Everton step up efforts to sign Jack Grealish

I will be absolutely made up if we bring in both of them.

We'll arguably have our best squad since the summer of 2020 when Carlo brought in James, Allan and Doucoure.

Though I'd prefer buying players, not loan to return, we desperately need some who can keep, love and cherish the football. And inject a bit of quality.

Happy to spend £12M on a Grealish season-long loan or even £20M for two seasons if that means we can spend a bit more money to get either Dibling or Kubo on permanent deals.

I still think we need a more prolific goalscorer though; watching today's Roma match... we don't have one.

It shows what clowns the recruitment team are. Three bids over the last 10 days, all of them miles away from Southampton's valuation.

Why do they insist on wasting everyone's time? You don't see Brighton trying to get players that they know will end up at Spurs or another Champions League team, they know their market and their place.

But we are spending a month 'opening negotiations' over a loan for Jack Grealish. It just feels like bullshit.

Kev.

You just don't follow Brighton like you follow Everton. I'm sure they don't just have all their bids accepted!

Likewise, should we just except whatever value clubs place on our targets? Come on, mate, it's not that simple, is it?

David,

The word is we've hit a brick wall with the negotiations for Dibling. And then we find out that we're about £10M away, having made three bids. That smacks of unprofessionalism, particularly when we more than any other team needed to recruit early.

We've got at best 2/3 of a squad at the moment, and the first game is now a week away. And then we have that Idiot gassing on about how 'proud' he is with the new recruitment team, as if he's running a clockwork operation, rather than this farce.

Kevin,

I'm guessing there isn't much contract negotiation in your background.

Actually, Mike, I do negotiate contracts… not like this though.

And I'm just relying on what Paul Joyce is saying, that we've hit a wall. I don't think this is just a tactic, I reckon we're wasting our time at this point (just my impression of how the last two weeks have gone).

I don't recall previous negotiations where we put in three bids and we're still over £10M away from the asking price. And the longer it goes on, the more likely even if we do get a breakthrough Spurs steal in at the death. If we were going to get this done, it should have been done quickly.

Everton is going to have to bite the bullet if they want to get Grealish, Dibling and a good right-back.

Stop fannying around. Get serious. Either pay up or shut up.

I'd say we've got 21/25ths of a squad. We've done okay in recruiting, but need 4 more, 2-3 of whom need to be real difference-making match-winners.

The right players eventually, not the wrong players quickly. Also at a cost that leaves us room to continue building in the future.

It was never going to be easy if we want real quality, you have to play the game and the game is difficult.

Southampton will have to lower their price for Dibling as no other serious bidders appear to be on the horizon and the player clearly wants to join us.

There is no evidence of interest from Spurs.

Kevin, the only way to get this done quickly would be to have simply paid Saints' asking price without negotiating. Is that what you would have suggested?

I would posit that previous negotiations are irrelevant. This is a new ownership and a new team. And I would remind you that TFG's negotiating style is to walk away when the deal isn't right... and then come back in at the death. They did it to buy both Roma and Everton. Why would you expect different in a player purchase this large?

Ian #11, that would appear to be what TFG are betting on. And I think it's significant that for Saints' Championship opener with Hollywood Wrexham, a game generating huge interest and widespread TV coverage, Dibling was kept out of the gameday squad.

I was sold us on going back for Dibling when I saw his numbers were better than Gordon's when we sold him. Dibling is also younger than when Gordon left..

Offer them £40m and up to £10m in add-ons. Given we sold Gordon for £40m with £5m in add-ons it seems fair to me.

Get the bigger signings through the door this summer then we can play tougher with negotiations next summer when we should have hopefully finished in the lower end of the top half of the table, or maybe even grabbed a European conference place.

Btw, on a side note. Dewsbury Hall looked class today. Looks like he will be a fantastic signing.

The point of those bids is to reduce the price we eventually pay. If we weren't £10M away then we'd already have a deal.

Add much as we hate it when it happens to us, the negotiation is working. Dibling isn't playing for them again – they can negotiate all they want but that fact has already reduced his worth to Southampton.

I don't think we should sign Grealish even on reduced wages. He'll still be earning far more than any other player we have, and we run the risk of another, perhaps less risky, Dele Ali situation.

Same with Dibling. $45-50M is far too much for him. I like that he is young and so may have a good future with sell-on potential, but it's still a gamble and, if we're going down that path, we should have already recruited three young prospects with potential at that price which would have also beefed up the roster.

