Everton target Tyler Dibling after hitting stumbling block over Takefusa Kubo price

However, with spending the way it has gone, I think Dibling is now genuine option.

From what I have seen (which isn't masses admittedly) he looks a really big talent - a proper dribbler and playmaker of very high technical standard from the RW / forward position.

I would be really impressed if we were to get him.

I agree Dibling is a really good young talent, but the money Southampton are quoting is excessive for a 19-year-old who was in and out of the team.

Not against it; I just think we need a player capable of 15 to 20 goals and assists in the now.

In the same position, there have been a few Premier League moves already:

Mbuemo (25) has just gone to Man Utd for €75M after hitting 20 goals and 8 assists in 38 games.

Kudus (24) has just gone to Spurs for €63M after hitting 5 goals and 3 assists in 32 games.

Elanga (23) has gone to Newcastle for €61.4M after hitting 6 goals and 11 assists in 38 games.

I don't know what Saints want or expect for him for Dibling after hitting 2 goals and 1 assist in 33 games. But given the level of performance at only 19, I would expect about £45M.

I guess Ipswich are hoping for a fee along those lines for Hutchinson (21) after he hit 3 goals and 2 assists for Ipswich.

The truth is that players are really expensive these days if you want them for the first team straightaway.

Whilst we would probably get more like 5 goals and 5 assists out of this player to start off with, there could well be much more to come. And those extra 10 goals and the additional quality would make a big difference.

I would be absolutely buzzing if this story is true. This lad is like a cross between Bale and Grealish. He is exactly the type of player we should be signing.

We couldn't afford anyone with 20 goal contributions already in the Premier League and, if we're to sign someone like Kubo, who has close to those returns in the Spanish League, they most probably will need at least half a season to adapt.

I think this lad will improve hand over fist and would be the most exciting winger we will have signed since Kanchelskis.

One step at a time.

Elanga 17 goal contributions for what £15m? Not exactly Andrei when he signed, and somebody a number of fans did want like McTominay. How wrong they were.

Sarr 18+ goal contributions for £14m including cup.

Minteh will be in that bracket.

Thats 3 players we could of signed last season for £15-30m, and now we are saying its not possible?

Gareth bale Mbeumo 28 goal contributions.

Semenyo 16 goal contributions.

Other teams seem to sign players that can get 15-20 goal involvements without the need to sign from a Premier league rival for £50m. The players you quote Robert prove the rule.

There are players out there for £25-35m that you can get that if you play attacking football. Sure they won't do that if they don't get over the halfway line under Dyche. But I think we can play a bit more football with Barry, Alcaraz, Ndiaye and Beto to go with a right winger or two.

Ndiaye should be targeting 15-20 goal involvements, and he cost what £20m?

My guess is he would have been happy to stay given the job he did for the 3 years previously.

Moyes could've fought for him but didn't… What a waste of knowledge. All on you, Davey,

Sort it out yourself, cos you let a decent DOF go, cos you don't like the model!

How's the current model doing?

How's it all on Davey?

Moyes was in a massively strong position in May, he could have what he wanted, especially people who were already positioned.

The 30-year-old Italy left-back made 31 Premier League appearances for the Hammers last season and has been a regular since his arrival from Chelsea in 2022.

Palmieri played 113 times for the Hammers and was a key figure in their historic Europa Conference League victory in 2023.

We have no cover at left-back, so a no-brainer. But I've no idea what the fee is West Ham are asking for.

Balikwisha at Antwerp a much lower cost option but with injury history.

Jacob Breum another cheap option but more of a gamble

We need ready-to-go signings. As the squad is now, we will struggle to stay away from the relegation zone. This saving money on cheap signings, and trying to lower fees will get us in a whole load of trouble.

All the clubs in the Premier League are strengthening their squads; we have to spend and spend quickly. A brand new stadium won't keep us up. Pull your finger out, Moyes, it's you who will take the bullet if things go wrong.

Boring!

If we're looking at a difference of £5M or more, that's one thing… but if we're missing out for just a couple of million, perhaps we should just "shorter pockets".

Or maybe we're not truly interested?? Or their clubs just don't want to lose them???

Might as well get Calvert-Lewin on loan from Sheffield Utd… and there's a lad at Wigan called Layton Baines…

However, I'm not sure who their equivalents are this summer. Certainly there aren't many Premier League cast-offs in that league who play right-wing. Possibly Ben Doak (Liverpool) and Amad Diallo (Man Utd), Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) and Oscar Bobb (Man City).

I'd be happy with all of those except Nelson who seems now completely off the boil. But Diallo could easily cost £45M (if he's available at all), Doak £25M and Bobb probably is only available as a loan.

Overseas, there aren't bags of options of the quality of Hutchinson and Dibling. Burnley have bought Tchaouna (£13M) who looks promising, and Sunderland have bought Talbi (£17M). I'd have been pleased with both of those, but probably more as quality cover or development players rather than straight into the first team.

