

Just straight stupid.

Joe, why are you so sure that Frank wants to implement a higher line? He has said nothing and shown nothing to indicate it.

Jamie, because Mina and Tarkowski would be one of the more solid center-back pairings in the Premier League. And because Keane may be more marketable than Mina at this point. He's only a year and a half older, has a better health record, and is on a much friendlier contract.

Mike, I'd love to see Tarkowski and a fit Mina form a consistent centre-back partnership. That could be a really formidable partnership potentially that very few forwards would enjoy!!

But the first costly error he makes - I can just see the Live Forum comment now...

Farkoffski!

Hearing we've signed Tarkowski on a 2½-year deal, and Mina is off to Seville for €20M. Was a problem with wage demands but allegedly quickly sorted out. Could be the usual Twitter nonsense but it would make good sense. We can't get the lad on the pitch.

Andy,

I just looked up Tarkowski's stats to find he's played in pretty much all of Burnley's Premier League over the last few years. That alone will be a big improvement!

Andy if that's right it's a decent price for Mina with one year left on his contract. They've just sold Diego Carlos to Villa so need a CB.

Tarkowski at least gives us Premier League player who knows how to defend and rough up forwards. He's free and the wages aren't ridiculous.

Hopefully there's a bit of money available to rebuild our really awful midfield.

Andy (56), yes I believe Tarkowsky is a done deal, he wants to stay close to home for family reasons and Everton suits him fine.

Andy # 56, I’ve just seen via Twitter that Marseille are also interested in Yerry Mina and are prepared to pay £20M. Delph is also on his way out as he will not be offered a new contract.

My brother has just told me we've agreed terms and that Mina is off to France.

Danny. It really is a shame but the crash bang of the Premier League is obviously too much for him. The French league may suit him. Hope the Burnley lad has his leadership.

We really need to somehow get Gomes gone now and sort the midfield out. Doncoure can't pass to save his life but he is good on his day. Big summer for me, Thelwell!

Tarkowski having his medical today. Just hope his terms are not the £120k per week some are reporting.

I sometimes wonder if Mina's issue is the size of his physical frame and whether that causes the constant stream of joint and muscle injuries that he suffers from.

He is a huge man for a footballer and looks like he should be holding up a scrum.

Hopefully Mina's medical is limited to 'open wide and say aaagh'.

Mina having his medical at Pilkingtons...

Rob 56.

Yes, I'm now hearing big Yerry is off to Marseille. Don't know where the Sevilla rumour transpired. Also heard Tarkowski has been offered £90k a week and not the reported £120k. But hey you know what rumour city is like.

I seem to remember lots of teeth-gnashing and growls of discontent when we signed Richard Gough.

That didn't turn out too badly.

Sorry to see Yerry Mina go. As good a central defender as you will ever see and a great character to have in the team.

Unfortunately he had too many injuries to be a viable member of the team. If he could have stayed injury-free, he would have been the first name on the team sheet every week without fail.

People are forgetting Lampard likes to play with 3 central defenders

Peter #70 most of us are hoping he forgets it too.

Sounds like it will be sorted later today.

If I were Frank, I would go sniffing at Chelsea, and try and get one if not both of Conor Gallagher, or Batshuayi, seems unlikely on the Gallagher front, but think we have a decent chance getting Batshuayi.

Sounds like Chelsea will allow Batshuayi to go on the cheap less than £20 Million, could be a very shrewd signing and at 28 still some years left in the tank.

So it looks like it's one central defender in and one out if Mina departs. For a team who just survived the drop, we can't have another season with Keane as a regular starter. Tarkowski has a good fitness level and when we played at Turf Moor he was the best central defender on show in my view. He won't make us a top 6 team but he is certainly better than what we have and will help to push us towards mid-table.

If we can keep Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin, then we are two central mid-fielders away from a reasonable first 11 that might push us towards mid-table.