The strategy to scramble around on the transfer 'dancefloor' desperately looking for suitors as the night draws to an end is one we've pursued for a number of fruitless seasons now, so we should have looked at trying other recruitment approaches.

Get them as soon as possible if they are the deals we want doing, make them happen.

Grealish is a class football player and this is his season where he has a shot at probably his last World Cup next summer.

As for Dibling, throw them one last sensible bid; if that fails, then walk away and get on the phone straight away to Sociedad and ask them what they want for Kubo who I think may actually turn out to be a better signing than Dibling anyway.

Just stop wasting another week with protracted negotiation.

What we don't want to be doing with Dibling is what we did with Gnonto two summers ago and waste weeks on end offering less than what the sellers want.

Or a Zouma, Jim.

Jim, I guessing that our new management does not consider it time wasted.

As I mentioned, protracted negotiation is a time-tested strategy for the Friedkins.

Like Mike, I expect TFG have thought through their approach to negotiations in great detail.

As it happens, neither of Dibling nor Hutchinson were in the squad for Saints or Ipswich for the Championship opener.

It looks like both will be sold.

If you suggest so, Mike.

But I'd still like the two mentioned in preferably before the deadline day at the eleventh hour.

I'd rather we spent the last week or so scouting for an experienced centre-forward to help ease along the erratic but granted chaotic Beto and inexperienced Barry.

I still think we will miss more than we score with the forwards we currently have, an issue that we had for too long with Calvert-Lewin.

Team selection looked a bit awkward yesterday.

I thought Dewsbury-Hall looked best in a No 10 role. Alcaraz looked ineffective on the right wing, as has no real pace.
McNeil played as a 10.

If that was Moyes's view, you have 3 fellas chasing a No 10 shirt, with McNeil looking the odd man out.

Appreciate its a squad game etc.

Jim, I'm pretty sure TFG already know what Sociedad want for Kubo. It's rumoured to be in the region of £60M which is probably why we walked away.

Ian, yes it appears we might be in danger of collecting no 10s once more. I rate Moyes higher than Koeman and nothing wrong with having wingers who wish to come inside to allow overlapping full-backs but we don't really have those bar Aznou who has some learning to do yet.

I'd rather Dibling than Grealish personally as he has more pace and his best days ahead of him but either would be good asap as we don't really want to see too much of Alcaraz on the right wing I don't think.

I am not too bothered if we sign Grealish or not.

I am more concerned over the lack of pace and a decent right-back.

I'm a little taken aback at how some think we should throw money around like confetti without any thought of financial accountability, no matter how it is spread out in the accounts or collected at the food counters of the new stadium.

If we bring in Dibling at £50M and maybe a right back what will that take this years spend to, £140M to £150M? Makes a 3-year loss of £105M over a 3-year period under PSR, Uefa's FFP or any new system look modest even allowing for the fact that we are already there but what then will be needed maybe as soon as next season? Kean, Tarkowski, Gana getting close to contract's end and then Grealish only costing maybe £12M for one season.

I just don't see even the almighty greenback converting debt to shares forever or us achieving League position or European competition to cover these costs, albeit that some clubs must be given what they are spending.

But then, we've been here before and not so long ago, haven't we? But this time with American know-how, yep, no comparison whatsoever, eh. We may even be able to convince Mr Ancelotti that we can buy the players he wants this time around, but a day of judgement will come.

I still think Drealish, Luiz, and Dibling will come in.

I might be disappointed, but that looks to be what Moyes wants.

Ian, if that happens, how would you see the first XI lining up?

If that happens, it would likely take our net spend this season to around £130M. The RS are currently at around £100M.

I'm more concerned with the lack of goals.

We don't look like a side that hasn't got any in it, and I fear Barry or Beto are going to suffer from a lack of service.

That said ,we desperately need pace on the right and through the middle.

All of the complaints about the processes we're following in the chase for Grealish and Dibling are based entirely on media reports – most of which come from websites run by some teenager in his bedroom regurgitating other websites.

Basically, you're complaining about Everton based entirely on hearsay. You realise most of these sites have about as much real life insight into the dealings of football clubs as you and I do? Basically none.

The Internet is rife with this stuff, and it spreads like wildfire – fan engagement is all they want, and it's exactly what they get. It's both good and bad – good for Everton as we get more exposure, bad for fans as we get more bullshit.

Social media is evil (this is the only social media site I use) but it does spread the word in a positive sense in that it engages people and spreads the name of 'Everton' far and wide. I hate it, but I accept it plays a major part in where we are and where we need to be in the modern online landscape.

