Reports suggest Gueye move under threat of collapse

I guess they've got the money to mess about but it certainly seemed that they needed him off their books.

If, as it appears, the club have called PSG's bluff then that shows a sign of bottle previously lacking in transfer dealings.

If the player or his agent now force their hand we can go back to the table. But I see this as progress.

I still think we'll get him though.

Everyone can see this is PSG fucking with us because they think they're big enough to get away with it.

Everton reportedly finalise deal for Idrissa Gueye

We may be short of digestives, but we've got a few (Hob)knob(heads) in the boardroom.

Facing our 3rd game of the season and still nobody on the books who vaguely recognises that we can put the ball between the goalposts.

No doubt giving Gueye his severance cheque, PSG now want us to pay for him, to get their money back !! Cheeky sods.

He wasn't all that first time around and a reprise of his bemusement at opponents running past to plunder our porous defence shouldn't be part of Frank's game plan.

We need to stop recruiting end-of-career players because, as mentioned elsewhere, we're not a rehab centre, neither should we be a retirement home.

Of course the news actually means he's at Finch Farm right now signed up and singing Karaoke with Bill...

We should seriously consider James Garner too... Man Utd want £14M – do they do "buy now, pay later" deals?

The midfield three of Gana, Garner, Onana is almost melodic.

£15M for Garner, £15M for Brereton Diaz, Kudus on loan and as I just said on another thread, Vasquez from MLS as Thelwell's cheap diamond in the rough 2nd forward. I'd be happy with that.

Unfortunately, Camara's already made a move to Monaco. Fee was only around €13.5 million too – I was under the impression it would have been much higher, I definitely think we missed an opportunity there.

More greed in the modern game... sigh... he was way overated anyroad.

The club are right to walk away and call their bluff, let them keep a player they don't want, and pay his year's salary, but I think they'll change their stance.

"I'm probably going to get burned for saying this, and my memory may be skewed, but I think we may dodge a bullet if he doesn't come back.

I thought we did to get him from Villa but my recollection with Gana is that he actually came in for a lot of stick in his early time with us for whatever reasons. After the initial interest in the 18-19 winter window when PSG started sniffing around many thought he would basically sulk and see the season out but he put in the best few months of his spell with us. I think most of us recall this final half-season when thinking about the player.

I am not getting the impression that Gueye is actually busting a gut to come back here. We need players who are here because they want to be here and we may just be better off letting this one slip through the net, especially if viable alternatives are in the frame."

Other than for the money I'm not even sure why Gana would actually want to come back to Everton. What's the appeal? He has a year left (I think) on his PSG contract and we are hardly an attractive proposition these days, and I think the prospect of relegation with another club (as he may see it) is quite discouraging.

Anyway, with the latest shenanigans, it's time to tell PSG and Gana to do one and move on to the next chapter.

Obviously Everton thought they had a deal agreed with both Gana and PSG but now one or both of them are trying to move the goalposts, so walk away, Everton.

All we have done since Moshiri came in was pay whatever clubs and players wanted, but now – because of FFP – we can't pander to these clubs and players.

So ignore anything these players put out on Twitter – their only loyalty is to their bank balance.

It is the essential signing.

Gueye would not only protect the defence properly with his tacking and covering he would keep the midfield ticking over with his passing.

But not only that, he was perfect to get the best out of Onana.

A defeat against Forest and PSG will know they have even more bargaining power.

A huge mistake not to pay PSG what they want, huge!

For his country and PSG he is another animal but then he's surrounded by better players. Remember how we suffered defensively when both left. Neither was replaced promptly and we suffered for it.

2015-16 - 2nd in the league
2016-17 - 1st
2017-18 - 2nd
2018-19 - 2nd

Looks like Thelwell is not a push-over. It will be a last-24-hours deal. I hope we'll land him. He'll let Onana time to grow into the Premier League as he provides stability and experience to mop up mistakes.

Gueye is a vital signing for the team and Onana's progress, so we should have the sense to make a compromise and get the deal done.

On balance, the squad as a whole is possibly stronger for all that business – albeit the First XI may be a touch weaker until Calvert-Lewin is fit again.