And that is our key issue this summer. We are desperate for first-team quality players on our atrocious right flank. But happily we also have the money to match – and £40M is really not a big fee at all these days. It's no more than the equivalent of Moyes paying €10M for Bilyaletdinov in 2009.

Mbeumo and lots of others prove that, if you buy young talent at relatively low cost and take years to develop it, you can get a really good player.

But if you want someone who can play 38 Premier League games straight away, has real talent, and can be our right-winger for the next 5 to 10 years, then Hutchinson and Dibling start to look good value.

Having done that, we can then start to pick up cheaper players to develop from there — the next Olise, the next Mbuemo, etc.

I agree, Thewell is a real loss, but he had been allowed to build a structure around him which had to be dismantled after the TFG 100-day review, so that a new structure was put in place. He had to go, and I think that it was outside Moyes's remit to do anything about it.

It looks like TFG and the new transfer team are concentrating on buying youth. More experienced players will be brought in on free short-term contracts and loans.

But, with Barry coming in and Branthwaite signed up on a long-term contract, I'm optimistic... I think Patterson played down the right in that game, replaced by Young?

We do need a real new right-back. Am I mistaken in thinking Ndiaye can play right wing? I think he did v England for Senegal...

McNeil on the left, Alcaraz at No 10 I guess… he's very talented but lacks physical presence. Very little cover for any of those forward players.

Will Armstrong be used? Exciting times!

On the positive.

As I have said elsewhere, I have insane optimism every year. 64 now and nothing changes. For most of those years the optimism is based on my grandfather's influence. The Upper Bullens season ticket holder who instilled in me the sense that being a Blue is a privilege, especially if you are from birth. Still there in my ageing head!

The flashes of great moments from previous season, our history and our "specialness" get me through the period of cricket, athletics and repeated junk TV.

This year, I tell my Kopite partner, you will see.."insert here"

New stadium is great but I support a team not an architect.

Negative?

Well all goes down to 5 year old, barely qualified Gen Z "journalists" ( I am NCTJ qualified) who peddle insane stories about transfers that will never happen to keep us interested.

There is a league of expenditure that truly reflects the modern game. Stadium? Transfer? Money rules and spending. Agent quotes?

Very rare to see anything about playing of the game or tactics

"Blues Linked to signing God says agent. Wife may put block in."

With a feeling of pride, young Ashley turn off his laptop coz Mummy shouts up that tea is ready.

Meanwhile we debate ad nauseum about God's pros and cons and ask how the RS managed to sign Satan.

We've already got the best young centre half in the country wrapped up, can we add another 1 or 2 as regular starters next year?

I wonder whether Dibling will be over priced? Liverpool and United must need to shed players, would that be reflected in the asking price for the likes of Diallo or Doak?

Interesting that Adam Aznou has handed in a transfer request.

Aside from the more familiar names who have just been relegated, the up and coming players include:

Peck (M) - Sheff Utd
Ivanovic (Str) - Millwall
Bae (W) - Stoke
Sidibe (M) - Stoke
Kolli (W / F) - QPR

Some of these may fade but a few more will emerge over the course of the season - and there will be (as usual) about 5 to 10 Premier League loanees who look like they could kick on and be really good Premier League players too.

Sarr was one I wanted us to sign before Marseille as he had looked a standout at Watford and it was no surprise that he hit 15 in his first season to me.

Minteh cost 40 odd million and got 10 in his first season. Personally I believe Dibling would surpass that yet he would bring so much more to the team than Minteh.

The problem with assessing players just on stats is that they don't always tell the full picture. Dibling played in one of the worst teams in PL history. Under Martin he excelled. When Juric came in he played negative defensive football akin to Dyche and so Dibling suffered as he hasn't the pace of a Minteh or Elanga and was dropped in favour of more disciplined experienced players. If we had Elanga or Minteh under Dyche I would imagine their output would have dropped dramatically like the rest of our attacking players did.

Dibling's record of goal contributions in every other competition he has played in are superb, U18PL, reserve PL, Fa Cup, etc. He is not just a brilliant footballer but has end product as well. Because of his second half of the season he will probably go for around the same as Minteh did.

You have cherry picked players none of whom met your target even with hindsight. Elanga went 2 seasons ago, Minteh wasn't in the range bracket you said and only had decent output while Sarr only met the bottom end of your requested output.

You have deliberately avoided the question- who are the players you would suggest for the coming season that we should sign for the right side that we could get for under 30 million and get the output you want of at least 15 goal contributions? McAtee would be a certainty to achieve that output to my mind but City are again looking close to the 40 million mark.

They ain't going anywhere, let alone to us. The young boy at Chelsea Tyrique George looks a real player to me and although they rate him highly they are in the market for a more established player in that position as well as signing Gittens.They probably will only loan him but he is someone that may be available. I have only ever seen him play on the left so not sure he would be a fit for us but he is quality.