That's why players like Grealish make a difference in raising our profile. Engage people, make them talk about Everton, spread the word 'Everton' all over social media (and the mainstream media) and you get more and more interest, especially from younger people and players moving forward in years to come.

On the downside, everyone's an expert and everyone's talking bollocks!

Looks like we will need an emergency left back. Freebies aren't up to much, so that will mean a loan or a smallish price, unless we play Branthwaite or Coleman there.

Though maybe the Moyesiah could convert McNeil into a left-back. After all, Ashley Young was converted to left-back, as was Paul Power, and both thrived.

Whatever business we do in the next few weeks, the squad will have gaps and glaring weaknesses. It was always going to be impossible to resolve that this window.

We have cover at left-back in Aznou and two or more versatile players who can step in. Not ideal but we have bigger fish to fry.

Our continuing priority is right-wing and right-back. It seems very clear that we're working hard to bring in a high-quality right-winger.

We may yet try for an out of favour versatile forward on loan like Richarlison, Nkunku or even Sterling.

Barry is young and raw so needs games. It took players like Wissa and Cunha and Isak many years to hit big goal hauls at a decent standard. No point stifling his development by buying another striker.

No objections to adding some ball retaining quality like Grealish, even if it is only short term, but where does he play? We are already stocked wide left, and Number 10; he doesn't play wide right.

I'm interested to know what the plan is? Surely the right side, full-back and winger, and holding midfield are greater priorities.

Whether you are for or against Grealish, you've got to admit it is a high-stakes gamble.

In his prime, there is no doubt that he had the ability to have a positive impact on a game, but at age 30, will he still be able to do that consistently?

There is also a question mark over his injury record, weeks out through injury over a 1-year loan period could prove very costly for the club.

Also, how does his inclusion solve our RW problem?

Dibling at £50M+ is also a big gamble. Undoubtedly talented, but at 19 still has a lot to learn about week-in & week-out Premier League football. Will his development continue?

If it does, he will be a tremendous addition to the club, both on the pitch and as an appreciating asset. Who knows? I just hope the people doing the negotiations get it right.

There is another option, however: walk away from one or both of them and make a determined bid for players still out there who have the talent to solve our right side.

We live in interesting times, as they say.

I think we will stick with O'Brien at right-back and bring in a younger player to develop there.

Right wing is key for me. We're desperate for one player there at least. I'm absolutely staggered this hasn't been addressed yet.

Right wing wouldn't be so critical if we had a marauding right back like that lad Wesley yesterday...

But we don't have a good right-back or right-winger so that's why we struggled on the right side.

None of Kubo, Dibling or Hutchinson has moved yet – and the latter two certainly will (having been left out of Saturday's matchday squads).

I'd be more despondent if we had filled up gaps with a load of cheap mediocre players. That would be much more worrying.

This is from a very very good source:

Everton prepared to pay £250k a week towards Jack Grealish wage on a 12-month loan. £50k a week shortfall but there is common ground and the player is likely to be given permission to speak to them in the next few days.

Hope that is correct, Ryan.

After yesterday's game, I would be amazed if we had a repeat of the comments saying we wouldn't benefit from having a player of his quality in the squad.

If we lost Alcaraz, Dewsbury-Hall or Ndiaye to injury, then this squad is very short of creativity.

Fingers crossed, Steve. Most of our lot treat the football like a hot potato .

We will see the difference in quality when Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish are in the side...

This is a huge gamble, even at £250k per week. Not just the financial cost but also the opportunity cost. Is he going to win us the Premier League? Of course not. The Cup, any Cup? No. Are we in danger of relegation without him? I don't think so, if we can get a few decent players in to shore up the gaps and be part of the squad longer term.

So why would we gamble maybe £12M for a season with no residual benefit when we could have the likes of Dibling contributing and developing as a long-term asset? Do we accept that we're building a squad for the long term and Grealish wouldn't be part of that? If Grealish were a regular goalscorer, I could see him meeting our immediate need. But he's not.

Apparently a deal is close.

Everton to pay most of his wages.

Grealish agreed to join.

There's a lot of fretting about £250k a week but weren't we paying James that? If so, this is a better deal. He goes straight into the heart of the team and isn't made of glass.

Even better, he can play on the left, so that completes our six for left wing and we can now start on the right…

It could be argued that we are slipping back into bad habits… Schneiderlin, Delph, James, etc. Players who were on big wages but didn't really want to be at Everton and appeared to think they were doing us a favour by deigning to play for us at all.