Pickford

Patterson
Tarkowski
Godfrey
Mykolenko

Gilmour
Iwobi
Gallagher

Gray or Gordon
Calvert-Lewin
Richarlison

If possible, sell:

Gomes
Keane
Kean

Brian #72.

Brian there's a good reason Chelsea have let Batshuayi go on loan to Dortmund, Valencia, Palace and finally Besiktas.

It's coz he's not very good mate, and we've enough of "not very good" players already, IMHO.

Anything to improve the centre of the defence would be welcome.

Evertom were a disaster from set-pieces last season and even when Mina was playing I was always nervous when the opposition had free-kicks and corners.

We all thought Keane was a good signing but Burnley knew that in Mee and Tarkowski they had a good partnership.

Keane may indeed establish himself again now that Lampard has had half a season to assess how he wants to set it up.

Christopher, as it's fantasy football time, I'd like to sell Calvert-Lewin to the highest bidder and then go for Tammy Abraham (if he would come).

Not sure about not very good Brian, he got 10 games for Dortmand and score 7 goals, scored 39 goals in 97 appearances for Standerd Liege, 29 goals in 62 for Marselle, 14 goals in 33 games for Besiktas, and 24 goals in 42 games for belguim, a lot of those coming from off the bench.

Now not for one minute is he the 30 goal a season striker we crave, but with regular starts, that guy will score you goals, a lot of the loans he has appeared as a sub, so his stats are even better.

With our ffp we are not going to attract the very best strikers, one they will not come to us, they will want a champs league football, however in Batshuayi he would come and if the price is right, could turn out to be one shrewd signing, given more game time,

Not the long term solution, but with our finances and lack of pulling power, we would get a few good seasons out the the guy, until we have got our finances more manageable and the new stadium moved into.

Brian #74, like you I'm skeptical of Batshuayi because of the many loans and his inability to keep his place at Chelsea, and he's an ugly player.

But my favorite statistic for strikers is minutes-to-goals, and the fact is that in parts of five Premier League seasons, Bats has scored a goal every 153 minutes on the pitch. On his loans he has averaged a goal every 172 minutes. That's very good.

He may not look anything like a top player, but over the years he has proven to be a quality, professional scorer in top-level competition.

Chelsea want between £8- £10 million for him Mike, surly worth a punt at that price.

If you look at the stats where Lukaku normally always starts for Belguim, Lukaku has scored 68 goals in 102 appearances, while Batshuayi has scored 24 goals in 42 appearances for Belguim, mostly from the bench, then not much difference, be interesting to see the mins per goal playing for Belguim between the two players.

As for the ugly player, he could have a face like a bashed crab, as long he put the ball in the net.

I'm in the Bat-skeptic club. I'd forgotten about him. He's been scoring plenty for Besiktas on loan, but Tosun and other average players have been prolific there so that form has to be weighted. In his last two Premier League seasons with Chelsea, it was 1 goal in 16 matches. Then with Crystal Palace 2 in 18. Sub appearances can confuse these stats though.

Frank must have considered him. Used as a back-up striker, or impact from the bench he would bring a lot more than Rondon, who we need to offload. Could be a good addition for strength in depth up front.

Brian,

I think Mike was referring to the way he plays rather than his mug.

Terms agreed. Good in the air in the box which is exactly what we need. As for what we want, no it doesn't get us closer to ball-playing centre-backs but we have to stop the damage in the air and set pieces and this does that for cheap.

At 29 he could provide some steady leadership if he continues his appearance form. I'm thinking that's £20M for a position that Mina could not stay in and we move Mina's wages.

Apparently Marseille have seen through Mina and he won’t be signing,
I’m shattered.

Look at the '80s team and name one that was a top 4-6 player...

Reid? Gray? Van den Hauwe? Harper? Richardson? Sheedy?

It's not about having the best individual players it's about getting a proper team together. We seriously lack nasty bastards with a bit of leadership about them, maybe Lampard sees this in Tarkowski?

Don't be too quick to knock back the likes of Tarkowski.

It's only just starting, Jeff. We've got a summer of anxiety ahead, so prepare yourself.

