Everton step ahead of West Ham in battle to sign Onana

These are reasonably credible sources, but I'll believe it when I see it.

This is really interesting. This lad and Gana would transform our midfield. However, it would mean we couldn't buy Broja so we could only bring a striker in on a nominal fee (Batshuayi) maybe? Or a loan signing unfortunately.

I'd be made up if we brought him in, but I would be very worried about the goals given the Calvert-Lewin news. Fortunately, Calvert-Lewin might only be out for half the time we feared now that it's been confirmed no ligaments have been torn... But It's still a wake-up call that we desperately need another striker.

Call me a cynic, but this smells of the agent using us to squeeze better terms out of West Ham.

What's the purpose of this - emergency striker?

The price tag looks kind of beyond us, if our financial situation is as purported.

Will, he's a holding midfielder. Yeah, he's expensive but maybe the payments in the deal are spread out. It certainly the only way we could do it.

Jamie 3 - Thought the same, mate.

I also wonder whether Fabrizio Romano gets paid to stir the shit with his tweets when a club needs a nudge.

It probably is bollocks. I don't see us spending the rest of our transfer budget on a midfielder if Gana is already coming in. That's unless the club think they can get Broja in as well on a loan.

It sounds like one of he sources is connected to West Ham though, besides Romano and the Belgium source. So who knows... Maybe it is true??

I don't know much about this lad but he seems to be highly rated.

If he is available and wants to come, he will be a welcome addition to a woefully weak area of the squad. All this talk of Broja is pie in the sky at the moment because Tuchel wants to keep all his options open and cannot find the striker he wants.

We certainly won't be getting in any Chelsea players in time for Saturday.

After all those years of someone dithering, finally it works out in our favour.

Onanana Onanana yeah yeah goodbye

Get your Kylie CD out:

O Na na, na na na naa na.
I can't get
You outta my head

I don't bother reading the article I just jump straight to the comments for a laugh...

It was all getting a bit monotonous – let's hope we got him.

If it's true he's chosen us over a club in London and pushing for the Top 6, don't rule out the exposure and awesome sight it was of our fans last season in the run-in. It was seen globally.

Imagine if the rest of the club was as switched on... let's say marketing etc – we would then be earning proper money like a proper professional club.

The trip to The States is a start although fans couldn't buy a shirt in the biggest mall in the USA, but as I say, it's a start.

Be aware the player would not be available for a while -- according to a Hammers website article, he is currently sidelined with a knee injury, specifically a patellar tendon, which can be a tough recovery.

He turns 21 this month and according to several scouting reports he's a defensive dominator -- huge, fast, aggressive, ferocious tackler -- but a zero contributor in attack.

Some of those iconic scenes and images could and should be used to promote the Everton brand, Brian. Those images on Goodison Road.

No other club.

As for the rumour. Let's see. I try to ignore them until there's something solid.

The last sentence gave me flashbacks though and made me smile. Not ready for requirements. Dithering Davey up to his old tricks? Didn't he have to be coaxed into signing John Stones because he wasn't convinced?

Let's see what happens.

Danny, In my recollection (mind you I'm 74 🤔) you are right about Moyes re John Stones.

There are always so many rumours. If we signed every player we are linked with we'd have a squad of 150+ players. Can you imagine posting the team sheet on the peg board after Wednesday night training?

As Mike has already said, it's a bit of a worry.

“The patellar tendon works with the muscles at the front of your thigh to extend your knee so that you can kick, run and jump. The report does not state how severe the knock is.”

A minor problem is a few weeks out; a major one is surgery. We have to make 100% sure that we are not signing a Gbamin to replace a Gbamin.

Probably a load of old bollocks anyway by his agents to push through the West Ham deal despite the injury.

Curious stuff, with a few reputable sources claiming he's very close to joining us. Could well be agent shenanigans but sounds like it could also be genuine.

It's a lot of money for a player whose not that established (only 11 starts last year) and still looks quite raw but he certainly has a lot of potential. He's a pretty dominant ball winner who can also carry the ball a bit and is an okay passer.

Could be quite an exciting purchase if true though strange given Calvert-Lewin's injury and priority surely having shifted to a replacement goalscorer.

Though if we bought in Onana and then loaned Broja with an option to buy we'd have quite an exciting and dynamic team potentially:

Pickford
Godfrey Mina Tarkowski
Patterson Onana Iwobi Mykolenko
Alli Gordon
Broja

I'm not being pedantic, but how does a player pass a medical if he can't kick, run or jump for a few weeks? Do they see how fast he can do the 100 m in his wheelchair? Or is it a case of appraisal of the MRI scans of the injury and satisfying the club and insurance that it is a minor issue?