Will Grealish be another one of those? Will he give us 100% on a cold wet night in Stoke? Or will he coast or feign match-dodging injuries while collecting his massive salary?

Not to mention he won't be able to play against Man City. So there's two games he'll be missing already. Will he be fit to play against Leeds a week tomorrow?

Hopefully, if he really still has ambitions to get back in the England set-up before next year's World Cup, he'll go all out. All we fans can really do is hope for the best.

If Grealish signs, it will add to better quality, notwithstanding numbers.

Likewise, if we sign Dibling, although we'd have to be patient with another young player.

That's a bit unkind, Ryan. Most of our players are comfortable on the ball. The defenders are composed and certainly don't treat it like a hot potato. Ndiaye and Alcaraz both look comfortable on the ball. James Garner is a tidy footballer and Gana can play a bit too. McNiel may not be the quickest, but fine with the ball at his feet.

I remain on the fence with Grealish, but wouldn't be offended if he was to sign. It seems that someone in the club is keen to make it happen. I just hope that includes the manager, because he's the one who will have to integrate him into the squad and play him.

On Dibling, as I've mentioned before, I simply don't know enough about him. Some on here seem to have followed him closely.

As ever, we'll just have to wait for an announcement.

I think we will have both Grealish and dibling through the door before the Leeds game.

After watching the legends game, Leighton Baines retired 5 years too early in my opinion. I know it was in parts like walking football for a lot of the players, but Baines was everywhere all over the pitch, not lost a lot of his pace and that pass he pinged across from left to right was Bracewell-esque quality,

Jagielka looked alright as well, too late now but cannot help feeling we could have got another 2 to 3 seasons out of Baines and Jags, not now of course, but back in 2020.

Looks like we have found a new leader in Dewsbury-Hall, looks one of the better signings we have made in recent times, can ping a corner in as well, I like the look of him, always looking to have the ball played to him. We've made a good signing there.

Basically, Grealish would receive Doucoure's and Calvert-Lewin's wages next season.

Hardly a risk.

Danny, unfortunately I don't think any of our forwards are comfortable on the ball.

Usually, the forwards are the best players at the club but all the players you listed are technically better.

That's why I didn't mention the forwards, Steve!!

Although we'll have to wait and see with Barry.

I remember Gary Lineker. Not a great footballer — the blindingly obvious difference was that he could score.

Out of strikers, it is probably only Isak in the Premier League who could claim to be the best technical player at his club.

Usually a conventional striker feeds off more technical players. Barry and Beto are fairly low cost strikers but should get goals provided the service is good quality.

It would be nice to have a quality technical striker like Bournemouth have with Evanilson – but he cost a decent margin more than our two and those technical strikers are often sought by richer clubs. Evanilson is not especially prolific either.

Honestly Danny, my expectations of our forwards are not that high!

The ability to control a ball with their first touch, run with the ball, link play and get shots on target.

In fairness to Lineker, he could all those things and his finishing was deadly. 1 v 1, I always expected him to score.

Linker was an outstanding goalscorer, Steve. Especially during his all too brief spell with us. I always remember him most for using his pace to get in behind the defender onto a through ball.

He wasn't particularly good with a defender in front of him, I don't remember his passing being that good, but he scored goals.

We could use Lukaku as well. Lambasted by quite a few for having a poor touch, could pass, couldn't dribble, couldn't tackle etc. I didn't care, he scored goals and we've missed them since.

Lineker was one of very few world class players to have ever played for Everton since WW2.

A deadly finisher and although there are opinions that the side we're better the season before and after him - that 85/86 teams is arguably the greatest ever and it was fine margins that stopped us doing a double.

Lineker was deadly in front of goal. Lukaku likewise. Lukaku when even 2-1 against I would always back him to dominate the last defender and then finish. Very rare that he missed the target. A phenomenal goal scorer.

There was a chance Barry had yesterday where he had a run on the last defender and it reminded me of many a chance created for Lukaku that he then ruthlessly dispatched.

All we need are three top-class players and back-ups. Then we can look forward to a good season. If none of that happens, it's going to be another tough time again.

I don't know about anyone else on ToffeeWeb but for me checking everyday to see if we have signed anyone is driving me crazy.

I'd like to think that we'd be getting the Aston Villa Grealish – narky, skillful, running past defenders, winning millions of free-kicks, winding up the opposition defence etc and bringing others in to play at the top end of the pitch.

His presence and skill could also encourage other good players (Dibling?) to join this summer and in January — worth a gamble anyway, I think.

