Everton may need to sign five players

I would be okay with this. Real intent

Left it too late now, methinks.

Marcel & Marco have been entrusted with sorting it out early in the current window! It hasn't happened, and in fairness nothing currently is of their making.

It's getting close to the close of the window, but all this pie in the sky doesn't help. Facts, facts, facts, not supposition.

Brilliant.

We live in hope but as it stands we could be starting worse off in terms of squad strength, than we finished at Spurs.

The Wigan game, a game of two half's, in which the second-half team, the weaker of the teams field, showed more endeavour.

Too slow, too predictable and not enough team work, and the two games yesterday exposed all the issues we face.

In Marcel Brands we trust and it's gonna be an interesting couple of weeks.

Calvert-Lewin's conversion ratio, and based on positions in the box he takes, says to me he'll not be a regular goal-scoring footballer. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see the composure, instinct, and decision making to achieve this.

Let's hope we get some players in.

We know we want Gomes on the ball, but without Gana there it'll be tough to do that.

Davies is not the man - either McCarthy is fit and steps up or we need to think differently.

Such an encouraging end to the season, two key cogs in the spine are now gone (Zouma/Gana) whilst we were already the striker short; damn we need something in the next week.

I can't see us doing anything until the big earners eg Bolasie, Walcott, Schneiderlin, McCarthy etc...are off the books and Gana is sold. And just as I was getting excited about the new stadium.

I think players who play in a similar way can compliment each other, but I'd say that in a midfield three, you will also want somebody who is very defensively disciplined, and also good at covering the space and winning the ball back?

Kenny goes on loan, then Silva says he only has one right back.

Robinson gets sold, then we only have one left back.

Jagielka is let go, then Holgate is used as cover for centre backs, contributing to his first comment.

I hope they know what they're doing.

We'll probably replace them but it will take another year to imbed them, another 6th to 8th place, but just looking good to challenge again – and then you watch we'll lose Richarlison, etc etc .

Brands's problem is that, even though we win U23 titles, cups, none of them are good enough to come up this season. Liverpool had Trent Alexander and Gomez break through; we sell Lookman, loan out again Dowell, Kenny, etc. Where are the 18- or 19-year-olds we need to make an instant impact

If we go in to this season with no proper instinctive striker, I will lose the will to live!!

Gana is gone, If he wasn't at Afcon, he would be at PSG by now. I think we should defo hold out for at least 㿊-35M for him; we have him on a long contract and they are loaded.

We can only buy let's call them Div 1 players as opposed to Champions League players – almost impossible to fully compete, unless you catch a dream season like Leicester did 3-4 years ago but couldn't sustain. I think we could sustain success as we have Moshiri, problem is obtaining success.

Their inheritance was handed to them by Moshiri "assisted" as he was by appointees, all of whom, bar one of course, now having been disposed of one way or another. That's a good thing but Moshiri is not a wealthy man in comparison to more than a few other owners. The malfunctions he unwittingly appointed and oversaw hurt us and will continue to hurt until such time as the Deadwood Stage-coach/es are fully occupied and ridden right out of FF. He can't spend his way out of his mistakes.

And I'm glad that others are also realising that for all the "great" work being done by "Unsy" very little if any product emerges as a reliable first team player. To me that's the kernel of his job, and he's therefore failing.

Personally if the reported fee is correct, for me we have sold him on the cheap - easily worth 㿔 million in todays market and PSG are not short of cash.
And he will be hard to replace.

Our number one priority as everyone knows is striker striker striker.
If the reports regarding Costa were true, I think this would have been an unbelievable signing for the club in terms of raising our profile and of course this guy doesn't like losing !
Yes he is a risk, but worth it for me, imagine Costa leading the line on the 4 Dec 19.

The cynic in me suspects there is a load of spin going on at Everton right now, good to see us linked with good players but it means nothing if we don't get them.

Looking like Kean, Zaha, Gbamin and then maybe a RB and/or a CB on loan.

Either way it looks like a lot of new players but hopefully this will be the last time we need to make wholesale changes and moving forwards it will be just 2-3 players every summer and not 5-7!

Pickford
Coleman Keane Mina Digne
Gbamin Gomes
Richarlison Siggy Zaha
Kean

Bar Siggy and Coleman maybe that's the nucleus of a young and exciting team.

