Last Days of the Transfer Window

I'd say realistically it's where we are at, all probably gettable. The only ones who might raise a pulse for me would be Ndiaye or Onuachu, the latter in particular I'd imagine would love a stab at the PL I'm sure. Didn't know much about Piroe until you posted this, having just done a little research he has an interesting 'profile' as trendy managers might say.

As mentioned on another thread I would go all out and get Ndiaye who can fill in multiple positions, we are unlikely to play a CAM under Dyche and he see's himself more as a striker as I understand it.

Gyökeres and Ndiaye are the top of the list, it would cost us all of the Gordon money and more. Like the idea of getting the younger player in on the up, even if we have to break the bank. These two are among the best talents in the Championship and would be good investments who look like they will make the step up... Ellis Simms may get offered as a makeweight for one of them?

Noticed Gyökeres didn't score today, but assisted for both of Coventry's goals. It's going to be a busy few days for Thelwell and Dyche and a massive few days for Everton Football Club. Unfortunately other clubs know we are desperadoes and transfer fees will get inflated.

I was watching a documentary on Brian Clough the other day and John McGovern was being interviewed and, in my opinion, we need a John McGovern type right now.

Someone who does the simple things right and can get the team organised on the field, the manager's right-hand man on the park.

A Gareth Barry type who is a bit more mobile and can do a bit of everything and strike up a good centre midfield partnership with Gueye.

Any suggestions as to who this could be, Robert?

The reason why I'm posting (& keeping it short!) is good news bad news;

Good, it would appear that Onana (and his agent) have said that they are not going any where this window. Though I'm not naive enough to realise that 'money talks'.
Bad, I read an article early morning on Friday, that Brands is looking at buying Branthwaite for PSV, plus there is interest from La Liga and the Bundesliga in buying him THIS window, after NB's performances in the Europa league this season.

Personally, I think we should resist cashing in on him, and start building our back four around a unit, naturally left-footed, pacey defender. Assuming of course he wants to stay. A great spot by Unsworth.

But as above, 'money talks'.

At the very least we need a big mobile forward player, a left sided central defender and a midfield player who can win, hold the ball and pass it. I understand we might have £40,000 to spend and 72 hours in which to do it. If Mr Dyche can do that we will be well on our way to safety and future success. Happy days ?

Tajon Buchanan really caught my eye at the world cup. I haven't seen him play at club level but based on the world cup he seems to have some quality.

We absolutely do need that kind of player but I'm hoping Garner will fit the bill. He's a Dyche type player with a bit of class too.

And we do of course have the elegance of Andre Gomes on loan at the moment. But I'd rather keep him out of a relegation fight.

If we did end the window with Ndiaye, Fraser and Gyokeres that would be a big lift. I'd fancy our chances with them in a Dyche 442 / 4411.

Deazan Maeda (apologies for the spelling, i'm sure thats wrong) would be a great signing, attacking left sided midfielder, never stops, works incredibly hard. I seem to have a bit of a celtic focus here but I'd also try and get Tierney from arsenal on loan.

Whoever we get needs to be reasonably cheap and able to make an immediate impact.

And I'd try and Richie back as well. You don't ask you don't get.

PSV to buy Jarrad Branthwaite

Kevin/Sean, please don't sanction this for peanuts, Please!!

Dyche will know the market upside down, he wont have been sitting around doing nothing while he has been unemployed.
With Gordon gone we are bleeding threadbare, theres little creativity from the midfield and we need someone up front that has goals in them.
I wish I was optimistic that we can stay up, I have faith in Dyche but I fear we might be let down by the quality of the players.

Here's hoping we can pull a couple of gems out of the hat because if we don't we are cooked.

It’s going to be an interesting few days because Dyche will have at least one player in mind that he has scouted and followed who is off the radar.

I totally agree, Robert.

I just hope a fully fit Garner can return asap and stay fit!

https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/gustavo-hamer-coventrys-midfield-orchestrator/

I can see us buying Gyokeres. I much prefer Dembele but would he join? Gyokeres also seems more like the kind of striker Dyche likes, so might be a good buy, even though he's a risk.

I hope we can also bring in a couple of wingers on loan like the lad from Rennes, Ziyech or Tete.

Have we fallen so far as to talk about Victor Moses and Ryan Fraser as targets? Might as well get Salomon back, I hear he's not enjoying Buenos Aires.

PSV know he's going to be a diamond and will keep him for a couple of more seasons before selling him for an enormous fee. Unless they offer silly money (which a Dutch club wouldn't) why wouldn't we play him next season and sell him on ourselves for a huge fee?

We should be looking to offload Mason Holgate before Branthwaite... I'm sure they'll be takers for the same kind of fee PSV would pay on Branthwaite.

