Everton manager acknowledges club’s interest in Liam Delap

Delap only has to choose whether to play week in week out for the likes of Everton (and I am sure West Ham would offer this route too) or late sub cameos and cup games for the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea and definitely Newcastle as Isak is the first choice.

Doak, from what I understand, is a right-wing speed demon but must be surely put off by Liverpool's stance on player action like Elliott, Ramsey and Bajcetic. All highly thought of but never likely to be regulars.

I don't put too much into dour Dave's pressers. He's a minimalist in the extreme. He'd make a good poker player.

Imagine how much they are enjoying all this.

Fellows: 4 goals and 14 assists in 45 games (Championship) age 21.

Both players heavily linked for a while now.

Similar-ish but Doak I think has the higher potential. Pace and aggression to go with obvious ability.

We didn't even try and get his dad when he was at Birmingham.

Going back to what I've said previously, I don't know too much about him and haven't watched him closely. Others seem to rate him.

If Moyes is calling the shots, it will depend on if he's a good fit for the team he wants, as that is how he tends to operate. It is going to be an interesting summer, with the speculation starting already.

We'll just have to wait and see what the club throws up.

They don't have much else up front.

I think Moyes would throw his hand in if the stakes went over a nicker — watch the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves, as Dour Dave would say!

Not sure we should be aiming for non-league level of football, but his brother isn't too bad.

Neither player is anything like as bad as Man Utd are making them look. Same for quite a lot of that underperforming squad.

There's something very rotten at Man Utd.

If we were to get Delap, we'd also need attackers like Doak and a really good RB to give him a chance to perform.

Keeps the ball very well. Think it would be £25M+, which would probably rule us out.

I did see a picture of Delap at the new HDBMD stadium on social media, it was a selfie by someone who works there.

Cheaty Chelsea, who keep using loopholes to give themselves a massive PSR advantage, are faves for Delap I guess.

Man Utd, who could be in debt for a billion zillion gazillion £'s and it wouldn't breach P&S rules under Fuhrer Masters, is not a great move football wise, but is the more glamorous than cheaty. But he lives in the South-East and they are nearer too with guaranteed European footy.

As for Doak. I have no idea if crossing over would be a major issue. I've never seen him play. But at least some of the noises coming out are positive. I just hope we won't need to sign the Toffee Lady and one of Dixie's boots to boast squad numbers next season…

Grabbing at straws I know but just for once it would be good to get one over on the Sly Six.

Delap has it al, ie, pace, strength, two-footed, good header, winds opponents up, he's a bit gobby etc… What's not to like?

That was a photoshopped photo. A really obvious one too!

It's clearly a deliberate strategy, I can't really see the point though (although I'm sure there is one).

Obviously they will probably pay more and Chelsea will be in Euro competitions too, but plenty players have spoiled their careers going to such clubs in the past.

Hopefully he will have seen the error of his ways and will now make the right choice this year and by that I mean, come to us, not go to a club where he will sit on the bench for most games.

Let's put bang-average players in the first-team squad, big them up in the press, and then flog them to some idiot club that thinks they are getting a Liverpool first team player.

I would rather keep Harrison than hand over that amount to that lot.

And Delap, if other Premier League teams are after him, we have no chance.

Surely a better option than Patterson and a replacement for Coleman and Young.

Old pineapple head rears his over-rated, over-paid, under-performing, useless body again.

I can't believe that people on here want him at Everton. It dosn't make sense. Moyes left him out of the first team squad at West Ham when his coaches told him about his shocking attitude in
training. That alone means that this is pure paper talk.

Why would Moyes want him? He must be the luckiest footballer in the last 20 years to have won by default his medals. If he comes to us, I hope he's sent off in his first game, that's how much I rate him.

I would rather have Tom Davies back, at least he's an Evertonian. People on here wanting him, give your heads a very big wobble. Pineapple Philips? You're 'avin' a larf, ain't ya?