I'd prefer Idrissa in that line up Sam@22 but maybe I just need to get closure on that. Still holding out for Zouma too...

If we don't then, same old, same old, bar a miracle.

This season EFC, must kick on and improve its position in the EPL.

Why Kenny was loaned out and Robinson sold looks now like jumping the gun before replacements where found. You would have thought it was better to have targets before the transfer window opened and then act, but the priority seems to have been to move out players where possible, before bringing in anyone.

Silva comes across as being quite frustrated and does not want Gueye to go.

In 2nd game Coleman made several typical forward runs in the 1st half. Broadhead was playing ahead of him, but not inclined to take responsibility, Just the easy lay off each time.

The games yesterday gave us a glimpse of life without Gana. It wasn't positive.

I'm not panicking yet, but I am starting to get a little bit sweaty around the arse to be honest.

Regardless, we need x2 strikers, who can finish, and a CB and. RB, and a replacement for Gana, as priority.

The clocks running and I sense we will also struggle to offload the deadwood, at any price, if at all, bar a big net loss.

I also think he's getting his excuses ready and doing a bit of PR for when they sack him (or he walks) and he looks for his next job.

They all scream their heads off about having no players and usually before they leave, having said that, I agree we do need players.

No use in yelling at our team to get players in now when most of our targets probably are making sure there is no better situation, around the corner for them, sorry to write.

That's a lot different to, "Marco Silva says Everton MUST sign five more players.. . "

Where does Marco specifically say he wants to sign five more players? I don't see that quote anywhere?

Zaha and Kean. Sign them and we're better. We're not getting in five players in the next two weeks. And more importantly, I don't see anywhere that Marco said that!

Patience man! There's two weeks left, and this is a minefield of a transfer window.

I'd wager a bet (gulp...) that if we start this way, we'll finish higher up the table:

Pickford
Coleman Keane Mina Digne
Gomes Delph
Bernard/Siggy (take your pick at the 10)
Richarlison Kean Zaha

Can we improve on the above lineup? Yes. Will we be able to before the window closes?

Marcel has my trust in spades, but he's not Jesus Christ and he can't preform miracles.

We knew and he knew before the season ended that we would lose Zouma and Gana.

We knew we had to shift some deadwood.

Now with just over a week to go we Mirallas as the deputy RB, not a goalscorer nor a CB in sight.

We might get Kean if we bend over to Juventus and we may get a replacement for gueye that probably wont be as good and will cost more.

Apparently Palace have said Zaha will not be sold this window (I wasnt arsed about that anyway).

It will take a Herculean effort by Brands to get any semblance of suitable recruitment in before the window shuts.

Everything remains the same at Everton, even the chairman(regrettably)
.

I think the general consensus was that we had a pretty good transfer window this time last year, but out of all our signings, only Richarlison was wrapped up before August:

Digne - 1st August
Bernard - 9th August
Mina - 9th August
Gomes - 9th August
Zouma - 10th August

Everything I have seen and heard from Brands to date, points to a man who has a pretty good idea of what he is doing.

If by the 10th of August this year we haven't signed enough decent players, THEN we can all lose our shit together. Until then, I highly recommend chilling out a little.

Sounds like a man who knows he's in for a torrid time with the current squad and is just covering his arse.

Losing Zouma and Gueye rips the spine out of the team. No first-team striker is also very embarrassing.

What happened to 'identifying targets?'

We'll probably sign Bakayoko on loan for the season as the Gueye replacement. Chelsea fans think he's sloppy and lazy so not my choice for DM.

Kean's buyback clause isn't really a big deal. Set it at 㿭 Million, with a deadline and we stand to make a near 㿊 Million profit if he does well early in his career. That will also give us enough time to identify someone else.

So far young players such as Calvert-Lewin, Lookman, Holgate, Kenny, Davies, etc haven't improved since Marco's arrival so I doubt the buyback clause will come into effect anyway.

Just throwing it out there but how bad is Gary Cahill? Does anyone know if he's worth a punt on a 1-year contract?