If true. this would be a good signing. Primarily a defensive or holding midfielder but can also play in central defence, meaning we might be able to get rid of one out of Keane, Holgate or Mina.

Hoping and praying we bring in a proven goalscorer (Batshuayi?) before the weekend or we are pretty much stuffed.

€35 million? Whhaaaaa????

I'd love this one to be true, just on the basis of his YouTube show reel (yes, I know). He looks brilliant defensively, covers ground quickly and – importantly but it doesn't seem to get mentioned – can pick a defence-splitting pass.

On the other hand, if he's got a knee injury and his main focus is hard tackling, I'm also thinking Gbamin Mk 2?

I'd guess they look at whether it's long term or short term through a thorough medical examination, Tony. We have to trust the methodology of Finch Farm to make those judgements.

Toss of a coin, wise men sat at the round table. "What do you think" resulting in "Let's go for it and see what happens."

Call me a cynic and I know you can't always judge for injuries, but we have form here!!

A giant injured feller costing 㿏m... mmm, come on, folks... no chance.

Idrissa and this fella might mean curtains for Gbamin and Allan. Doucoure has only got 1 year left on his contract. Gomes as well. Who would go?

Can he play up front on Saturday???

Looks like it's got legs with Paul Joyce tweeting this morning too.

Someone associated with El Bobble has hinted at a Broja loan too which makes sense with Chelsea now talking to Barca over Aubameyang.

Could be a busy few days.

He is injured, Geoff, at the moment.

Interesting. Despite Calvert-Lewin's injury, then yes, defensive midfield is where we should focus any money we have to spend

It's been our biggest weakness for too long, just too easy to walk through our midfield.

Onana and Gueye together would probably allow Lampard to play his preferred 3-4-3 formation.

We need another striker, Broja on loan with an option/obligation to buy would allow us to focus our funds on a priority position.

Tony @21.

Well, Delph passed his medical doing 100 m on his mobility scooter.

Bringing in an injured player means he is ready-made for our squad and can go straight into the Finch Farm critical care wing.

Could be the new Fellaini though......

Would help with our set-piece problems with Tarkowski and Mina.

Some Hammers websites saying he prefers the RS or Real Madrid!!!!!

This could well be a Robinho moment where is agent asks him if he wants to play in Liverpool and ends up totally confused wearing blue rather than the expected red!

John 32, I hope they went as far as putting some cones out to see if he could zig zag.

Fran, I agree, if it's true, it is good that the recruitment is not losing its focus on our midfield as a priority. Chocolate sprinkles on top of a bowl of sick won't turn it into a trifle.

If there is truth to this big investment, then Broja on loan could be a goer. We may not be in the driving seat though with regards to having an option to buy. I don't want us to be developing Chelsea's talent for them but, right at this moment, in our financial situation, we may have to go along with their conditions.

Then a player sale could give some funds to sign Dennis or Cornet for more attacking threat and options. I'd definitely want two attacking players, Broja and one of these two, especially as changing things with the five subs rule this season is going to be very influential. I can see a lot of games being won in the latter stages this season. There must be other viable options too depending on our budget.

Lots of rumours flying round about this one so let's wait and see.

I know it's a little bit to soon, but I can't stop feeling excited about our newly found pragmatism. Despite losing our only real centre-forward, maybe replacing him with a defensive midfielder actually makes sense?

On a serious note, I think Billy Gilmour would have already been at Everton but for the fact that you can't take two players on loan from the same club. This makes me think that Lampard must feel like he can still get Borja but, like others have mentioned, it's no good being pragmatic if you're not careful!

Tony, rumours that Chelsea are after Aubameyang from Barcelona, so maybe Broja will be surplus to requirements? Should we get Broja on loan, then he wouldn't be able to play against his parent club on Saturday, and I doubt Chelsea would do any permanent deal until after Saturday.

If we are spending big money like this rumoured one, then someone we might not want to go is on his way out of Everton... that's what I've heard, off myself.

Feels like it could be a big gamble for €35M, especially with the injury noise. However, alongside Gana, he's the kind of player that could let us go back to a back 4, which conversely would give us more attacking threat too.