Phillips didn't do much at Ipswich, I reckon he'll go back to Leeds.

I've always like him.

Quite a few other decent frees out there:

- Mitchell (LB) Palace
- Gomes (CM) Lille
- Tete (RB) Fulham
- Egan-Riley (CB) Burnley
- Pasalic (CM) Atalanta
- Brownhill (CM) Burnley
- Hughes (CM) Palace
- Wilson (CF) Newcastle
- Semedo (RB) Wolves
- Lamptey (RB) Brighton
- Bardghji (RW) Copenhagen
- Puado (LW) Espanyol
- Reguillon (LB) Spurs
- Davies (LB / CB) Spurs
- Dolan (RW) Blackburn

And a good handful of free GKs too.

I think we'll bring 2 or 3 frees in overall.

it's going to be a very new First XI on the first day of the season.

I am sure, given the right opportunity, he'd do okay. Whether that's with us is debateable..

Lindstrom. Alcaraz, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin, Doucoure, Keane, Young, Coleman, Virginia, and Begovic. Oh and Broja.😀

Philips never had a good game for England. His agent and someone who gets big back handers for putting bang average players in the England squads to increase the transfer fees put Philips in the England team. (Most agents get at least 10% of players wages.)

He's useless and, apart from bringing the side up to eleven, he offers zero.

And whatever you say, I still think he and Rice did complement each other. I can't be bothered to look at stats but am sure they'd show that England did well with them when they played together.

Re your...

'His agent and someone who gets big back handers for putting bang average players in the England squads to increase the transfer fees put Philips in the England team (Most agents get at least 10% of players wages.)'

Sorry, of course, that makes sense but perhaps only to you.
I'm going to practice head-wobbling

Just another 'what if'.

If he can pull off some surprises like Yobo, Cahill, Lescott and Arteta then next season could be exciting.

There's a lot of players outside the Premier League. A quick look online and there's decent value players like Ernest Nuamah and Antonio Nusa who could be very good players who are experienced, just not in the Premier League. Not sure if they will be Mohammed Kudos standard but there's are options out there. Admittedly I'm no expert as do my Football Manager thing and check out up-and-coming player stats and then go to YouTube.

Anyway, get Alcaraz signed up please!

That photo needs to be cropped at the waist, btw. 🤣

Our main competitor will be Chelsea. That said, I read that Delap wants to move back to the North-West.

As for Doak, you can expect the Dark Side to screw us for every penny. Fellows could be a better option and at half the price.

Football agents typically earn a commission of 5-10% of a player's gross salary. This percentage can be higher if the agent represents both the player and the buying club. Some agents may also charge a percentage of endorsements, bonuses, and transfer fees. That's official.

See! Oh you naive supporters of footballers, and you think they do it for loyalty and the club, that makes me laugh so much, lol.

I hope we sign him, so when he's failed, I can blame you!

I would also try and get Lindstrom on another loan deal. I do see a footballer in there somewhere.

I'm not at all sure of Kalvin Phillips… I see too many mistakes.
I think I also would prefer Ferguson than Delap but it's a close call.

I would love us to be more than a stepping stone, and you never know what progress we might make in two/three seasons, but if he gets to play 100 games for us, while becoming a regular at full international level, then it'll be a very similar rise to the one that Lukaku had.

If he'd banged in 20+ goals for Ipswich this season then he'd probably have convinced those “top” clubs into thinking he could be a starter for them next season.

As it is, the £30M release clause – and his potential – is what makes him an appealing prospect. If he wants to start 30+ Premier League games next season, then I really think he should be taking Everton more seriously than anyone else.

Let's sack Moyes — is this your song for the new stadium already?

Moyes doesn't control the money — he is a coach… Don't you get it?

Let's support the club while keeping an eye on the AS Roma owners and see what transpires.

Delap has much more of an all-round game, scores more goals, did not have a shite loan spell this season (8 games… zero goals).