Good
Striker: Moise Kean / Milik
Winger: Malcolm / Neres
Gueye Replacement: Jean-Philippe Gbamin
Centre Back: Kurt Zouma (I haven't given up hope!)
Right Back: Youcef Atal

Bad
Striker: Danny Welbeck
Winger: Bertrand Traore
Gueye Replacement: Fabian Delph
Centre Back: Gary Cahill
Right Back: Kevin Mirallas

Having said that, we do need a few new players partly to replace those leaving/left and to pad out the squad but as others have said, why let your promising juniors go and then complain you don't want to play your first choice in case they get injured.

So is the bare minimum still required a striker, Kean, and a defensive mid and centre back cover, Gbamin. Having let Lookman go and sent Bowler out on loan is another wideman needed given we have Bernard, Richarlison and Walcott or are two of them with Davies, Calvert-Lewin, Holgate, Schneiderlin nothing more than squad members.

Or am I completely wrong and we are to see a brand new playing style?

It's Pavlov's dogs - we are all having Vietnam style flashbacks of grumpy David Moyes eye balling journalists and talking about “no more incoming”, looking like he was about to kill someone.

Kean seems a likely option, Zaha too. I can't say I am overwhelmed with either but not disappointed either. Alternatives to Zaha, like Everton Soares and Malcom, don't really blow me away, to be honest (and I remember numerous times last season thinking Zaha had finally become a BIG player).

Kean could be a new wonderkid or a new Iheanacho. I remember him bursting onto the scene at Man City and impressing but then not kicking on. I would be gutted if we made a statement signing and it turned out like that.

Saying that I am sure the management knew halfway through last season where we needed to replace or add too so there can't be too many excuses why we haven't brought in more so far.

The fact we have not replaced Lukaku after 2 years is a bloody disgrace and cannot be excused.

To be honest, there doesn't look if there was a Plan A or a Plan B.

Teams selling decent players are trying to charge exorbitant prices. Plus some of those players may be waiting for bigger fish to come in for them. Zaha/Kean would never have moved to us a month ago as they would have wanted to see if CL offers came in.

Hold your nerve and call me a liar if we don't bring at least 3 more players in by end of the window.

Forget Milik – he is slow and ponderous and would never compliment our attack.

We need fast, quick-witted forwards.

We do sign players late in the window and there is cash available. Let's see what our squad consists of when we go to Palace; if there are no additions, then we can all panic together.

Gana was our most influential player in 2019, and must not be sold until a player is signed up that is a direct replacement. Otherwise the cost will go up for that replacement player because the selling team will know we are desperate.

It is possible the Gbamin deal has been sealed already by the shrewd Mr Brands and will seamlessly follow the Gana transfer.

Well that's according to most of the “fake news” gossip sites and red tops.

James Sweet#47, thank you for bringing a bit of perspective to this thread.

I understand he could have tried Mirallas or Walcott, up front on Saturday, but maybe by not doing so, he's giving us a little sign of his true personality?

He wants to do better, he knows that's not possible without re-inforcements, and the signs are that he's understandably very frustrated with how things are at the minute?

I've already read Silva, talking about how things are not great at the minute, but I didn't read it as excuse making, just more that the man was talking sense. He said that although things aren't perfect, (honestly!) that he would hope to have his squad together by the start of August, and at least this would give him ten days to prepare for the first game... “TICK TOCK TICK TOCK”

As Jamie # 47 shows transfers where late in the window last year, when Moshiri released money . I also agree with Don # 17 regarding the Finchs Farm set up. The level of fitness was well below that of the Seville and Mainz squads. It was the same last year in pre-season. I surprised that Brands and Silva haven't moved to address this. Those guys will go on holiday at the drop of a hat. Hopefully the new Head coach is bending Silvas ear.

From what I see the pattern of the transfer window has unfolded similar to last year. Silvas outburst where he said that Everton 'may ' need five players and then forgets about Holgate at right back and, as I was reminded by Mike Gaynes of, though without recommendation, Cuco is still a Everton player. Definitely a strange one from Silva. Baines could have only fell on his ass.

No doubt Silva did have illusions that Zouma and Gueye would be Everton players last season, and feels rejected , but we have Mina who started back last Monday ( thank go, maybe not a lazy bugger ) and Delph a midfielder who can tackle and pass a ball.