We can sign Dibling of course, blood him in, and then accept him moving on somewhere else when he starts to deliver. Sign him for £40M and sell for £60M, perhaps more. There's a risk he's a duffer, and the £40mM doesn't grow at all.

The smarter money is picking up a slightly older player from a big club, that has the pedigree and the characteristics we are looking for. Kulushevski, Lukaku, De Bruyne, Elanga, were all young players at big clubs that didn't quite make it.

Kubu falls into that category, and why I thought he was interesting player. There must be others on loan from big clubs. I suspect there's loads on the fringes of barca, real, psg, etc. Not household names, but lads who have perhaps had a loan last season ready to step up.

This could be the season where they don't exist. I very much doubt it, but it might have happened.

If that's the case Estevao on loan from Chelsea, Maghnes Akliouche for big money from Monaco. There are always players out there. There are two or three across the park that I can think of who would up grade us - Elliot, Soak and Chiesa.

Chiesa has had his injury problems. But in terms of class, he's a step up on Fellows and Harrison for sure.

If the going rate is £40M+, then that's what we will need to pay. Dibling would prove that point, as you are not getting him for £30M.

A £40M player from another league, is probably on the par with paying £55M from West Ham for Kudus.

You skirted very quickly over the fact Elanga got 14 goals in his first season in a side that skirted relegation.

We don't know how he would adapt as we seen last season with Lindsrom.

Dibling you must not have watched that closely. He won 2 penalties last season which aren't reflected in his stats with only 2 players in the league winning more despite his limited game time since Martin left. Southampton scored a tap in from when he hit the post which once again seems not being considered as an assist.

He created so many chances for his team mates that had the likes of Barry or Wood been on the end of would have resulted in an assist. The boy has already terrorised the likes of United, Liverpool and us when only 18 years of age.

You mention Lukaku, this kid I feel for us would be a similar signing. Relatively expensive for a player of his age but transformational, unbelievable value and with an enormous sell on.

You say not many 19 year olds produce the output we need. I say there aren't many 19 year olds like him.Like McAtee he ain't really a winger and will probably be a number ten in time. If we signed him I'd be staggered if he didn't get above ten goal contributions next season. But unlike the likes of Elanga and Minteh he has so much more to his game and even at Southampton managers were attempting to double and treble up on him to prevent him running the game.

On the pitch for 20 games equivalent, 6 yellows and just 2 goals. It would be big money for potential. A lot of patience would be needed from the fan base.

The old SofaScore had him a mixed bag in the last 12 games. Probably why we are linked with him, rather than a big 6.

Good news.

Let's hope that he's the first of many.

Otherwise its just listening to the usual Fabrizio Romana bolloxs

Borja Sainz went to Porto for £11.5M (might not have come with European football on offer?) He went to Norwich on a free 2 years ago. Tom Fellows valued at less than £10M
Josh Brownhill is a free agent

For less than £20M, they had a total of 60 goal involvements between them last year. Even if they achieved a third of that between them it would be healthy.

We always seem to be looking for one marquee signing rather than building a squad with options?

Seems a big fee for someone who was a bit hit-and-miss in the Premier League last season, but no doubt he has potential and crucially he is actually a right winger. So I say go get him!!

An excellent young player.

Probably the lowest thing you can do on a football field.

Keep them coming...

Decent height and body strength to hold off challenges or win free kicks. And crucially he has good vision and a pretty sweet left foot. Lots to his game for only 19.

I can see other teams coming in for him but if we could get him for £35M, some will say it's overpriced but I reckon, in 4 years time, it would prove a bargain.

We may have a shiny new stadium but we're still not the most exciting proposition for many players, clearly.

It may also be that we simply don't have as much money to spend as people like to think.

Not being one to fret over money, that's the club and owners shout, but it seems a bit steep if they're asking £40M. To Robert's often made point, try to steer clear from English clubs if possible. The price tag goes up.

Jake @52. Selling Toyotas to the Saudis? Where do you get that from?

Based on those performances, £35M for a 19-year-old is a bargain.

You can't blame Southampton for playing the game. Our budget isn't going to go far.

Although on closer examination, he sells mainly to the redneck states and not the Gulf States.

I get your point about cost of players but, used wisely, £100M can get us more than 2 players. We got O'Brien and Ndiaye for combined £35M last season and both improved our first 11.

For me, the biggest kicker is, most £50M players won't want to come to Everton. So when people say ‘just pay it….' (which in itself is a bit of a nonsense..) it's just not that simple. Paying it is one thing, getting great players to sign for average teams is another.

Gulf States Toyota is headquartered in Houston, Texas, same as TFG. They distribute Toyotas to car dealers in the US states surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. A subsidiary to Toyota Motor Sales USA based in Los Angeles, which also holds Lexus, which TFG has an investment in.

That's the only reason I asked about your reference to the Saudis.

Anyway, this player. My instinct is mark and avoid. We can get better value elsewhere, but I suppose it depends on what Moyes and the recruitment team agree on.