If (and it's a fundamental prerequisite!!) we could get someone like Broja on loan too, then the following two starting XIs wouldn't be bad at all:

Pickford
Patterson Mina Tarkowski Mykolenko
Gana Onana
Gordon Dele McNeil
Broja

Begovic
Coleman Godfrey Welch Vinagre
Warrington Doucoure
Mills Iwobi Gray
Rondon (or anyone else with boots till Calvert-Lewin is back)

Rob, I've just read that Broja has an ankle injury at the moment, not thought to be serious but enough to keep him out of the team.

Right position and qualities: sitting defensive midfielder.

Very expensive indeed for age and experience though. Only cost Lille £6m last summer.

Like a scratched record, I'll say again - there is no reason for us to be paying more than about £20m for any player because a cheaper alternative always exists. After all, it's not like we're buying a generational talent like Zidane.

But if we happen to have the money then great. He can occupy a critical position in the side for 10 years if it works out.

We do need striker cover too though so hopefully we're not spreading the kitty too thin.

Dave I can't actually think of anybody I'd be that bothered about leaving to be honest. This Onona looks like it might be happening to be fair. We are desperate for some backbone and he and Gueye would provide it.

Let's buy another injured player as backup to the other crocks? We ain't spending 㿏M on this guy or anyone else.

Unfortunate name!

Anyone calling him a wanker would at least be biblically correct.

Dave @ 39. Perhaps if this lad and Gana are incoming then two out of Gbamin, Allan and Gomes are on their way out.

If we can afford another midfielder and can still get a striker better than Rondon then great. Otherwise a new centre-forward is the number one priority. Even before Calvert-Lewin's injury, this was the case. We can't win games without goals and there simply aren't enough in this squad of players.

It'd be ironic if Moyes's dithering left the door open for the Blues.

I love this idea in principle. But there are alarm bells left right and centre.

Injured.

Only played 11 games last season

We have no strikers

The fee is huge for potential

I'm generally a positive person though so I'm hoping it means that we have a loan lined up for a striker. In which case, happy days. If it's even true.

One thing though – someone pointed out that Chelsea won't loan Broja before Saturday but it wouldn't matter if they did as he'd be ineligible anyway as they're his parent club.

Now we find out he's ‘injured….' Could all be falling into place. Moshiri said ‘judge us at the end of the window' a brave or stupid statement?

Be thrilled if we get him and Gana. Good short term and long term options. Not sure how we can afford him but it may be over instalments (if true).

Yes we need a striker but defensive midfield has been our biggest issue for years! Think it means the end of Gbamin and Allan like others have said.

Chris #45.

You'll have to explain that one for the confused among us.

Onanism is Latin (I think) for having a Tommy tank.

An Onanist being one who makes themselves ‘happy'. A Rishi Sunak.

I despair!

Dorothy Parker called her parrot Onan, because he was always spilling his seed.

Like the Old Testament original whom God punished for performing the same act. Pillar of salt or something like that.

A bit stiff!

@49 - No he didn't, played 41 games last season, 31 league, 8 Champions League, 2 Coupe de France.

Did well against Chelsea, from what I remember.

Si and Chris, I don't think we can pull this one off.

I think the press have decided, with everything else that's going on with this club, they will make up ridiculous transfer stories. As if any player in their right mind would choose Everton over West Ham at the moment!

We apparently have been negotiating to get Gueye here for well over a week – "all done" – according to the press... but still no sign of him at Finch Farm, and we're supposedly after another midfield player. How we are interested in a player who will cost more than 㾶 million is a pipe dream.

I see Lampard was interviewed the other week and said that he is on the phone to Thelwell all the time, talking about possible transfers... I wonder if they have ever discussed signing a striker? Probably not.

I think in some ways Lampard was fortunate when he took over as the fans didn't want Pereira and were glad to see the back of Benitez, and being in a precarious position when he took over, the fan base was unbelievable in the passion and commitment they showed till the end of the season.

With narrowly avoiding relegation, many of us hoped that, within days of the window opening, Lampard and Thelwell would have had their targets lined up and ready to go. But, apart from buying yet another centre-back, we haven't addressed the main problem with this team which is a lack of goals.

We sold Richarlison who, along with Pickford, was the main reason the club avoided relegation... and now, with Calvert-Lewin's injury, they have to start the season without a recognised striker.

Our manager and DOF would have known the financial constraints they were under so there is no excuse for their complete disaster of a transfer window. What did Moshiri say? "Judge us at the end of the window." Problem is, we play 5 games before the window closes.

Chris, Si,

On the upside, he will increase our pulling power and make other players want to come.