If we get Gbana we will have cover for Gueye and Mina, with the addition of a 78 percent pass completion rate, a improvement in midfield. The addition of Kean will be a improvement on Lookman and Moshiris big money signing Zaha may work out. If you throw enough money at something things happen.

Being a long suffering Everton Supporter you have to be optimist or else you would cry. Maybe this is the actual role of Barret Baxendale , Chief Bullshiter. Yes , I finally on my way to working it all out , only having our Chairman to upset me.

Gueye will be a big loss but he deserves his dream move in my opinion. Other than that I have faith it will be another good window for Brands/Silva.

Our pre-season has been that bad – take a look at the RS results – it is pre-season and is meaningless in predicting what will happen this season.

Marco Silva will be fine and happy again when we've signed Kean, Gbamin, Malcom and Zouma (yeh Zouma).

I don't see it as excuse making. I think he's just putting a little, helpful pressure on the board and reminding the fans that there will be new players coming in.

I hope many on here will be feeling much happier with our squad in 11 days time.

Answering my own questions, I'd say it's both. Although not having all the squad together to build on the obvious momentum that we had started to build towards the end of last season, must be very frustrating for both the manager and the players right now?

Let's hope we can sign the right players, whilst appreciating that anyone can go and sign any old shite, and appreciate even more that it's not so easy trying to sign players from the top end of the market, especially for a club that haven't won a cup for 25 fucking seasons, and have also got a massive wage that is getting wasted on a lot of any old shite!

Let's embrace it as it will make those last minute (quality) signings seem that little bit sweeter!

And we're linked now with Bakayoko, who flopped at Chelsea and AC Milan, and quote 㿔m, senseless.

Now after a few pre-season games were we have struggled to score or even create a lot of chances, Silva is now saying we need 4/5 players. Even a blind man knew that we needed at least a couple of strikers as last season our choices of Calvert-Lewin, Tosun and Niasse were way short of what's needed. Plus we will also need a midfield player maybe another centre back and time is running out.

Now we may all be very pleased with the squad that starts the season but, at present, it looks like we will start this season with a weaker squad than last season.

Whether he's suited to the Premier League is debatable but he did not flop at Milan. He's very solid defensively and though he wouldn't be in my top 5 picks I don't think he'd be the disaster you're claiming. If there's even any truth in it, which there probably isn't!

I am sure that these deals were not done "overnight" and that Brands had been working on them without the "press" ever knowing. I suspect that this year will be similar, with both incoming and outgoing players over the next two weeks.

Unfortunately I don't think even Brands will be able to move Mirallas, Niasse or Tosun due to their inflated salaries and overlong deals.

I still believe he will eventually end up with us, but not until January! While on the Chelsea theme another 'rumour' that seems to be doing the rounds, and I personally hope there is no foundation to it whatsoever, that Timaeyo Backothecho is being considered by us.

He looked pretty average when I saw him play in spells last season, and if he is anything like his namesake that Walter Smith brought in (Ibrahima) what a mustang he was, so no thanks.

Despite all these rumours most of which I hope are exactly that, I still have trust in M Brands, who I do believe has not let us down since his arrival. I am less confident about Silva, but hopefully time will prove me wrong with the latter.

Moise Kean and Gbamin look likely, Zouma may follow in January, a right back will be bought to cover/compete with Seamus.

The Zaha thing, he is overpriced but he is a 10 goals and assists player, however I still think we are being strung along. Tottenham or Arsenal will come in late and mess our plans up intentionally, scuppering our chances of competing with them for the top 4-6.

We need to tread carefully, and have more irons in the fire. I am a bit surprised the Malcom rumours have died away. He was the interesting option. Maybe we've sounded him out and he prefers elsewhere or the terms were unpalatable.

Still don't understand the absurdity of the fee we are accepting for Gueye, 28 million?!?!? Absurd

Bakayoko was excellent at Milan, despite some claims on this thread about him being rubbish. Do a little bit more research before you comment would be my advice. He'd be a good addition in my view.

Gbamin looks a beast of a player to me, though I'd never heard of him till a few days ago so can't really comment. It's a bit like the above - you probably saw Bakayoko once for Chelsea and now you're an expert as the papers say he was a flop. Gbamin looks decent on YouTube, but then so did Cenk Tosun.