Quite an accurate assessment of Dyche's philosophy. Like Sam's Summer list, you have come up in budget with suitable players. Almost certainly better, like Sam, than those responsible at Everton would come up with. In fairness, they are handicapped by interference and the routine offloading of the better players, who are difficult to replace.

Unlike Frank, Dyche may get one or two players initially that he asks for, but is more likely to get some part of a deal and a couple of loans if lucky. Onana is probably being set up to profit off in future windows, as is Pickford and Branthwaite not surprisingly.

All Managers have initially had to know someone who could be brought in for little money and have an impact, only to find that the Summer Transfer Window was a last-minute race to the bottom. This is what happens when a club has ulterior motives of self-preservation within its management ranks.

Onana is staying so not sure we need another CM. Also we have a ton of CBs so I expect he’ll be happy with Tarkowski and Keane or Mina. I’d return Coady if we can.

Another striker and a winger look the most needed though I wouldn’t say no to a right back either, maybe Djed Spence on loan.

I’ve been looking at Gyokeres again, I do quite like him. Nimble for a player his size and certainly more creative than DCL. Coventry will fight to keep him though and not sure the rules allow us to send Simms there.

For a wide midfielder Dyche will want someone who works extremely hard in attack or defense but can beat a man and create chances. That’s not easy to find! Someone like Bourigead at Rennes is an excellent, underrated player. Or someone like Thielmann at Koln could be an interesting player though he has been injured. Ryan Kent would have been a better option than most people imagine but seems happier under Michael Beale. Sulemana is fun but overpriced.

Buchanan has been pretty underwhelming for Club Brugges and if we were shopping there I think I’d prefer Skov Olsen, though he’s been out of form too. Tete might have been good but is now at Leicester. Any chance we could get Richarlison back on loan?!! I really like Ndiaye a lot but he’s better centrally.

Dyche will be looking for a tall, strong, athletic team so I’d not be sure to see Godfrey at right back (till Patterson returns) and Doucoure in midfield.

Perhaps something like:

Pickford
Patterson Mina Tarkowski Godfrey
Ndiaye Doucoure Onana McNeill
DCL Gyokeres

Not sure there’s a single player in there under 6ft 1 so should at least hope to be a threat at set pieces!

Our main focus, I believe, will be wingers/attacking midfielders. Selling Gordon leaves us desperately weak in this area. And our main issue in goal creation is actually chance creation.

If we stand any chance of survival, it will be through getting a tune out of DCL, and getting Maupay into some sort of form.

Sulemana is more of a maverick dribbling winger in a 433, where the winger is more of a forward than a midfielder. Link

I expect Branthwaite will be sold now or in summer for a few reasons:

- PSV are awash with cash

- he will enjoy winning trophies there and playing in the Champions League

- because we bought him for a tiny fee, there's a massive accounting win when we sell

- we are in a terrible financial mess even if we stay up

- he's one of only a few players we could get a big fee for

So whilst he's absolutely the sort of player we should be building around, it's the finances. But hopefully we could sell for, say, £25m + add ons and get a sell on fee too.

Finally, good point Sam about our scouting capability at Everton. That might open up Dyche to a bigger pool of targets than he's been used to. However, I still think he'll be cautious in this respect - players bought for the first team will surely be English speakers at the very least. Maybe buy more exotic players for development on loan first.

Defensively, Lucas is an attacker loved by most coaches due to his hard work and dedication for the team. When not using his pace to drive his team forward and frighten defenders; the diminutive forward is usually pressing high up the pitch in an attempt to force mistakes from the opposition and win the ball back in transition. This tends to works quite well

The Brazilian's pace is well regarded, yet Lucas' general physicality often goes under the radar. His leap is impressive for someone who is 5 feet 8 inches, and his heading ability is on par with that of a typical #9. This athleticism makes it so Lucas can contribute in both boxes, either clearing the ball from his team's near post or converting a goal in the opposition net via the same position a la West Ham at home in ‘20/21. Moura's strength is also quite underrated.

The forward draws defenders in and can use his frame to shield the ball if necessary. This robustness in addition to his natural speed makes Lucas hard to stop when running at intensity, with his low center of gravity allowing him to turn and change direction quickly.
Most important of all his attributes is Lucas becoming a big game player in recent years.

From scoring those goals vs Ajax to regularly netting vs the top sides in the English Premier League, Lucas has illustrated his mentality and courage on multiple occasions for Tottenham. His poacher's instinct also tends to reveal itself in these games, most likely developed from playing Shadow Striker for São Paulo in his younger years.

Random one here. What is the situation with Moise Kean? Still our player but Juventus are obliged to buy? I confess to not knowing the specific detail. I wouldn't mind him right now.

I know it's unlikely as the poor lad suffered from two things from what I assume. Homesick as a young player in an alien environment and also subject to what many young Everton players have experienced in recent years. Total instability and disfunction.