Neither are particularly prolific. But Delap has scored at all six levels for England U16/U21 (Ferguson 6/30 for Ireland). Delap scored 20in 67 during seasons 2023-25; Ferguson 7 in 51 over the same time.

Delap please.

Having met Dave, he is probably just applying a bit of his dry Scouse wit relating to what many have said about Moyes's historical cautious approach in the transfer market.

Dave attends every home fixture and will do at the new stadium. I don't think you need to remind him to support the club. He's done that all his life and will continue to do so.

Dave A is an Everton supporter like many of us can only aspire to be.

When June wakes him up in the morning... you will suffer!

In all fairness to you ,Shane, I've read Dave's post (8) 44 times now to be sure. Your "allegation" is bizarre, crazy, cranky, and nuts. Can you show exactly where there is a call for the sack for Moyes?

Thanks for the lesson, Shane, but you might find in the end that Moyes has a bigger hand in wheeling and dealing than you suggest here.

What has Dave done to you lately?

It would do our players the world of good not to indulge in excessive physical pleasures while recognising that happiness and pleasure are the highest goods.

He has 2 full seasons in the Premier League and, as much as I would love to get Delap, Rasmus is the better player with a higher ceiling.

I second the Walker-Peters shouts

I'm assuming the Kalvin Phillips talk is a wind up. He is finished at the top level.

Thanks for the list of frees, Robert. I like the idea of Brownhill replacing Doucoure.

Mitchell would be an upgrade on Mykolenko. Though I doubt he would come to us. I can see Spurs chasing him.

Rick #54, I'd be very, very interested to know what you've seen in Højlund to indicate that he's a player we would want, let alone better than Delap.

I see a confused kid who runs aimlessly and looks like he has no clue what he's doing -- Alan Shearer calls him "damaged" -- and it's not like he's ever been productive.

However if Martin @13 is right that Doak is £12M then I'd trust your judgement and hope the lad's a Blue.

Not seen either of them play but a WBA mate tells me Fellows is their star player but they're resigned to him leaving, mainly cos they need the money. He's primarily a winger and blows hot and cold, he went off the boil when Albion started slipping down the play-off places but has scored again recently.

That Wilson in your list isn't the 33-year-old Callum Wilson is it???

Philogene the player - just what we need on the right flank.

This Doak character spent time at Celtic and has been on loan at Middlesborough.

He's 19 and a right midfielder, so fits the bill for what many think and know we need.

We once signed a Liverpool reserve winger / attacking midfielder, who became one of the greatest players in our history.

I would also have at look at Hutchinson and also Davis who was disappointing this season 2 assists, 21 last season in the Championship. Sorry about the philosopher shite.

Tyrese Campbell at Sheff Utd I also like if we are basement hunting. That Sunderland keeper aint bad either. We got good form there.

I have harped on about wanting Delap as a priority signing all season, he looks a fantastic player to me with a bit of everything. A bargain at £30M.

Doak looks very talented too but I would not sniff at Fellows as a cheaper alternative IF it means we get Delap over the line. Roony Bardghji on a free if not for right wing if we need to save to get Delap over the line.

I am also hoping the calls for Kalvin Phillips are tongue in cheek, he is utterly finished and was shite for Ipswich this year.

Good shout Paul Ferry on Leif Davis, i'd heard he was available on a free but that seems to be false information. I think therefore we will swerve, purely because he will cost a pretty penny. Instead the other Davies on a free or Mitchell as back up.

I like Walker-Peters too but would prefer greater quality in that position at right-back but if we could say get him, Gomes, Ruddy and Davies on frees that would be tremendous business. Its all unlikely of course as we have to join a large queue for all of them! Interesting times.

Luton have just been relegated to League One so he'll probably look to stay in the Championship or move to the Premier League. We need some competition for Mykolenko.

But I hope our scouts are casting their net wider.