Unless they need to sell themselves, selling clubs will hold out for the best price, while the player/s and agents will hold out for the club/offer that appeals most.

I expect most of our business will be loans conducted in the last few days of the window – possibly supplemented by a couple of out-of-contract players.

True, except Dibling has signalled a willingness to join Everton.

I don't think they should pay more than £35M for him, though.

That didn't work out well previously for us.

I'm extremely worried about the new season, but not sure over overpaying for players is the answer. But, tbf, I don't exactly know what the answer is.

Big Brother might be watching.

We all knew that things were likely to be tough while TFG got to grips with the finances and management of the club. They are businessmen who will, hopefully, run a tight ship which in turn will help us build a much stronger base and successful future.

The squad as it stands is worryingly thin but we need to hold our nerve. Starting with a win on Saturday would be particularly nice as I am sitting in Manchester airport waiting to fly to Atlanta via Orlando.

Someone who Champions League clubs definitely want – but they have prioritised other signings this summer.

We would still need depth but would at long last have a right-winger.

It seems, however, that the player will seek some guarantees about regular appearances and would obviously much prefer to develop in the Premier League. Given our need for additions in wide areas, he would suit us. We might well suit him.

The obvious risk concerns his youth, especially given our lack of experience in attacking areas. In this instance, I think it is a risk worth taking, providing the financial calculations make sense. An outlay of £35M in the current market seems reasonable.

Gordon had played 42 games and scored 7.

Bit worried we are about to go full circle and implement a new Moshiri purchasing policy.

I wouldn't go paying the asking price. That isn't negotiation.

The selling club will demand high. That's their right.

The buying club will come in low initially. Sometimes they will meet in the middle. If not, they walk away, which doesn't always mean the deal is off the table.

I think TFG might be good at that seeing how the scenario of them taking over Everton unfolded. I am presuming that playing hardball and walking away worked in their favour.

Dibling has the potential to be as good as any of them, I reckon, so £35M would be an okay price. More than that and I think we're overpaying.

Dibling is a much better technical footballer with the potential to far surpass Ndoye. £35M or so just doesn't buy a lot these days. Thelwell played a blinder with Ndiaye but there aren't many like that around.

Kinell — that didn't take long! He only signed like yesterday!

From limited information and video evidence, I like the look of all 3. Any of them would be welcomed.

Fofana possibly has the highest ceiling of potential, Kubo seems to be more ready to have an impact on the right (minus the acclimation to a new league) and Dibling seems to be a mix. Lots of possible potential, favours the right side but is behind in development.

I'll wager we go back around £35M plus some add-ons to reach their £40M valuation to get it done.

If the player wants to join us, that is.

Fofana is probably the one who excites me the most but is least likely to want the move. T'was ever thus!

Dibling has a good balance of future potential plus current impact and crucially is likely the keenest to join.

If we sign Dibling, we definitely need another right-sided player who goes on the outside with real pace. £35-40M will be a fair burden for the lad to carry, and he will have a mixture of good and bad games at 19.

Fans are going to need to be very patient with Dibling. He doesn't change the team that much for me in terms of attacking output next season in my view – particularly if we still have a centre-back at right-back.

Fofana I think would double his goal and assist output, and with more pace, would be demanded by bigger European sides. That is the biggest bang for your buck, although is more of a left-winger.

The view that the transfer is low risk, and we might sell Dibling for double the money to another English side, is potentially outdated. Most of the Big 6 buy express talent that plunder goals and assists at a high rate with little interest in nationality for that position.

It's as likely to be a 'problem' as a solution next season, and it could be season 3 or 4 before he justifies his fee, like Fellaini.

I think you're confusing him with all the dribbling he does.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ACxalpBAsBs&pp=ygUNdHlsZXIgZGlibGluZw%3D%3D

We could probably just about hold off on a midfielder (and 3-4 loans) until the end of the month but a speedy skilful right-winger starting against Leeds is an absolute must.

McAtee's salary is £15,000 a week?

Surely, in the world of football, a right winger, who can actually beat a man and cross the ball must exist. And when you have supposedly highly paid experts at Everton who are paid to find the players, then what's the problem in recruiting them?

Maybe the real problems lie in just that, the highly paid recruitment team is not good enough to do that job.

Even if Dibling didn't increase his production significantly, his presence would benefit the team significantly because he is very strong 1-vs-1 and that would create a lot more space for the likes of Ndiaye and Alcaraz.

I think it's unlikely we'd spend that money unless Moyes saw him being first choice or very close. A bit like Barry. I'd prefer Fofana but I reckon Dibling would need less time than you predict to make an impact.

I also don't think we'd spend that amount if there was another right-winger we were planning to bring in to start ahead of him.

The Toffees retain an interest in the England Under-21 international and are expected to make an improved offer to land the highly-rated attacker.

Dibling has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs after scoring twice in 33 Premier League appearances for the relegated Saints last season.