I'm sure he could link up with Vinagre in some way.

Gavin @ 5:

I knew his position - was being sarcastic at why/how we might suddenly find and pay 35 mil. for a DM on the back of the urgent striker situation.

What I didn't know until just now is that he's injured. Surely we don't need this right now...

Nah not for me, not proven, too young and at 6ft-5in he is too tall.

Why would we possibly want a player of his calibre, surely we need to be giving the likes of our youngster Davies a run of games, or move Holgate into midfield alongside Gomes, see if we can save some of our transfer budget.

Well no-one else has popped up with the usual so I thought, with tongue firmly in cheek, I would start the ball rolling. It would not be ToffeeWeb if no one mentioned price, size, age and speed.

Now where did I put my fishing rod.

Brian - and "Sell-on value".

Looks like we had bid for Conor Coady too…

We have 5 minutes (midday) to register Gana for the Chelsea match. Why has it taken so long? Is Rondon on the fax machine?

Brian Murray @65

Loving the positive vibes you send out.

Probably bollocks, can only see us getting one of Onana and Gana. Maybe we've switched to Onana if Gana is not happening now.

Derek @66. Years of amateur behaviour have made me a cynic although I'm positive about Frank and especially his coaches. A club within a club, shall we say.

"Club within a club" is a very good description. There are the fans who are in tune with the management.

Then there is a disconnected leadership team who are telling the owner that everything will be okay. They are so out of tune with the fans.

This may seem dramatic but, in my experience, one thing the military was good at was getting rid of leaders if they didn't perform. "The buck stops here" as the saying goes. If you're in charge, it's on your watch. The soldiers just do what they're told to do and follow orders. Generally, if it goes wrong, the leaders fall on their swords.

Years of decline and failure. Someone else being the fall guy and sacrificial lamb to preserve the seat in the Director's Box.

Without insider knowledge, I could probably summarise the record of discussion from our supposed strategic review that apparently happened:

1. We survived. They'll be okay. Just let the dust settle and announce something about the stadium.

2. Once they calm down, we'll all be safe in our jobs.

3. Nothing to see here Mr Moshiri, everything is okay. They'll come back for more.

Good Lord, I'm getting cynical. I'll be glad when the football starts.

I see we are also being linked to Coady. If true then maybe Mina is going or Moyes has offered decent cash for either Keane or Holgate.

I just hope for once that, if Onana comes (no pun intended), that he's the real deal and not another Gbamin.

Not everyone's choice, but Coady has always interested me.

Alongside Tarkowski, another leader. Something we have been void of in this mentally fragile squad of ours for years.

Also, I know he plays centre back for Wolves, but I've often though he looks more of a defensive midfielder and could play that role??

Brian@62

Too tall! Hahaha! Funniest post I've read in ages, thanks mate!

He's only 20 so my suspicion is he prefers to come to Everton where he'll get a game in our shit midfield, rather than West Ham where he'll sit on the bench a lot more. He puts himself in the shop window, plays for us for say, 3 years and we sell him on for top dollar. Win/Win.

This kid is a handful - I've seen him play and he's a beast of a footballer. He would transform our midfield, especially with Gana next to him.

Get this lad in. Get Gueye in. Get Coady in and give Holgate to anyone. Get Batshuayi from Chelsea and we are done.

Feels like the agent using us tbh. I'll believe it when he's in the shirt.

Coady is probably the wrong age, a bit one paced, but does play well in a back 3. Can't see where this money is coming from, particularly when we have nothing up front and just had to sell our best player below his market worth on the 30th June.

No to Coady for me. We've got our leader at the back now and need if anything someone with a bit of pace as I think Godfrey is potentially a liability. Unless Keane or Holgate or Mina is sold I don't think we need any more centre backs.

Will be strange if we bring in Onana AND Gueye as well then have those 2 plus Davies, Doucoure, Allan, Gbamin, Gomes, Iwobi and even Alli who could all play central midfield but not a single fit striker!

Not sure we'll get Broja on loan but if so I hope there's a purchase option.

Brian #65.

We have until Midday Friday to register Gana for the Chelsea game.

Colin. I heard it was today. Thanks for the update.

Chris (55),

I wish the dads of some of the players we've signed n the last few years, some still here, had performed like Onana, would have saved us Brewsters!!

Tarkowski, Onana, Gueye in, Richarlison out, DCL injured.

It looks like the most popular chant this year will be '0-0, to the Everton'.