As others have pointed out, though, we also need to invest in full-backs and a right winger. And Moyes knows our front line is weak right now – he's already said Barry's finishing needs work and he's seen Beto's strengths and weaknesses.

Tommy @ 54, Lukaku was only 20 years old when he came to Everton - 16 goals in his first season.

He was 2 years younger than Barry and a year younger than Chermiti.

A great player, and probably under-appreciated here. No-one has come close to replacing him.

Tommy @54

I wouldnt say the greatest. It was practically the same team as 84-85 with Lineker in for Gray.

Kendall changed the style to accommodate Lineker and exploit his strengths.

Steve. @57,

He was a brilliant player for us and gave us some good years. I was always under the impression that he would leave at some point to a bigger club but I'd hoped we would make the necessary progress in the meantime which never happened.

I enjoyed him whilst he was here. And it always frustrated me some of the ill feeling towards him from some of our supporters when he played for us.

@ Danny 58.

I would say it was a superior team as it had a world class striker. Sure the team adapted style to exploit the strengths of Lineker, but I don't know how what team wouldn't look to maximise the impact of a world class player.

The 86 team was also beaten in an FA Cup Final by a Liverpool team that was better than the Man Utd team of 1985.

Steve 48, when you put it like that, signing Jack Grealish is a no-brainer.

El Bobble: Jack Grealish is now in agreement to join Everton on loan with talks over the financial structure between Everton and Man City continuing.

El Bobble now saying terms have been agreed between Everton and Grealish. Surely that would also mean terms have been agreed between the two clubs as to who pays what to Grealish?

Benjamin @56

I think that's exactly the Grealish we would get. At City he was stifled in a team of stars and last season barely played. Under Moyes he'd be given free reign to express himself and he'll play every game he's fit.

He'd be our best player by far and with the confidence of a manager like Moyes and our fans backing him, just like at Villa I believe he'll flourish. Also play him at #10 and you'll see him rip defences open again.

He'd transform our team with a winning mentality and skill to burn. We need quality in depth as its sorely lacking and plainly obvious.

We will 100% pick up injuries to midfielders this season and at the moment we have no attacking replacements. We need Grealish and Dibling for strength in depth or we're in trouble.

I also hope we sign a right back, although I also believe O'Brien is excellent in that role and deserves to play.

Wow. Hard not to be excited if true. Should be fun at the very least. And who knows, it could be much more than that.

Will he wear the 69 shirt?

It's also worth noting that we're going to lose Ndiaye and Gana for the AfCoN this season as well so we need more midfielders.

I read we're interested in Dion Lopy but he'll also go to the AfCoN so we need players who are ideally European or South American.

James @ 63, under Moyes he’d be given free rein to express himself?

Got to say I very much doubt that would be the case. I can’t remember Moyes ever giving any player total free reign

Annika - Moyes has said, and keeps saying we need attacking players who can create. What more evidence do you need?

Why on earth would he repeatedly say that if he was going to stop players from attacking?

Some examples of players who played open attacking roles - Pienaar, Arteta, Mirallas.

Moyes managed us under strict financial constraints for 12 years, and had limited attacking players at his disposal. This notion that he doesn't let players attack seems like a fan myth to me.

Robert @ 64, " Will he wear the 69 shirt? "

I heard he may even change, his name to Jack McMuffin ! :-)

If we want the best out of him, then we have to give him the freedom to play with. Moyes wouldn’t be taking that kind of risk if he wasn’t going to play to his strengths. Firstly he is not a winger, he’s a number 10 with licence to roam. And secondly at city he was competing with probably one of the best number 10s in the world.

If Jack Grealish signs I reckon he will never have experienced anything like the support he will get.It will be brilliant for him and will he the most exciting thing for us since Allardyce.
Err, meant Lineker

Just heard the deal is done...in principle?

If so,this could really be a real game changer for our great club!

250k a week!!!...nice work for some like.

Grealish and Dibling will both sign for us. I haven’t felt this confident since Lukaku and Delofeu

Billy

The shite ToffeeWeb rival site is claiming we will only pay 90k a week. Hard to believe City would let is loan him for less than we pay some of our other players.

Meanwhile “Our Dom” has sacked his agent after 6 weeks in the dole. Lol

If the deal has been done then about bloody time. Sure it’s a lot of money but if we are to be taken seriously we have to stop trying to squeeze every buck out the deal. Other clubs register an interest and next day they sign the player. We are still in the penny pinching mindset. We are never going bust, we are never getting relegated, we are never going back to how the club used to be ran. Let’s stop pissing about. If we really want a player, if he is over priced by the selling club, if we really want the player then just get the player signed and stop risking the likes of those that are lower than a snakes belly (ie Spurs) from sneaking the players from under our nose.

