Everton looking to sign midfield wizard… Merlin Röhl

Encouraging, but like all signings, or potential signings, until they are pictured in the shirt at Finch Farm, I will put it down to hopeful speculation. Many in the past have been linked, and never come to anything!

Since we have Alcaraz, McNeil and possibly Armstrong for the central attacking midfield position, this doesn't seem like an immediately urgent signing.

I'd have said it's more important to replace Mangala than anyone else in the central midfield.

He's a good player with potential and £17M, if believed, is a decent price.

I don't care too much for the assist thing either. Where does it start? For example, defender wins back the ball and finds a midfielder, who plays in a wide player, who delivers and the forward scores. Yes, I know the definition is the last player to touch the ball before the goal, but it's a team contribution.

Also, I think we need to get out of this "we've already got so and so" mentality. Most of us have commented many times on the threadbare squad. For example, the chances of McNeil, Alcaraz and Ndiaye all being fit and available all of the season are slim, bordering on zero.

We need to bolster the squad. Challenging teams have depth. If this player, or any other for that matter, can improve the squad or has the potential to do so, then we should be going for this type of player.

I'll wait for the club to announce anything. It's not going to be until June or July anyway.

Personally, I'd have thought our order of priority for signings this summer will be something like this:

1. Right wing / forward (i.e. a right sided Ndiaye)
2. An adventurous / quality right back
3. Striker
4. Holding midfielder (i.e. the Mangala replacement)
5. Another wing / forward (right or left) for competition
6. An adventurous / quality left back

Depth elsewhere in the squad is great but unless we address these positions we'll struggle to transition to the front foot football people seem to want.

I see theres doubts over Alcaraz joining permanently now as well...
someone will step in a get a player there, imho.
UTFT

The full back situation is alarming how it's been allowed to get to this. As much as I think he has potential, Dixon isn't quite ready yet. And at some point, O'Brien, will take up his natural berth as one of the centre backs.

I'm not sure if you or anyone else has watched this yet. You can access it through the official website and it's on the Youtube channel. I watched it last night. Fascinating insight to the individual as much as his footballing skills.

Ndiaye. My Story. Seems like his name is pronounced N-Jay.

Link

Needs a big loan move for sure. Graham looked the pick of the bunch if there is a player to make it. He has a good quality on the ball, bright movement and pace, and a bit of an edge the bits I've seen of him.

Loan him out to Chester and sell him for a £19M loss…

They have a centre-forward, Tim Keindienst, who would be worth a look — good with both feet and head.

They show incredible maturity and mental strength to come to a foreign country so young. Ndiaye had lived in 3 countries and 2 continents by the time he was 16 - then worked his way up from non-league football.

I don't think we expect anything like the same standards of our home grown academy prospects who to quote a commonly used phrase "just need to be given a chance".

Personally, I think anyone who wants a chance needs to work damn hard and earn it - like some of these African teenagers are doing.

Tongue in cheek, maybe a good fit??!!

His reward, after seeing David Johnson and Adrian Heath were on £900 per week and he was on £400, after asking Howard Kendall for a rise was a paltry £25,he wasn’t having that and not long after went to Villa although he was offered a much better deal by Liverpool.

He was abused by Everton fans on and off the field for standing up for himself and proved how much he was worth later on with Liverpool and England.

Everton / Kendall wouldn’t give him an extra £25 a week How much did they make on him when he was sold?

He was a great player destined for great things. Sadly it wasn't with us over £25.

In regard to our summer signings I doubt we will be paying fees for any until after the end of the financial year on 30th June. The amount we receive for Branthwaite will obviously be key to how much we can afford to spend.

Also a move to Goodison Park is not really on is it? Because. We are moving to BMD! If he moves to Goodison park, he'll be a confused (apprentice). 😁

I don’t know if Howard had it in for Stevie but Stevie wasn’t frightened to say his piece and was open and upfront about it, later on Kendall said couldn’t agree Stevie’s’ wage rise with his agent, McMahon disagreed with that because he said he never had an agent so someone was telling porkies!

Would also have a look at Philogene, who we missed out to,when he signed for Ipswich, got pace and skill on the right wing, could be worth a sniff if available.

Moyes is a big fan of Tom Fellows so we could see us having a go at bringing him in.

Harrison Armstrong could be the missing link in midfield to replace Doucoure.

All in all we need a back up left back, a right back, right winger, and for me two centre forwards, unless we are keeping Beto, and someone who can drive forward from midfield and play a forward pass, again Harrison Armstrong could be the answer long term.