He also scored a double against Swansea City in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup in January.

Everton have struggled to strengthen their squad this summer, with manager David Moyes saying the club are "running out" of time to sign players despite having money to spend.

According to journalist Diego Otero, Southampton have now made an offer to sign winger Carlos Vicente from Alaves.

Hopefully that means we can put in a deal that's nearer Southampton's £40M valuation of Dibling, as other Premier League teams are looking at him.

You're probably looking at 6 or 7 being a very, very good season for a 19-year-old in the Premier League. That doesn't move the dial a lot for a £40M outlay in my opinion. It broadly just replaces Doucoure's output.

This would probably explain why it's quiet on Premier League or top European clubs coming in for him. They're probably struggling to see the immediate output.

Most top sides would probably buy him and loan him out for his development. Spurs could easily buy and loan back to Saints. Whereas, for us, he would be put into the side, sink or swim.

"The core idea isn't just about buying players, but about buying wins, and to do that, you need to buy runs goals". I know it's just a film, but others do seem to follow it pretty well.

His stats aren't great but my gut says Evertonians might love him and at 19 he's got loads of room to improve. £40M would be a touch dear but £30M plus addons looks a decent deal to me. But maybe I'm just desperate for someone who can actually play right-wing!!

I am assuming Fofana was what Moyes was alluding to when he said "We need to move on" if deals aren't happening as that has been floating around for weeks.

Supposedly he is hoping for a better option, while Textor, who we snubbed as owner, is desperate for cash because of Lyon's issues.

Seems like we probably should have moved on from that one a while ago. I am assuming Dibling is what we have now finally moved onto.

“He's the most talented player I've ever seen – ever worked with,” Martin said back in April. “I worked with James Maddison at that age at Norwich, he was outstanding.

“Tyler has every capability to go and play for England and at a top level for a very long time.

“He's powerful, he's really quick, both feet, can shoot. I worked with Harry Kane and physically the stuff I've seen him do at 18 in the Premier League with people just bouncing off him – he has something I've not seen in a British player in a long time.

“He'll play as a No 8 or a No 10 eventually, but he's 18 so we played him out wide and he was incredible.

“He can play wide, we played him as a false 9 in pre-season and he was our best player.”

Quite clearly, if Martin's prediction comes true and he does play for England, Everton certainly won't regret stumping up £40M for his signature.

If he's that rated, then we have to push the boat out and get him in, before one of the Big 6 sign him, only to put him out on loan and not give him a chance. Anyone who is also likened to Gasgoine has to have something special.

Seems odd that the deal couldn't be done with that gap to solve, assuming the player would come.

What a completely insane world we live in. I don't know about you, but it actually really puts me off football. And this isn't a dig at the RS, more one at the game in general. Horrible.

Ex Red Shite, Danny Murphy on Talk Sport is putting the knife in on Everton getting him by advising the player to stay at Southampton for another season, saying a move now would not be benefit him. Southampton want round £40M for him.

Obscene business rather than a game we loved very often.

I've seen plenty of negatives on here about his goal and assists stats. As anyone exactly watched this lad play? It's the way he gets the ball forward and drives with it, the way he beats defenders for fun and creates space for others.

This lad is going to be something else in a couple of years, and that £40M is going to look like a bargain. And if we don't get him now, he will be fetching a fee of at least double that in a few years…

Just pay the money, you Yank profiteers!

I've watched Dibbling a good few times last season; playing in an underperforming Saints team, he has shown that he can be a game-changer.

When coaching both juniors and seniors, I have gone with my gut ---- successfully always. My gut tells me we should buy him. A mil each way would soon be recovered if I am right.

I reckon that's why I watch Rugby League and appreciate how tough and honest those players are, they get less in a year than most Premier League players get paid a week.

The transfer fees that clubs are demanding and the wages being paid are mind-blowing. I preferred it when it was jumpers for goalposts.

I'm afraid your comment represents everything that really winds me up about the way fans talk about stats. You talk as if what a player did last season means that he'll do the same this season. Surely there is no part of your brain that actually believes this!!!

There are so many reasons not to believe this but frankly, if it isn't completely obvious that the future can be different from the past, then I don't know what would be a good way to persuade someone.

I've posted before about this and looked up a load of stats at the time, but let's just take Alan Shearer:

His first three seasons: 7 goals in 62 games,

Then 16 in 21, then 31 in 40 then 34 in 42.

People seem to think they're being clever and knowledgeable by judging a player purely on their output, without taking any other variables into consideration. This isn't how stats work at all, especially for a player that young.

If we'd tried to sign Shearer in 1992, someone would have told us not to bother because his stats weren't good enough. “7 goals in 62 games? Swerve.”

Please ToffeeWebbers, please, please, please: stop posting a player's statistics as if they tell us what will happen in the future.

What we as supporters would like to see is decisions being made quickly followed up by positive action.

Whoever we get in this right-wing position, it still leaves us needing a right-back and creative midfielder as a matter of urgency.