It can't be worse than last summer.

Can it?

People know my views on what I want from our defence, but if he improves us to where we are right now then he get's my welcome to Everton. Any player always has done. Once they're an Everton player, I want them to succeed and I'll judge them on performances, not on whether I agreed with the signing in the first place or not.

So welcome and best wishes for your Everton career.

Just get me to Europe. And Wembley.

Please.

Take a bow John. Exactly.

You don't need a team of world beaters or superstars. You need a blend of skill, aggression, desire, commitment and ability. A blend of youth and experience.

Now you've started me on Kevin Sheedy. The dogs won't forgive you. And Paul Bracewell. They've left the room.

Forget Batshuayi. We need to go all-in for Armando Broja. 9 years younger than Batshuayi and with plenty of power and pace.

For the Batshuayi stat - I give you

Velios - 3 goals in 321 minutes
Niasse - 8 goals, 1 every 166 minutes
Beckford - 8 goals, 1 every 174 minutes

So why did we sell them??

Broja looks decent, but was far from prolific. I'd like us to go for him as he clearly has potential, but another we should consider is Ben Brereton-Diaz. Scored goals for fun last season in the Championship, is only 23 and his value will only soar.

Karlan Grant from WBA is another who has done consistently well in the Championship and could well make the grade.

One also wonders if Cole Palmer at Man City is not worth a punt. He is 20, so it is about time he started getting regular game time, but the fact is, he ain't gonna get much at City who now have Haaland. It would be an ambitious move, but a loan with an option could well be possible.

Let me take a moment to celebrate this rather rare TW moment wherein I agree with Soren. Broja is indeed the type of striker we need to sign. Runs the channels smartly and has an engine.

Hopefully Chelsea will chase others and not give him the proper signal for advance within their squad. I don't know much about scouting but this one ticks all the boxes if we can get him for under £30M.

Brian #79, since you asked, Batshuayi is absolutely insane at the national team level. Per Transfermarkt, he scores a goal for Belgium every 81 minutes on the pitch, which to the best of my knowledge makes him the most frequent international scorer in the history of football by this particular measure.

I'm serious, I have found no other player even close except Erling Haaland, who is scoring every 82.5 minutes for Norway after 24 appearances. If anybody has better information, please share.

Lukaku is pretty spectacular too... he scores every 96 minutes for Belgium, which puts him on a par with what Pele did for Brazil.

@91

Mike. Off the top of my head, Dixie got 18 in 16 caps.

There’ll be others I’m sure.

Yep, Tommy, that would be exactly one goal every 80 minutes for Dixie. Another would be Archie Thompson, who scored a goal every 71 minutes for Australia -- thanks to bagging 13 in one game when the Aussies beat American Samoa 31-0. (As you can tell, I love this stuff.)

I'm just pointing out that, for a relatively obscure player, Batshuyai's national team numbers are mind-blowing.

Dale, thank you very much. 😁

@ Mike

His international strike ratio is certainly compelling.

However, as is the strike rate of the Serbian Mitrovic - who has also just had an incredible scoring season at championship level. I still wouldn’t have him though.

I’d proceed with absolute caution with Batshuayi, he’s not a player that has ever really impressed me with his overall display and I would look to his most recent loan spell at Palace as a better indicator of his level and what he could offer us

We made it, Soren. It's like a new season or like a season in hand, oh hell, you know what I mean.

Indeed, Dale. Miracles do happen, brother.

Dale and Soren, we always appreciate a Kumbaya moment here.

Tarkowski can't believe his luck. A mega pay increase as a result of underperforming for Burnley.

We are targeting the same 'ok' but very limited squad players instead of looking for upgrades to our poor injury prone defenders.

I'll take 17th position next season right now.

I think if we bring him in, we have to sell one of Keane or Mina. I love Mina but he never plays.

I think Keane knows Tarkowski well – a real bastard of a player to play against, I'm sure. Might be the tough guy we need to solidify the back.

We just need to off-load Gomes.