As for Bakayoko. If anyone can get him back to his Monaco form then we'll have a world class player on our hands. And Chelsea aren't asking £40m for him, that's what he cost them. £30m should do it.

It's all so simple, this transfer business.

He was quick, he looked like he had “every attribute” that a midfielder needs in this modern game, and then he really faded.

Easy to fade at Chelsea imo, because it's been a club that seems to have been ran by the players for a long-time now. But I wouldn't rule out this player being a success somewhere else, simply because you don't become a bad player overnight.

It's more worrying that with 12 days to go before the big kick off at Palace we don't have our business done and dusted. The decision to let JJK go out on loan is looking stranger by the minute.

A centre back, a replacement for Gana and a right sided mid field player and a centre forward to back up DCL are a must.

If we can produce the performance levels of the last 10 games of last season then we won't go far wrong.

In Brands we trust (but please get a move on)!

This is where Brands earns his corn. If he doesn't fully succeed this window we know it won't be for lack of ability. It will be 4 or 5 windows before he can judged fairly from a blank hand so to speak and in the meantime we hope Silva gets us playing.

The gamble we absolutely must make at all costs is a striker or two. but they are not cheap...40m for a 19 year old...80m for Lukaku...the market is mad

Only one or two of those mentioned are even close to playing first team football let alone playing in a side challenging the top six.

There aint a rightback or centreback in that posse and a goalscoring striker must also be real high on Silvas shopping list, the damage done by previous managers is huge and being close to impossible in some cases to fix without running down contracts.

Gbamin could also cover at CB till January when we can buy Zouma if he's not first choice once Rudiger returns.

Zaha-Kean-Richarlison would give us one of the best counter-attacks in Europe I reckon!

Maybe they just want to
Keep their beat to player who signed new contract til last season.

Bid 45 for Everton Soares I say

You are joking? To back him up?

I still think we may see a CB or RB in even if it's a loan deal. Meunier is still at PSG with only a year left on his contract.

Some of us can remember at time when we approached the end of the window with no money to spend.

At least now the debate is about, 'which player to sign?' rather than, 'where did the Arteta money go?'

If they were the same price then I'd probably opt for Zaha but if he's going to cost twice as much then go for Malcom.

I'd be pretty delighted to get either to be honest. And I really hope we get Kean. Brands masterclass coming up?

I wonder how DCL feels about being replaced by someone three years younger than him? One minute you're one for the future, next minute time's up.

The former Saint-Etienne man has the No.5 stitched into his new boots, but that number is occupied at Chelsea.

Jorginho was handed the No.5 when he joined from Napoli a year ago, and will be keeping it into Lampard's debut season as boss.

In what could be a transfer twist, Zouma wore that number at Everton last season, and it remains unassigned by Marco Silva ahead of their opening fixture against Crystal Palace.''

It is clutching at straws to say the least, but would be delighted if it happens.

When Pepe decides where he wants to go likely Arsenal that then rules them out buying Zaha and were the only ones left in for him so we should some movement on this end of this week.

As for Kean, Juve are playing hardball with a low buy back clause, so we either accept it or we move on.

I'm expecting 3 signings: Zaha, Kean and a Gueye replacement.

Always liked Bryan as a player and a person. He looked destined for a long fruitful career with us until his horrific leg break.

Personally, I don't see the present management team as much of an improvement on their predecessors - particularly as Silva took us down a place last season.

Of course we have to wait a couple of weeks before we can form an opinion of any new signings ( and them as signed them ) but the portents are not good. Given that we have lost two of our best players this summer, the much vaunted pair have much to do to get the new season off to the good start we all look for.

I think we should cross him off the list. Malcolm would be my choice.

I also fear that Delph has been Gana's replacement all along, but I still think we will still have something to smile about come deadline day.

I wasn't aware of him handing in a written transfer request. All reports so far have been rumor's of him asking Hodgson to leave. Palace have subsequently denied that any request has been made by Zaha.

Happy to stand corrected.

I hope I am wrong, be more that happy to see in royal blue.

Any more than that though and we should walk, especially if we are the only club bidding. We should look to avoid a repeat of Sigurdssons fee and how it escalated. The fact is, none of the top clubs are particularly interested, if at all.