As for Moise Kean, I think we have a commitment for the c. £20m fee this summer on top of the loan fee Juve have already paid. However, Juve are now in a fix due to tax irregularities so they may try to negotiate / wriggle out in some way. Cash will be in short supply to they may offer surplus squad players like Ihattaren (like a young Ziyech), Correia (Portuguese winger they bought from City) or Kaio Jorge (Brazilian striker) to push the cost down. Or they might renege entirely and we'd have to sue. Or they might need to find an immediate buyer to sell him on to, complicating / delaying us getting hold of the money. Unlikely to be straightforward.

The good thing is that Dyche will simplify everyone's role, set up a clear structure and start playing to strengths. I don't think all of the football will be so offensive either - just traditional.

Summer might be a bit different but we'll have to cross that bridge later.

That is a very realistic post.

Who, and what positions he looks to bring in, is interesting, but hopefully theres common ground, in bringing in a decent goal scorer.

Amazing how a week in football, can go, let’s hope the hard work starts now, and Everton’s quest to get some form and consistency, starts now.

More realistically, I would be happy if we can get in either Ziyech on loan, and make a bid for McTominay. Use part of the Gordon money to buy in Ndiaye or Gyokeres. Dyche may also okay a sale of Doucoure to Fulham or one of the clubs who are reportedly interested in him to fund these incomings.

OUTS:
Gordon
Doucoure

INS:
Ziyech
McTominay
Gyokeres

It is time for you to take your leave unto the world, young one, for now you have learned well, the way of the Everton business.

Ziyech was obviously fantastic in the World Cup and is (bear with me) like rich man's Robbie Brady in style.

I think Dyche will be concerned about work rate and attitude. Ziyech will probably feel he should be destined for a Champions League club too - not a Championship threatened club.

So I expect it'd be very late if this happened and only because Ziyech had no better options. But undoubtedly quality so potentially very exciting.

Anything to read into that ? Protecting a £25m asset that’s being sold on Tuesday?

But when was the last time we bought someone like Mitoma. Or even Macallister. An unknown that Robert or I haven’t heard of (though Mitomas stats in the J league were sensational!)

Sam # 52, I think we're on the same page. It would be good to tap into lower cost markets, buying direct at source. It might means loans first + an acclimatising period but its worth doing to access the quality we're after. What a player Mitoma is.

Glad Onana is staying especially since I heard Arse put a 50 on him. Others will be watching and we need to be looking for opportunities to reload wherever they show up. Unless Dyche knows the veteran offerings I doubt he would bring that type until he assesses the locker room. Expect him to tap the lower leagues for what we need to survive. I trust Dyche to figure that out, it is his main strength.

Getting an optimistic feel when reading this and the comments. For that alone this is a very nice thing to read this Sunday morn, thanks Robert.

Robert, great article and I also enjoy reading these. I would love to get Richie back on loan but wishful thinking on my part. What do you think of the lad at Middlesbrough (Akpom?)?

I'd offer spurs there money back for Richie myself, not sure how far we would get but I'd have ago.

Lastly rather than buying 4 average players why not just buy 1 or 2 that will genuinely strengthen the starting 11 as we only have 18 games to go at 1 a week as we're out of every other competition.

Hmmm... nobody who is playing on this side of the Atlantic?

The world isn't just England and Europe, boys and girls.

Anybody with time and a view to the west should research a few names that former MLS executive Kevin Thelwell just might be checking up on.

Hany Mukhtar in attacking midfield (23 goals 11 assists);

Brandon Vazquez, striker (18 goals, just scored for the USA);

Brazilian kid named Magno on left wing;

Emmanuel Reynoso, veteran Arg. attacking mid;

Jose Cifuentes, Ecuador and LAFC attacking mid.

All available for WAY less than anybody on Robert's list.

And I'm not just recommending potential here. I think Mukhtar and Vazquez could help right now. Today.

I'd sooner go for players who want to come to Everton and believe it is a step-up, rather than going for players who might need convincing to join Everton.

Walsh, Brands and now Thelwell. Three directors of football, and not one rabbit has been pulled out of the hat, and other than Gordon, not one player who has come through from the Under-23s.

The board needs replacing but I also believe the whole structure of the club needs totally revamping. Is it too much to ask for even a little tiny bit of innovation?

I very much hope we don't pay over £16-18m for him which is what Rennes bought him for 2 years ago. He's been a flop there so i'm not sure why we should be giving them profit.

He's an interesting player. Fantastic dribbler, very quick but lacking a fair bit in decision making and end product. So a perfect replacement for Anthony Gordon you might say! Only 20 so he has plenty of time to develop.

What kind of winger is he? Does he have any end product?