Everton 2022-2023, Played 38, won 0, drawn 37, lost 1, goals for 0 ( the one that went in off Rondon's arse against the Sith was disallowed due to Klipperty throwing his toys out the cot), goals against 1 (penalty at Anfield, obviously, retaken several times until they score), points 37.

Never seen this lad play but based on YouTube, he appears a physical beast, but doesn't look to be technically very good. I know we have some regular contributors to the site who are very knowledgeable on up and coming talents from the European leagues. I would be interested to know their thoughts regarding weather or not, Onana is the real deal?

Sam @ 75.

Would you really prefer to have Keane, Holgate or Godfrey over Coady at the back? I don't think any of them come near his level. All a matter of opinion, I suppose.

If we could offload Holgate or Keane and get him in, I'd be happy with that, preferably Holgate. Mina, Tarkowski and Coady with Godfrey off the bench for any of them. That would do me

Why not use the relationship with Carlo and try to get some loan deals from Real Madrid?

I think we got about 㿊m from TV rights on 1 August, the first tranche of the circa 䀆M every Premier League club gets. Another 㿊M due in January... last season that's what paid for Mykolenko and Patterson.

Myself, I'd be spending it on a striker or two.

Sounds like a handful.

Colin #76. I might be wrong on this, but we had until midday today to sign Gana Gueye if he was to make Saturday's game. The reason for it being today is because the first Premier League game of the season is tomorrow night, Palace v Arsenal.

I'm pretty certain all clubs must complete transfers the day before a weekend game, so it would be a bit unfair on Palace and Arsenal if they couldn't sign anyone tomorrow but the rest of us could. As I say though, I could be wrong about this.

Will@63, oh yes forgot about the sell one one, cheers mate.

Win-win for Everton, seems the homework has been done on this player, gazump West Ham and, at the same time, it leaves them more money to land Holgate.

We all have our opinions of who or where we need improvements.

The biggest complaint last season was the midfield and, as they say, you either win or lose a game from your midfield, and that is the area we had to improve. With the experience of Gueye (if he ever signs, that is) and if we do sign this player, we will be strengthening a major problem area from last season.

As for us needing another striker, are we talking about someone who is better than Calvert-Lewin or to replace Rondon? Either way, Calvert-Lewin will be pissed off if you bring in someone to replace him, and whoever you buy may not want to be second-choice to Calvert-Lewin, so be careful who you wish for.

Yes, Calvert-Lewin will be missing for a number of weeks so Rondon misses 1 game and will be available after that.

The teams that finished 1st and 2nd in the Premier League last season, neither of them had a big striker up front and their goalscorers were spread out through the team, so it is possible we can play 1 game without a big #9. Believe it or not, we do have some payers who can score, not as regular as we would hope, but the transfer window doesn't close for a few more weeks.

Reminder it is not only who the club wants to sign, it is still up to the player to want to come and agree to the contract he is offered.

Seems like desperation has kicked in as we throw cash at old men and cripples. Everton out!

Ray Jacques: Real Madrid, as ever, have some top-class players in their second string. Youth product Antonio Blanco should be available for loan having been pushed down the pecking order by Camavinga and new 㿲m signing Tchouameni. He's a very technically gifted holding midfielder. Would go well with someone a bit more physical like Gueye or Onana.

As ever, there are loads of very good quality players within our grasp and budget.

Rob, you are totally correct. I can only guess the holdup with Gueye is due to Onana. I think it's either/or. Otherwise, I can't understand the delay in getting Gueye in unless of course our erstwhile chairman is involved.

I don't believe we are in for this guy, its too much money. I'd love us to get him but I wonder if the Calvert-Lewin news means we get Gilmour on loan instead and put money into a new striker.

I'd take Belotti on a free who would be more of a like-for-like replacement for Calvert-Lewin (though he's less mobile generally). I hope we are still looking at Dennis too, who I like a lot.

Jay #91,

I don't believe it's either/or regarding Gueye and Onana, two different type players and one around €33M and other €8M.

By the way, Everton have until midday tomorrow to register new players to play on Saturday.

We could do with at least Gana for Saturday as Chelsea are not unbeatable. A bit risky if we have to wait for Broja until they are good and ready. I don't want another Giroud, wasting weeks, or worse still, all of a window waiting for Sigurdsson then well overpriced.

Coady is a kopite but a better defender than we have... except for Tarkowski.

Now being reported as a done deal in some quarters. God knows if it's true, but he looks interesting on YouTube.