I hope our recruitment team can multi-task because time is running out fast and we should be going for players who can fill planned positions not scrabbling for stocking filler loans on the last day as usual.

There are still plenty of candidates out there and we do seem to have a bigger budget than usual so my message would be get on and spend it.

We won't get everyone we want in terms of marquee players, and we won't be top 6 candidates next season, but we could get a more balanced team which we have been lacking for the last few years, giving us a solid platform to build on

But we must start getting deals over the line quickly or risk being left struggling in the bottom half of the table yet again.
Evertonians don't deserve that!

It does appear we are trying and failing to land a number of targets, not prepared to meet the asking price.

I don't mind some commercial bargaining, but if the price is too far away, why are we hanging on for deals that won't happen?

If there is a mid-point negotiation, then get it done. If not, then move on. I guess that's why Dibling's name has now come up.

This is Moyes's frustration, I think: we can't land main targets, either wrong targets or can't negotiate a compromise.
If Dibling comes, then, at the price required, he'll need to play.

I don't think he's a first choice target; we just can't conclude the other deals. We will also need to add some experience, we are signing a lot of youngsters at the moment. Come on down, Harrison, as back-up.

Whatever the plan is, if there is one, just get on with it. We're haggling round the £30M mark, Liverpool are buying players at £120M. This gap is going to take many many years to close.

Did we waste time on players who had no interest in joining us? I get it, you need ambition! Sometimes time is tight and can't be wasted…

Seems we've wasted a lot of precious time.

Look at Newcastle, they have endless wealth and a willingness to spend, but have to adhere to these rules. Hence they ended up selling young players on last season when they didn't want to.

I think it's hard if players have their mind set on other clubs. Everton is not an attractive proposition right now with relegation battles more prevalent than European journeys.

I'm glad that we're aiming high but we'll need to do a bit better on the pitch before we can have a stronger pull to players. And even that is no guarantee; despite qualifying for the Champions League, Newcastle have still lost out on a few of their top targets.

It's a tough market that maybe requires a touch more imagination and speculation.

I would have bid for Oscar Gloukh who's just moved to Ajax for the bargain fee of £13M. Reminds me of Wirtz and might be worth double or triple that in 2-3 years.

Southampton scored 4 more goals thanks to the key role Dibling played.

2 were because defenders couldn't handle him and were forced to give away penalties.

1 was given as an assist on TransferMarkt when he flicked on a corner, changing the trajectory and forcing an own goal. Because it wasn't the Southampton player who diverted it in, then the Premier League don't classify that as an assist.

The other goal was where he beat his man, dropped a shoulder, and hit a sweet left-footer which hit the post and was bundled in from 2 yards.

Some players get an assist for passing it 2 yards to Salah and he beats 2 and curls it in. Southampton can't score for toffee yet I saw Dibling put balls on to their strikers' heads who hit the keeper from 2 yards out when having the whole goal to aim at. He also played lovely one-touch through-balls the like of which Beto benefitted from last season.

In around 20 full Premier League games (in terms of minutes) 6 goals were easily attributable to Dibling as an 18-year-old playing with goal-shy strikers in his first Premier League campaign.

He is not just a Fancy Dan with no end product, as his record in cups and at youth level will tell you. He has everything and would be a real coup.

The money in football is ugly, but pay up or miss out… who wants another drab season?

Yes, players will need convincing to come to us, we are not really in a position to go head-to-head with teams like Juventus or Leipzig right now.

£25M or £30M isn't the top tier, and we are struggling at that level to attract players, so, as you say, the time would be better spent being a bit more creative, casting the net further.

We know who the Premier League teams are chasing, don't we know who the European teams are chasing? Trying to nab their targets at the £10M to £20M level before they reach the £25M to £40M level after one season, which seems to happen… Look at Barry!

I get the Premier League teams can watch these transfers, see players with potential, but say we will just pay the extra once they have that breakthrough season. We need to be the club where they have that breakthrough season.

Obviously, we need to add experienced players as the squad is so thin, but 5-6 players around the Aznou level could pay off big time, for every Mac Allister or Cucurella, Brighton have had lots who don't exceed expectations.

Throw enough mud, some will stick !!!

It's like saying we shouldn't have bought Ndiaye because he only scored 3 goals for Marseille.

The way PSR works, if we spend it now, then we can't spend it later. Our new recruitment team will be fully in place in September, so long term planning and building will only begin properly then. If we've blown the budget because we were desperate, it could be costing us for 2 or 3 seasons.

I've been extremely critical of the club for not having staff in place and not using the free agent market well but, from the position we're in right now, we need the right deals done, not the quickest. 2-3 good signings and 2 late loans will be a good overall window.

There's talk of running out of time, but it's 30 days until the window shuts and some of the better players (Douglas Luiz, Fofana, McAtee, even Grealish) have all kinds of options and aren't in a rush to commit to Everton.