I think Sulemana does a bit more work defensively though and probably loses the ball a bit less often!

A small Gray upgrade, but the potential perhaps to be more.

If we had a load of dosh to spend and were building a squad for the future with a bit of everything, he'd be great to have on the bench. But we're fighting for our lives here and can only buy one or two players. Is he worth a punt right now?

Energetic, hard working and versatile. Just what could do with.

I'm more worried about how reliable he will be as an attacking threat and his end product is pretty flakey.

A young Aaron Lennon (who Dyche liked at Burnley) perhaps?

Have there been any other rumours going round today?

Pickford
Coleman (Patterson), Tarkowski (Godfrey), Coady(Keane), Mykolenko (my Nan)

Sulemana(Gray), Onana(Doucoure), Garner(Gana), Iwobi(McNeil)

DCL(Simms) Gyökeres (anyone but Maupay)

I would be looking at North America and I've said on these pages that I'm really disappointed we didn't consider McKennie having watched him in person. Evertonians would have loved him. Now he seems Leeds bound.

To your point, we need to expand our outlook and scouting network. Son for Tottenham and that Japanese left winger who looked great for Brighton yesterday. South East Asia?

I bang on about tapping into and investing into grass roots, and I genuinely wish we would. But let's face it, I can only think of Colin Harvey, Joe Royle, Peter Reid (Kopite by birth) and Wayne Rooney who were genuine top draw players. And I only witnessed two of them. The other two, I have to rely on the generation before me.

Other than that, we've had decent players (Osman) but have relied on importing players that have become fans' favourites. It's the same at most successful clubs. One or two locals, but largely players from other areas of the country, the continent, or increasingly, the globe.

It seems to me that most successful teams import players from elsewhere.

Is 4-4-2 outdated, or is it just about making sure you get the right players to play in any system?

One thing I do know is that if you’re going with four players across the midfield, then they all better be able to run,

I'd hate to see the carnage that will follow.

Stones, Holgate, DCL. Signing good young players who have already been given a taste of first team football in the lower divisions, would surely bring more success than how we currently operate? Brainthwaith is another.

We even made some money on Lookman and Vlassic, and although there are a few failures, I think this hasn’t been helped because the club has been failing on every level. Isn’t Josh Bowler supposedly worth quite a bit of money now?

Innovative Everton, instead of just going over the same old ground, year after year.

Personally Coady would be nowhere near my starting XI. very overrated this season. Slow, poor in the air and makes very few tackles or interceptions. Mina or Keane or even Godfrey/Holgate get in over him for me. Might also see Godfrey at left/right back.

With Keane possibly back in favour under Dyche, we have an embarrassment of riches in central defence. Well... perhaps that's overstating it a bit. But we certainly have a lot of options.

Yes, Maupay might be better playing off DCL or Gyökeres, but so might Gray or even Iwobi.

Anyway, Gyökeres probably won't come, and we'll end up bringing back a 38 year old journeyman from his Saudi pay day. Might as well have kept Rondon.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GET KENWRIGHT OUT.

Based on that what are we getting? We need motivated players, not cast-offs but we've backed ourselves into a corner so we're likely to get players that are either on the way down, or have questionable work ethics.

Basically we're screwed.

Even Sky can’t believe how incompetent they are. Just said we’re going to try and find out what’s going on. Loooool

On Stones, I think we collectively judged too early, especially for a centre-back at such a young age. Many hounded him.

I actually think Holgate has an opportunity now to stake his claim. Possibly another victim of the instability at Everton for a young player, but now at 26, as a defender he should be approaching his prime soon. But to do that, needs to be playing.

Calvert-Lewin, I hope it's just been a wobble and that with the right coaching and getting his confidence back, he can realise the potential we've seen in all too brief glimpses.

All of those you mention were very astute signings with the type of foresight we've been lacking.

I don't care where players come from, I just think we need to extend where we shop to get value and quality. You pay a premium for English players. If there is a Dutch Anthony Gordon out there, he won't cost £45M, probably less than half of that. City paid £100M for Grealish, a player they use on a rotational basis and isn't guaranteed a starting place.

They paid £8M for Coutinho, got a tune out of him and sold him for over £100M to reinvest.

Back to the point, we should have funds now, but it's how we reinvest it and do so wisely rather that throw it at the wall in hope that it sticks.

I've always assumed we went after McKennie hard in 2020. There were lots of rumors and he was a Carlo-type player. However, once your idol calls and asks for you, it's all over. McKennie's childhood hero was Pirlo, who had just taken over at Juve, and I'm sure he never listened to another offer after that.

As for now, his USA running mate Adams is at Leeds and they can afford him.

Even though he is a knobhead.

No offence meant to our American friends. He just is.

Inflation's gone crazy.

It's not inflation though. It's canny strategic recruitment by certain clubs.