Jonathan David is out of reach. Barcelona, the RS and Juventus will fight over him this summer.

Armstrong is only 18 and I'd be astonished if Moyes is considering him for anything but another loan next season.

It's worth looking how sunderland get on between now and the end of season. Patterson, Hume, Cirkin, Rigg, Bellingham, Neil, will all be in demand if they don't get promoted, and id tip us to be in that mix. Sunderland will struggle to hold to players if an epl club come knocking. Short on cash and players that could 10x or 20x their money.

Brian, we have the player to drive forward in Alcaraz if we play him central. Ndiaye to a degree, although different, and he would probably go it alone. It wouldn't harm to have options though. Maybe this loan deal will have done Armstrong good and he's ready to be involved. He looked promising before he went to Derby.

Talking of summer transfer activity, I'm on the cusp of getting a new dog. Obviously a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I need to decide on his name.

As I said in another thread. Sheedy or Muller. I'm not sure the good wife would have approved of Sheedy, so it could be after the two German greats.

Moyes went watching Harrison Armstrong last week at Derby, he has filled out a bit as well and apparently put on more muscle, I can see Harrison Armstrong being a part of the squad next season.

The one thing we lack at the moment is goalscoring players so that must be high in priorities.

Walker Peters (Free) but probable signing on fee
Hutchison and Delap from Ipswich 40m for the two but might have to offer Delap silly wages
Alcaraz £15M
Ndidi £15M
Harrison Armstrong no fee.

Plus Cheeky bids for Mbeumo, Bakayoko, Pulisic, Edon Zhegrova (might persuade Johnathan David to come too), Karim Adeyemior, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Suely we can snare one of these – over to you Robert.

I'd keep the £15M in the bank, and take him off Leicester on loan if there's a deal to be done. Not sure there will be a queue of clubs in for him at nearly 29, and Leicester won't be able to afford his wages in the Championship.

Could be a clever way to add a body to the squad, but you need to be certain he's good enough to contribute as his wages are likely to be considerable - and will have little resale value.

I'd keep the £15m in the bank, and take him off Leicester on loan if there's a deal to be done. Not sure there's will be a queue of clubs in for him at nearly 29, and Leicester won't be able to afford his wages in the Championship.

Could be a clever way to add a body to the squad, but you need to be certain he's good enough to contribute as his wages are likely to be considerable - and will have little resale value.

Can't see us being in for him, unless it's a bargain basement fee.

And since then has looked an absolute beast for one of the best teams in the world, as evidenced by his Champions League goal yesterday.

But hey, PSR be damned, let's spend £1 billion of the Friedkin fortune and ask questions later.

If rumours are to be listened to, then we are also rumoured to be interested in the Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade, 6'-6" and weirdly quick feet. He's notched 12 this season so far which is excellent from a 22-year-old. I wouldn't mind seeing these two lining up for us next season!

That said, I agree with Robert that an attacking mid is not our priority right now and I think we are all hoping we go in for Charlie. Agree too with the priority list Robert.

For those wishing for Delap, he is the dream striker signing, I have been so impressed with him this season. However, we are at the back of the queue there, I'd imagine.

You are correct it was just a list of top players with the statement that I thought we might be able to snare one of them.

Just watching Lyon v Man Utd and I forgot all about Cherki who would be a great signing imo.

The best 'new signing' for next season is one we already have on our books. The noise I hear & read coming out of Derby County is all raving about Harrison Armstrong.

"Igor?"

*Crash of thunder

"Yeth Thir" lisps Igor, appearing as if by magic at his masters shoulder.

Levy mutters under breath, "how does he do that, must be a Transylvanian School of Butlery thing, a bit creepy if you ask me"

"Inform The Director of Football of Mr Moyes's Interest in this German chappie will you, tell him to keep an eye on the situation and to act act in the usual manner just before Moyes makes his move."

"Thertainly Thir."

The days of "What would Everton do?" are back!

The goal, as always, is grabbing the next Delap the year before he becomes a bona fide star.

I just rattled quality names off in my head that I thought would be great solutions believing that we might get at least one elite signing.

It would be nice to get a top player before he hits the top but that is extremely difficult, and a number of clubs are way ahead of us on that score.

https://youtu.be/aZgIkCkUlxg?si=15XGAZM-LKEsrcSU

Never say zilch, though, Paul. Nevermind, you’re right, it’s zilch. But it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

Brighton have shown everyone this; what stats did Caicedo, MacAllister, Estupiñan, Cucurella, Mitoma et al already have in Europe’s big five leagues before they joined?