Despite my previous reservations, I am now at the stage that I hope this gets done.

In terms of websites and sources, I never take a lot of notice of most. There are a couple of individuals I take notice of, but even then, I wouldn't use trust.

The only one I rely on is the official; website, when it's announced and there is a photo shoot and interview at Finch Farm. or, what seems to be increasing, at then new stadium.

If there is a loan deal to be done on Grealish then I hope it includes an option to buy him. If he comes in on loan and it doesn’t quite happen then he can go back to Man City for the final year of his contract. But if he comes here and rediscovers his mojo then I would hope we could have a deal in place to buy him from Man City - let’s say for a fee marginally above his final year of Man City wages - so let’s say £20 million to Man City, and a lumpy signing bonus for Grealish that might offset him missing out on his final year of that bumper Man City contract.

If he signed for us next summer he’d be about to turn 31, and might accept a 3 year contract and on a wage with us that would make him our highest paid player, but markedly lower than his current Man City wage. It would be his last big contract, and if we had some kind of structure in place now at say £150k per week, then it might be an option that could look like a decent proposition in 12 month’s time. And if not then he just goes back to City.

Might be an impossible negotiation to do now, but if Grealish comes and reinvigorates us then to see him head off somewhere else for next season would be a tough reality to swallow.

There is still a missing link at Everton after the Roma performance, even given the weaknesses on the right side of the pitch, with a left-back needed and a below par McNeil. Grealish would fill it.

Everton's negotiation tactic seems to be to wait to the last minute. I agree with Kevin that Dibling's negotiations should have started earlier, which is normally the case with youth players in Everton's summer transfer template.

They have allowed Southampton to snooker a Dibling move, leaving it so late. Southampton probably want to keep him. But who knows? There is always the possibility of a slip between the cup and lips.

A Grealish move is still a possibility.

If it is £250k a week that will be twice what our best players earn. That will come with a lot of expectation. I wonder how much patience will be shown to him if he doesn’t hit the ground running?

It all feels a little too fairytale to me, a little out of the Kenwright/Moshiri playbook but there’s no doubt that an in form Jack Grealish would be very entertaining.

BBC reporting that the deal is done. If so, I have wobblies but a flashy new stadium needs a flashy new player. Jack was better at Villa than he was at Man City. That gives me hope. But a common thread so far has been party and "I'm too sexy for my shirt".

Thankfully, Liverpool is a shite party city with shite night-life, right down there with Tunbridge Wells. So, fingers crossed… tightly.

Will he be unveiled today? Hopefully, this will begin a mad few weeks of signings.

Colin @ 80, hopefully a mad few weeks of signings and not a few weeks of mad signings!

Grealish will be great for us and the deal sound as long as our contribution to his salary is less than £200k per week. Any more than that is asking for trouble as others get miffed, ask for more, agents trigger comparison clauses, the club have to defend a players wage etc… all bad for harmony.

We will get to plus £200k per week signings as regular under The Friedkins but this feels too soon and jarring compared to the rest of the squad.

If this is happening (and i'd prefer it to be Dibling) then I really hope we are going for Fellows as well. Grealish will walk into the team on the left meaning we might have to play Illiman in the middle or on the right, I don't want to see Charlie displaced. That might mean Fellows could be blooded in gently as well.

Let's not worry too much on trying to fit these players in. Having hungry, talented players coming off the bench who can change a game has not been a luxury we have had for a long time!

Paul #79 "Thankfully, Liverpool is a shite party city with shite night-life, right down there with Tunbridge Wells."
Can just see Jack in concert square on a Sat night smoking the shisha pipes.

Geoff (84) I think Jack will be well used to the night life closer to Manchester or Birmingham!

“Thankfully, Liverpool is a shite party city with shite night-life, right down there with Tunbridge Wells.”

Is that the general consensus? For my generation, I knew plenty of people who came as students to Liverpool from all over the rest of the country and loved the city because of it’s night-life.

I haven’t sampled it for a long time now and, so I’ve heard, Gen Z don’t do socialising. Is it all gone, or are we defining night-life some other way?

Paul 79 - that was tongue in cheek, right?

It’s a wind-up, Si. Liverpool is buzzing.

Dan # 83, similar comments were made when we bought Rooney, Sigurdsson, Klaasen and Vlasic. We had depth - but all in the same / similar position, and no depth whatsoever in the wing / forward positions.