I agree, judging Dibling on his output for a relegated side last season doesn't make sense. It's about what he will become.

From what I've seen, he will improve us immediately and he will get better and better.

It is a good observation, and in other seasons where we had enough players to put out a decent squad, then I'd be relaxed.

It's the sheer numbers needed that's causing concern for me.
We don't really have the option to wait for September, with this squad we could be cut loose at the foot of the Premier League.

I like Dibling, he's exactly the type of player we should be looking at.

If players are keeping their options open and are not committed to coming here, like Fofana or Luiz, then we'll move on, will these types of players even be motivated to play here, after hoping to play for Champions League teams?

Different level!!

Branthwaite has been playing first team football since he was 17 with Carlisle, then with Everton and a season in the Dutch league where he won a cup final medal.

Everton might want £80M for Jarrad but I doubt they will get it, as good as he is. Dibling has only played one season of first team football in a very poor team — it's possible that's why he stood out.

I was wrong about Gueye (Villa) and Ndiaye (Sheffield Utd) when we bought them, thinking they were average in piss poor teams. Both have been a revelation, in my eyes, so we need to look at the whole picture.

Stop the messing around and pay for what you're getting. I don't know anything about Fofana or Kubo to make a judgement but this kid is class.

Agree Colin @125. And I would add Alcaraz to that list. Still a lot to prove on a more consistent basis, but early signs are promising.

I'm still going to have to take others' word for this player. I'm told I did see him play last season, but I didn't take much notice.

It isn't 30 days until the season kicks off again though. If we have to start with the squad we currently have, I wouldn't fancy our chances in the early games.

Leeds away, first game after promotion and with a manic crowd behind them. We need quality numbers now, not at the last minute.

If you've never seen him play, then how can you judge that paying £40M is too much? That makes absolutely no sense at all.

This lad at £40M is a bargain, and if that's what we have to pay, then bloody pay it. We are not in the 1990s, the price of players is what it is, simple as that.

And whatever happens, I can guarantee you that we will not lose a penny on this lad. £40M buys you a full-back nowadays.

Joking apart, I am a bit suspicious when linked with a player, whose Club has bought someone else in his position, ie, upgrade or replacement ?

Maybe, a deal is further advanced than we are led to believe !

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts !

The World is just one big Vagiannidis !

I think I can see a pattern here (hopefully) building a team of young experienced players, who may not immediately yield dividends - But ?

You can never win anything with kids ? Where have I heard that before ? :-)

Our squad lacks depth for a full season, but we’re not much different from the team that won 3 games to finish last season.

Assuming they’re fit, we can field:

Pickford; Patterson/O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gana, Garner; McNeil, Alcaraz, N’Diaye; Beto

There’s one league game a week (not sure when the first League Cup game is) so no real need to rotate starting players yet. The one thing we’re missing is the ability to bring wingers and attacking midfielders off the bench to change the game.

I’d hate to think anyone would think we have an excuse for not being competitive in the first three weeks if we were playing ‘the long game’ in the transfer market.

If the market is really that difficult, we can still win the first three with what we’ve got, then get better when the right reinforcements arrive.

Neil I hope you are right and Dibling will be well worth the money it doesn’t stop me from thinking he will a big risk at that price, if we do sign him, and we’ve all seen one season wonders!

Starting team barely changed from the one ending the season successfully and we must avoid repeating past mistakes of panic buying the wrong players at inflated costs.

Our manager needs to be singing from this hymn sheet as well though. If there is a strategy to delay until the value in the market improves then Moyes has either missed that memo, or he appears not to be on board with the plan.

Our negotiating position with clubs over players is weakened by appearing desperate, and I'm afraid that is the language that he has been speaking recently.

We scored 42 goals last season, only the bottom 3 scored less and if not for & implosion by Man Utd & Spurs we'd have been 15th.

We averaged less than 4 shots on target per game last season, currently how does '25/'26 look any different? We managed a grand total of 2 shots on target in our last two pre season games.

We're worse not better, we're not even close to last season.

Ndaiye who some describe almost with as much reverance as the 2nd coming and who has created the sqaure root of zero so far in pre-season was our top scorer with six... SIX!

We create nothing. Our defenders don't score, our midfielders don't score and our forwards don't score anywhere near enough.

... but hey, we have a team barely changed from last season so what's with all the noise about transfers?

As for £40m for Dibling and or McAtee? I'm sure we sold Gordon for more than that simply because he could run fast, fall over & win free kicks.

As for the comments of I'd rather we wait? My answer is wait for what... wait to mop up what's left in a months time? Wait to take our pick from a list of players no one want's? Club cast off's & bottom feeding free transfers.

Or maybe we should over pay for players and then be back in the same position we have been.

What’s your suggestion? Come up with solutions

I'm not saying £40m for Dibling is fair value or as a fan I'm hoping they spend that on him, Omari Harrison or even MacAtee but those who suggest that as we have the majority of the first 11 from last season there's no need to rush are, for me, being just as daft as those wanting the club to play FIFA26.