Tony, yes, Sky confirmed. Transform our midfield. I can feel a surge of Danny O positivity. The tsunami blue tide is rising.

Amadou dou dou push pineap… I'll get me coat

Brian #96, that's the spirit!

@91 Jay

PSG have announced the signing of Renato Sanchez today.

Maybe they were waiting to complete this signing before sanctioning a sale of Gueye.

If we are paying £8m for Gueye then I'm astounded.

As for Onana, I thought we were skint?

The Coady link is surprising given that he played every single game for Wolves last season.

From a Lampard perspective, less so. As he is very used to playing in a back 3.

I'm amazed we are pulling this off, the guy looks like a beast of a player. Him and Gueye will certainly add steel to our midfield.

If we are getting them both then surely Gbamin and maybe one of Gomes and Davies are off?

Dennis or Broja next and I will be delighted with this window.

Spends 㿏M+ on a young, raw central midfielder whilst we still have no strikers. Very curious. There must be a plan (and some funds) to secure a striker too?!

Onana could be a real talent. Though the fee is quite extortionate for a player of that age and experience.

Ironic dithering davie at his finest helped us. He just loves a glass ceiling.

Coady and Tarky as CB's, Gueye and Onana running the midfield.

My god that is thug central, so add in the Goodison crowd and stick DCL up top and SKY will be wetting their pants. Think we are on to something here.

Get him and Cornet. That will sort a few positions. Put Cornet up front with Rondon until DCL returns.

He has a knee tendon injury. Do we never bloody learn. Injury after injury prone players Jesus

Oh Mama !, we're signing Obana and Gana mañana.

It's a big fee but I actually like the fact that Moyes had tracked and targeted this player, and failed to land him he's no fool.

We've been crying out for young hungry quality and this lad fits that description. Hopefully Lille will play ball with our extended payment plan. 10m now and the rest when we get paid for Moise Kean next June. That sort of deal I think is likely as it will allow us to get a forward in, Cornet, Dennis ? Then Broja on loan with a buy option.

Cornet Having medical in London off to the hammers.

Onana ! Not Obana who plays for Walsall reserves.

Frank Lampard might not be the greatest tactician but he's being very true to his word about making Everton more robust, when you analyse the signings that he his making.

Given a choice I'd sooner have someone who really understands us, rather than have any other type of manager, and it does look like we have finally got a manager who has got a real plan, and suddenly nice little Everton, are acquiring a few nasty bastards 🙏

If in 12 months time we have Gbamin MkII on our hands, I hope David Moyes comes on here and said "what was it you were saying about me dithering?" Now you know why.

Cry as much as you like, he got it right more often than he got it wrong.
But this could be Fellaini MkII

Starting to get a bit off the pre season optimism buzz now. If we get this beast in along with Dennis and guye It could transform our season.
Just been looking at the latest stadium update clip.Wow it's comming along at a good pace and looks great. COYMB.

Link here if you haven't seen it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkD8KnESOVY

Alan Myers is claiming no new faces are likely before next week and the Coady deal could take a while if it happens at all

Everton are reported to be hamstrung by financial rules, so, appeared to dither over the signing of 9 premier league goal Cornet, who has just signed for West Ham for 17.5 millions. But now Everton are now about to sign Onana, but will cost 33 million twice the price of Cornet. Is their something I have missed in Everton's transfer dealings, when Everton desperately need goal scorers?

Long term we are still fu..ed with FFP
We need to sell and afraid I can see Pickford going and us bringing in someone like Dean Henderson
Had he not gone on loan to Forest I could see that scenario

Rumour mill flourishing again.

Another midfielder ?

Whatever happens, happens but one thing for sure, with Richie gone, DCL gone for six weeks, Dobbin and Simms not ready for his season we will be starting in the bottom three and stay there for quite a while.

Unless Lampard can perform the miracles that none of his predecessors did then we are in deep shit.

Here's a recent scouting report on Onana that gives a balanced view on the player, qualities and flaws. It gives you a brief idea of the player we will be getting.

https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/amadou-onana-lilles-belgian-midfield-dynamo/

Seeing his youtube reel he can tackle but thats it - arise the black Phil Neville.

I think the kids sing
Onana whats my name,
Onana what's my name,
...repeat.

Some odd decisions and linked players but until the window closes I'll reserve judgement.

Onana, whats your name?

Tony #117 Good link, only thing missing was the ToffeeWebs head coach report. No worries he posted it straight after you.