We will probably get our specialist RW soon (and RB) so maybe the problem goes away. But even if we get Dibling we are very short on pace in wide areas which is a problem when we are likely to be a counter attacking side much of the time

Grealish, Dibling and a RB and I think we go into the season looking far better than last year. Another DM would be the icing on the cake.

I’ve been an avid reader of toffee web for years now but hardly ever post but felt the need today for some reason, reading through the comments I can’t help wondering if certain people on here would be delighted for Moyes to fail just so they can be proved right, sad really

World cup next year, surely Grealish would want to be playing every week and not sat on City's bench?

Remember Mourinho saying he wanted 22 in squad with 2 players fighting for every position. So you have a style - Klopp played 433 - and you recruit around that. The recruitment of all those #10’s was a prelude to the clubs dismal performance on and off the pitch. It made no sense other than polishing ego’s. We can’t make the same mistakes again and I’m sure Moyes knows this. But we have to get the bodies in first to cover positions - it’s very simple. Even drop down the leagues and look for some quality. And then you build on that without risking the entire transfer kitty on a couple of players who get injured and/or are shite. The worry with Grealish is - where does fit in? And tbf, we’ve been very unlucky with some transfers unlike the shite, who are still unloading some of theirs for extortionate amounts (must be insane to do business with that mob).

Is Grealish really what we want?
A big money won it all presence in the dressing room on huge wages compared to the rest of the team.
I’m not sure.

A two year loan brings in issues if the PL changes its rules on PSR to wages being below a % of turnover as rumoured. Then we would have to reduce wages... so a higher loan fee and lower wages would work better for us but those rules aren't in place yet.

Robert #89 Sounds like the RB could well be Kellen Fisher from Norwich - can play LB and DM too. Have only seen one game highlights of him v Watford. Yep, he’s handy.

Play him in the middle, it's where he thrives. Ndiaye can play on the left.

We need a spark because we can't rely on Ndiaye to be the only creative player in the team. I'll be excited to watch Everton for the first time in years if this comes off.

Ndiaye is the only exciting thing about our team and he can't do it all on his own. We need creative depth and Grealish brings that.

Evertonians nowadays have a tendency toward the negative but we need a major overhaul of club and fan culture. We're so stuck in the past and so scared to dare.

Get him in the team, liven the place up. Get supporters excited again. I'm all for it!

Nick # 93, you make your own luck in the transfer market. And it also helps if you can spend your way out of mistakes.

It is very unlikely we can go from a first team squad of about 12 players (including some rubbish) at the end of June to a squad of 22 with two decent players for each position come the end of August. We can build to that in the next window or two.

All of the new players so far have a clear role in the squad and should be part of our next 5 years. Grealish would be an exception. Unclear role, unclear future. But maybe it is also a rare opportunity to get someone like him while still relatively young and fit.

So long as we are smart at RW and RB then maybe we can accommodate a vanity signing to cheer us up and get us excited.

Funnily enough Kellen Fisher came through at Bromley with one of my colleague’s sons. I think she was gutted her own son didn’t get a similar move but was gracious about him anyway.

I haven’t seen him play but noticed he’s had a bit of recognition at England u20 and a non playing call up at u21 level.

Sounds more like long term cover than a new first choice RB but maybe he’s kicked on massively despite being so fresh out of non league.

Jake O’Brien will be first choice right back. And a young right back will come in.

Grealish and KDH will make a massive difference in us keeping the ball.

A right winger, another DM and then cover elsewhere and will will be ok

Apparently the Grealish deal has now been agreed between the two clubs!!!!!

According to Fabrizio Romano (pinch of salt needed here!) It's all been agreed between us and City, he's about to have a medical and it will get wrapped up in the next 24 hours.

Yes Paul, reported in the Times and by the Bobble. He's having his medical today.

Good. Well pleased. Now table a final offer for Dibling. If it's not accepted walk away and get a couple of £25 million players in pronto. They're out there.

Sounds like Grealish is a done deal. Curious to see how him KDH, Ndiaye and Alcaraz fit together.

I suspect it will be Grealish on left with KDH at 10 and Ndiaye on right but all quite interchangeable which could be fun.

Grealish would be a very good signing, and the club need to up the money for Dibling, or it could be another lost opportunity to sign a class player.

Grealish has wonderful moments, moments that can make you gasp. However, he rarely changes games. Neither as a scorer or provider are his stats very good. The cherry on the Bakewell.