Why not Fellows for £20m who can play in all Right sided positions, we agreed personal terms with him back in January and 14 assists in a team which finished 9th in the Championship is bloody decent.

Haydon Hackney of Boro. They agreed a fee of £15m + add ons for him from Ipswich earlier in the week but the player turned them down.

I'd rather see £40m being spent on these two and maybe Josh Brownhill on a free. I'd then prefer that we bought another central defender & move Jake to Rightback permanently.

Harwood-Bellis perhaps?

Personally, I don't want Grealish, Luiz or Fofana. One can't stay out of the nightclubs, another has gone on strike at the club he plays for and we don't need another rightfooted inverted left winger.

Negotiations take time and, in some cases, it's not possible to approach a player without permission before a certain date or risk charges.

Then there's probably the case that most players, through their agents, will have other options.

Like other clubs, Everton will have their valuation. We may come back with an improved offer, which the agent will no doubt let other interested parties know about. And then begins the bidding war.

In terms of Fellows, his name has been mentioned a lot on here, but I've not seen much of him. I think he played when I watched West Brom v Derby County last season, but I was focussed on watching Harrison Armstrong, so didn't take much notice.

The players we are chasing are of a higher quality (to my mind) and as such are harder to land.

As someone pointed out earlier in the window, any transfer involves 3 factors: quality of the player, time and money. You usually have to compromise on at least one and I'd rather it's not quality or money.

Fellows and Hackney are good examples. As per earlier in the thread, Boro are happy to sell to Ipswich but the player is holding out to see if better options come along. He's in no hurry.

Both these players are quite good. I would describe them as McNeil and Garner types – possibly at best. Decent but will probably never get England caps and Everton would be the best club they ever play for.

So yes, we could probably seal these deals now but surely it's better to set your sights higher?! We still have every chance of landing Gallagher, Grealish, Dibling, Hutchinson etc etc.

We're probably not including another deciding factor. I think Robert sort of alludes to it.

Football. Despite what many people's perceptions of the modern footballer are, sometimes justified, there is also the "what is the best move for my football and career" aspect to any decision.

That will come from the players rather than the agents, who will be driving the highest bid to increase their commission.

Money aside, which I think we can match for the players we are in for, we aim to be challenging for European qualification and challenging for a domestic trophy.

If we go for better quality (we should), then we will inevitably be in competition with clubs that are already in Europe next season.

Money talks, but even now, so does football.

We have to find the best we can get and obviously hope to be more enticing to the higher echelons as time goes on.

Does Hammond have full control which is why we haven't signed the likes of Soucek and also why Moyes is being so vocal, because he isn't getting a say?

After all, Moyes wasn't appointed by Kinnear whose job it is to modernise us.

Moyes knows the guy and is probably okay with him on that basis. Coufal too possibly. Both would be underwhelming signings but could be okay, especialy if we strengthen other areas properly.

I highly doubt Moyes is dead set on signing Soucek while there's still a chance to sign the likes of Luiz or Gallagher though.

Despite his customary moaning, he knows exactly how the market works and why things are slow. Much as I think Moyes is a good fit for us at the moment, that is irritating – and has seriously wound people up on here who (I guess understandably) can't help but be jealous of the RS spending spree.

Douglas Luiz will probably sign for Forest. Fofana a more expensive import to play in the position our 2024-25 leading scorer has made his own?

We'll then have all the posts about how we were too slow to move, allowing them to slip through our fingers when, in all reality, none of these players consider us a step either sideways or up. And if they did sign, would be using us as a stepping stone.

Where is the reality? Where is the evidence that simply because we have new owners and a new stadium, our performances will improve or there's a half-decent transfer kitty? The amount we have to spend is all rumour and heresay.

We need to build a squad with young hungry players with aspiration at a price we can afford. Not prima donnas looking for their next boost in wages.

Pre-season has been a nightmare in terms of performances; yes, not having Tarkowski and now Branthwaite makes us porous at the back – but there's no evidence of us improving infront of goal... with the players we had last season – who many TW'ers believe means we'll be 'okay'.

We've signed a kid from Bayern and a striker no one else was interested in, a midfielder who struggled at Southampton and a surplus goalkeeper. So far, the club and players have seriously failed to make us an attractive option during this transfer window.

We've spent £50M on exactly what you've asked for: “young, hungry players with aspirations”.

It's been a poor pre-season and clearly we've not done as much business as anyone would like but let's see how things look when the season has started and the window is shut.

He is so slow these days, I would fancy my chances of outpacing him.

At the prices being quoted £50M upwards, I'd leave alone and hopefully we can bring in a better, more mature, pacey direct runner or two.

I can see it being a busy tranfer deadline day for us with a couple of loans.

Go all out for Forfana.

Great goal by us. Better energy. Garner has done well. Great to have Tarkowski back.

The lad is class.