I think central midfield is a worrying area for us. Garner has looked pretty lower/midtable to me this year and Iroegbunam is not ready. Apart from the evergreen Gana we really lack in this crucial area of the pitch. Not convinced Rohl is the answer though.

Woltemade is also linked as noted above. He's a very unusual player as he's so tall but a dribbler / playmaker type striker and not really a target man. Personally I think he's unsuited to a Premier League / Moyes side. Not dynamic enough / pacy enough despite good technical skills. A bit like the failed signing of Scamacca for West Ham.

In any case he's more likely to go to Bayern or Dortmund than us. Rohl is also linked with half the Premier League and lots of clubs in Europe. Basically he's being touted as available by Freiburg and his agent.

Delap I agree is extremely unlikely. Ferguson is much more gettable though due to his very poor recent form.

Otherwise the best places to shop are always:

- relegated clubs
- championship
- rich club academies
- France / Portugal / Belgium / Netherlands / Argentina / Brazil
- even lower cost markets like Czechia, Greece, Switzerland the Balkans and Scandinavia

And of course the age / cost demographics are key too.

Rule of thumb used successfully by other clubs: don't buy from other Premier League clubs.

Personally, I wouldn't be in for Evan Ferguson. His injury record already suggests that he's a player to be missing more than the occasional winner on a sunny day.

The squad has to be capable of playing 40-50+ games a season. Any that are getting to 20 or so, you can't rely on, as you need just as good cover, and it's costing you twice the amount to solve a position.

That's great news if so, Brian – have you heard that from a reliable source?

On another note, I see we're not signing Salah then...

Glad we're not signing Salah too!

The only thing wrong about staying here is Moyes doesn't seem to trust young players, so that might stall him.

Liverpool could not let Salah go, who would take all the penalties!

It may have only been glimpses, but he impressed me when he did come on for us.

He'll get his chance here.

Much better to let the kid iron out his mistakes and mature in the Championship or Eredivisie etc – as Branthwaite did.

If you're good enough, you're old enough. Let Harrison Armstrong prove himself here — if Moyes is brave enough!

I'd gladly take, today, Doue, Williams, Huijsen (too young), or Modric, Maldini, Ronaldo, Totti etc… when they were in their late 30s.

I like the loan system, although have my own thoughts on how that should work. Mostly that we send players to the same club to play with each other and the coaches can monitor them more closely.

On transfers, a thought did cross my mind this morning. No rumours and I haven't seen anything online, but after the Manchester United goalkeepers performance last night and criticism, a cheeky bid for Pickford? Even though they are £1B in debt and have unpaid transfer fees of £350M.

Has anyone else ever heard anything that may substantiate this? Albeit the likes of Cahill doesn't seem to fall into that category.

I think we have a player there.

The process worked, and the manager listened.

Alan Irvine left in 2007 to manage Preston. Pienaar joined 2007 and Arteta played more after than before he left. Baines also joined in 2007.

Stones had emerged in the first 6 months of the season in his break through season at Barnsley, and he was signed in the Christmas window. Hardly eventually.

Fair play all around to be honest. He had been frustrated getting a striker in, money was tight, but they paid the money for a good buy. The process worked by team Everton. And that's what it needs.

Age is not holding back Lewis-Skelly at the Arse, he's going to be some player. Hopefully Harrison gets his chance next season.

Apparently (again, unsubstantiated), he and his inner circle didn't rate him. It took intervention from a trusted scout and that other clubs were circling to force their hand, whilst the cards were in our hand.

It all seemed a bit free and easy after, and it would of perhaps of avoided some of the crap that's descended into big wages, big fees, and being left with players leaving on frees and PSR breaches since.

The Dithering Davy tag has always struck me as odd, when we knew cash was in short supply to get deals done. A couple of million more in the bank can give you a decisiveness, but if you ain't got it, you ain't got it.

There's stories of Bellamy being messed around by Moyes. Was that dithering, was it he was 5th choice on the list, was it that they really didn't have the cash till someone left, or was he thought he thought he was a dick. Perhaps all 4.

It probably comes from the alleged suggestion that he liked to control transfers. He gave the red or green light and wasn't always quick in doing so?

I don't mind a player with attitude or ego. I remember thinking Robbie Savage was one of those players opposition supporters loved to hate, but if you had him in your team, different story.

Moyes loves the player and he has been a mainstay at West Ham as we know.

I know some will say he is 30 but he has a brilliant fitness record and just the type of midfield enforcer Moyes likes, also he is a goal threat.