A bit like Luton's kamikaze set up flattering Adebayo last season. Although he was regularly described on here as "clearly better than Calvert-Lewin", he managed 5 goals in 39 in the Championship this season.

Lief Davis signed a contract extension with Ipswich during the season. He would have been free otherwise. Probably now worth £20m (+) so out of the question. Doughty is a good player but very much a LWB and quite slow.

I think we'll be much more active in lower cost markets that ever before this summer - so maybe a few familiar names, but most recruitment coming from France, Netherlands, South America etc. Replicating the sort of recruitment Leeds did with Struijk, Meslier, Summerville, Gnonto etc (and also replicating how Bournemouth, Brentford etc have been going about their business).

We need a striker that is capable of playing every week, and scoring regularly.

Not many top teams play with a big lump upfront. I wonder if that's because they don't stay fit? Or they want another technical player? We lack technical players, so having one up front would be a starter.

Sad fact is, it's very few players. Not many if any of quality and out of those we always seem to pick the crapest.

Hardly going out on a bold brave limb there Robert! Delap is a much better option; it was sad to watch Ferguson this season. I trust you Robert but your 'Ferguson is a better all-round footballer' makes me worried. I also disagree that Davis 20M is out of our reach as you and I do not know what our reach is - we did quite well on PL money - and we desperately need that position.

Everton very rarely if ever buy anyone that you and Sam suggest Robert and 'lower cost markets' is hardly left field. I suspect that we might spend more money than you think and if we do not - after the PL 13th increase that might well go into TFG coffers - the Yanks have a lot of explaining to do but they won't.

You're talking about - 'maybe a few familiar names, but most recruitment coming from France, Netherlands, South America etc. ' - 'few' and 'most' 7-10 players Robert and that likely means (1) we have a discombobulated squad who need to get to know each other and (2) it might have been better to buy 4-5 more pricey players, keep 2 loanees and 2 out of contract lads, gamble with a thinner squad, and hope that at least one lad and at a stretch two breaks through from the U21s.

I was replying to Colin (2) who was talking about Moyes being a good poker player, so my reply was in relation to playing cards.

Moyes was brought in to steady the ship and I think he has next season to keep us making progress in that direction.

I can't tell whether you agree or disagree about how Ferguson might have fared at Ipswich. Maybe another way to look at it is how Delap might have fared at Potter's awful West Ham.

On Davis, I think £20M+ is out of the question because we already have Mykolenko at left-back. I think he'll be first choice again this coming season because we can't upgrade every position. Whatever our budget, we almost certainly won't be spending £20M+ on another left-back. And in the unlikely scenario that we do have this sort of money for a left-back, we'll be looking for much better players than Davis.

In terms of the low-cost markets thing – I'm just saying what I think will happen because of the new recruitment team / ownership model. I'm not trying to position it as left field. It's only remotely novel for us because we've been slow to join the party.

In terms of budget, I think we might now get to a net spend of about £75M this summer. Is that more or less than you were thinking?

Ferguson would have been a flop at Portman Road, never mind that Ipswich would never have gone in for him because they had Delap already who is much better. Ferguson was the news 2 years ago. No more, I think. Brighton have more faith in a 34-year-old.

Delap or Ferguson? You're profoundly wrong, Robert.

Enjoy the match later.

What sort of player might he grow into? A Haaland? I’m not sure he has the athleticism? A Harry Kane? I’m not sure his finishing is precise or varied enough.

He’s had a good season but maybe not a great one, with a goal in the PL once every 217 minutes compared to Beto who’s got one once every 191 minutes.

He certainly seems like a traditional Everton forward and has time and room to grow better. £30m is a decent price for an English CF with goals to his name. In many ways we’d be lucky to get him with Chelsea and United in the frame and yet there’s something that says it wouldn’t be a terrible loss. He has the potential to go far but there’s some technical issues in his game, and I’d worry about spending a 1/3 of our budget on someone who could turn out to be only a marginal improvement on Beto. Hard to call!