We've got a "Here we go" from Fabrizio.

Looks a go.

I'm hoping to be proved wrong but I think this is a bad move, I can't envisage where he plays, I think he's past his best (a mini Gascoigne), his wages will destabilise the dressing room and the one thing we lack which he doesn't have is pace. Hopefully Moyes has a plan.

As for Dibley, he will be with us if no other suitor emerges. He wants away and Southampton are in no position to risk losing big money as he winds down his contract.

Better get the deal done quickly before City get fined £50 quid and banned from the transfer market for 2 weeks for all their PSR transgressions!

I think the tactic from here on in will be 'just give him the ball'.

The cruelty of putting Evertonians through the passing game we've had to endure for the last few years is almost worth it if we are about to get Grealish in the middle of the park. the upgrade is bewildering. he was a one man team at villa, and is still in his 20s.

Grealish will play central, Ndiaye left, new RW, Alcaraz cover all positions imo.
Leaves KDH with Gana, Garner on bench.
RB cover, holding midfield option, maybe another forward to come?
May have to look at LB if Myko out for while. Aznou not ready for PL starts.
I’m not sure about Dibling, Saints supporting family members say he’s very much work in progress, lots to learn, needs to work harder, and for the team.
The experts will know best.

Sam 105 - it is fight for the shirt.

Ndiaye, Mcneil, Dewesbury Hall, Alcaraz, Grealish and hopefully a right winger having to deliver goals and assists to stay in the side.

Long overdue. Bring it on.

Grealish done.
Confirmed Sky Sports

Mark#109 no worries we can get Harrison back for you.

Geoff 115 - yep. Grumbling about signing Grealish when we e watched Harrison and Lindstrom is some take.

Stephen #114

Sky is simply confirming the rumour.

Yes -I heard it's done. Grealish is going to raise the bar.

Grealish is a quality player and better than what we have so its a no brainer. We need creativity as our forwards are poor and need it on a plate in front of goal to stick the ball in the net.

The full back situation worries me sick. We desperately need a right back, I thought Kyle Walker would be an option but thats gone.

If we get Dibling and a starting right back (not cover) then things are looking up.

We've got the Fabrizio Romano "Here We Go" which I think about makes it 99% likely to happen.

Holy shit, we're signing a £100million player!

Things are starting to look interesting!

Eddie, as long as he doesnt drink it dry!

for those that do or indeed don’t Jacks instagram there’s a post from 2 weeks ago of him training
not an ounce of fat, doesn’t look like your average washed up piss head footballer ….
8.6 million followers to, might be a few bob in shirt sales to be had

They’ll love him in the dressing room -he’s won everything but doesn’t come across as arrogant prick at all. And I’ll bet he’s made sure to keep in shape this summer.
Someone’s now furiously painting Temu headbands blue and white to flog outside the stadium…

Ray (119) there are some whispers of interest in Norwich's RB Kellan Fisher... But it's just rumours at this stage.

Geoff, Ryan... let's see if you are right. I'm hoping you are.

As for the Harrison comment, are you joking? It's an either/or? They are not the only two footballers that exist in the world.

Briefly at Leeds, Harrison looked like a halfway decent player but having endured him for the past few years, his biggest quality is hard work with the rest of the skillset seriously lacking.

Will be really bad news if he signs imminently. What are the fantasy press going to be able to speculate about ? What will those of us on TW have to debate, argue and fall out over?
He is a quality player provided he is allowed to return to his more swashbuckling role when at Villa. None of the 3 steps forward, 3 steps back, pass back Shittee stuff.
Yes. It provides options and competition. Tick. No, he is not a right winger. If he does sign then we must embrace the positives. We certainly can not be a poorer side with him in it.
But, as with others, we desperately need a proper right winger and right back. Why, for heavens sake, is it so difficult? James Justin 6m. Tom Fellows 15m. That leaves at least 20m change from Dibling. Surely there are several other options. Just get it done.

Jamie (120) Jamie we are signing a player who cost £100M two or three years ago— he would cost well less than half of that now although he will getting paid the wages of a £100M player by a club that really and truly can’t afford it, let’s hope he plays like the player who gets those wages.

Yes I know he’s going to do this and he’s going to that, we’ll be a new club, he’ll revolutionise the whole structure of the team, give him a chance don’t criticise him before he turns out so I won’t — lol! Just pointing out the way I see it and really hope, for all our sakes and Everton FC’s that he plays half as good as we are getting told he will.

Grealish done.
Confirmed Sky Sports

£50m option too