I would also like to see Mangala return if he can get over his injury, as I see him as a future replacement for Gueye. I thought Mangala was really good for us during his stay, but does Moyes fancy him ?.

Second signing will be a versatile full back Walker - Peters ?

Strikers ? well if DCL leaves which is a strong possibility Moyes may well give Broja a chance to stay fit, being only 23 he has time to be a very good striker, perhaps another loan ? Chermiti will get more chances and Beto will still be a threat.

Some will say Delap etc but is that feasible due to supply and demand, I certainly would like it to happen.

Add to that another midfielder ( if not Mangala) and a wide/s players (speculate who).

Also a big decision as to whether Harrison Armstrong is loaned out again or returned.

Charly signed

DCL/Doucoure/Harrison/ Young/Keane and possibly Lindstrom ? to leave.

And I think that will be your lot.

He's everything Doucoure should be but isn't.

As a Wales fan, I have to say I never wanted him at Everton. He was an athlete more than a footballer.

Armstrong is a promising kid. He will get a chance to show what he's got in preseason but it's a big step up to the Premier League. Let's not ruin him by heaping on desperate expectations borne out of our struggles.

He's barely started senior football; if Moyes fancies using him then great… but he needs game time to develop and is more likely to get that in the Championship or elsewhere.

I don't think he's in the same league (yet) as Lewis-Skelly.

The question is whether he plays for Everton next season, not whether Tuchel will select him.

But I do believe from what I've seen that he has massive potential and players like that often make great strides very quickly. Conversely, some players take a few years to bloom (Leon Osman being the perfect example).

Either way he'll need managing and his development carefully monitoring as we have had a few (eg. Tom Davies) who've had promise but faded away.

Maybe Moyes has heard the good reports from his appearances with Derby and gone for a look himself, he moved not long after Moyes came so he wouldn’t have seen much of him.

To be honest Iroegbunam and Patterson have looked like they'd benefit from a loan / games too because they're immature.

Doesn't mean they don't have quality.

Lots of very good players have developed on loan - including Branthwaite and Gordon recently.

Who was Gordon on loan with? He didn’t improve much with Everton but has certainly shown his worth with Newcastle.

Not really sure what the objection to a loan is as it's pretty much the right of passage for anyone who isn't already international quality at 18 / 19.

It's done the trick for:

Mount, Abraham, broja, tomori, diallo, Gallagher, balogun, Bierith, Bradley, mcatee, Doyle, Doyle, Norton Cuffey, James etc etc (I could do a really long list but will stop here).

I remember United being three up at half time against Everton, one horrible wet and windy day, and with everyone fearing the worst Moyes introduced Rooney, for the second half.

What a second half that was until Van Nistleroy, put United 4-3 ahead in the last couple of minutes, and the story went that all the united players were absolutely gobsmacked by Rooney, and allegedly told their manager that he had to sign the kid.

It’s mad football, because with Moyes trying to protect Rooney, Everton were getting pulverised, and yet when the kid was thrown on at the deep end, he transformed a very mediocre Everton performance, simply because he was that good

"If you could just look at spreadsheets like Moneyball then everyone would have AI signing their players and it would be easy. If we only try to sign players who already have impressive stats, then they will have better options and cost triple the price or more."

I thought the premise of Moneyball was that the players with the impressive stats were those that were undervalued and off the radar, not the first draft superstars with potential.

At least in the book I read.

Don't think so... perhaps it was both, but Rooney was always recognised as a very special talent, even as a teenager.

I don't think many people saw the player Cantona would become when he was at Leeds.

Like you say yourself, not many people saw the potential in Cantona.

Take no notice of me but it’s just that Brendan had me puzzled for a minute before with his statement about Rooney being recognised as a special talent even as a teenager, when I considered how old he was in that game I mentioned against United!

I know Wayne always looked older than his years but did he really skip the years 13 through to 15?

He seems to have slipped off the radar. Does anyone know where he's playing now?

Maybe we'll see him at the Everton Stadium next season, although I think he's struggled for game time at Bramall Lane.

Not only is football very different to baseball (you can't be an individual in football to the extent that you can in baseball) but now, 25 or so years on from Oakland's ‘ahead-of-the-game' success, all teams are looking at the stats as the first way of judging a player.

The modern, footballing equivalent of what Billy Beane did is almost the opposite – find a player who isn't showing up on everybody's spreadsheets yet and turn them into a player. If they've already got the numbers, you can bet that everybody and his dog within the game already knows about them.