If Palace would go for it we could throw in any of Walcott, Tosun or McCarthy and the wages saved would pay for any increase from the original bid. There's a supposed 𧶀k a week, ٦ - 10 million a year, in total.

In fact, fuck it, all of them!

Like I said I want him at Everton I just cant see him coming to us.

Whether that is a negotiating stance or follows from Parish's "friends" chat with Zaha it is difficult to know but I think the price was too risky anyway.

I would much sooner take a punt on Malcolm.

I am more concerned with getting quality replacements in for Gana and Zouma without whom we are a midtable team at best. That is the difference top quality players can make.

Sounds like Silva ? Actually, a quote from Emery. They must all have the same playbook.

Yes Everton where noticeably fitted last season, but pre-season they are very much of the pace, in comparison to their opposition. This probably the root cause of Silvas outburst. Most people would be Pissed off in his position.

I still think there is slacking tendency at Finchs Farm when the pressures off. It happens after good wins and extended breaks. Silva has the same Pissed off look, move up and down the line looking demented.

Because we always leave it to the last minute / too late to get players in and bed them in

Do you not agree?

Expect most things to happen next week.

I'm nervous but hopeful. In Brands we have one the shrewdest & professional operators in the league so I am expecting good things.

Catchy name huh?

Wouldn't it be great if none of these big money deals happen and we get him on loan. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Silva sorted the defence last season. Now they have to sort out the attack... and they have 10 days to do it. Brilliant

Its time we made a statement of intent We are being talked of in the same way West Ham, Leicester and Wolves are. Thats with our current squad. If we do get 4 or 5 quality players in surely we can start to dream.

We appear to have lost Zouma. Gana also seems on his way. We've sold Robinson and Lookman, loaned out Kenny and a few other youngsters, and lost those off-contract (Jagielka and Williams).

There doesn't seem to be any movement on Mirallas or Bolasie so how have we moved on the "Koeman & Walsh rubbish"? Add to that, Mina could be facing a 6-week to 6-month suspension and we are being linked to more widemen, which we have in Bernard and Richarlison, and it could be argued that only Gomes is left from last season's buys.

Does that help in seeing part of my view of things?

They've known for months Gana may leave and will hopefully know exactly who they would like to replace him.

We are in for Kean and negotiations remain ongoing. Big hole in the squad sorted if we land him.

Centre back does need sorting and is dragging on. We definitely need something pacey in there. It has been very quiet on that front.

As for Zaha, I don't think anyone knows exactly what's happening. If Brands & Silva want him that much then try 㿨 million, however we structure it. If that fails then walk and try something else. Can always go with a loan if they want to freshen it up wide, which I think we do as Walcott is, frankly, shite.

I'm confident we will have 4 in before the deadline. The wide man could be the problem.

What annoys me is that no doubt Lemina would cost more than we get for Gueye and yet in my view is an inferior player.

Look you idiots. If we say we will leave the market with no deal...ffffllltyh...haha then all will be fine.

We have a glorious history and, ffffllltyh...haha...everyone wants to give us a cheap deal because ffffllltyh...haha we used to win something

Anyway ffffllltyh...haha to you wingey scousers.

Pip pip

Boris

If we wanted to sign Charlie Austin i'm sure we could have completed it weeks ago.

Aiming for the best players does not make us a joke of a club in my opinion. Its annoying not having time to bed them in but i'd rather have the right players come late than the wrong players come early.

It makes no sense at all.

If we go into the season with DCL as the only striker we have for the 3rd Season in a row it may cost Silva his job.

I like Brands but buying this late is utter madness and makes little sense. It seems we have learnt nothing from last years mad scramble.

The tendency seems to be drawing any activity out till the last few days of the window, when a couple of Big transfers trigger off a chain reaction, then it's mad scramble time.

I am confident that M Brands is far more abreast of any situation in the Transfer Window than any of us here on TW, and knows who he wants with the fees (within reason) accounted for, and also a Plan B in case things go pear-shaped at the last hurdle.

Tomori again seems to be a lazy link because of the Zouma connection. I can't see us going for someone playing in the upper echelons of the Championship last season, would we not be better off keeping Holgate who we know can play at this level?

I think Zaha for £55m plus two players surplus to requirements off the wage list is a good deal. Not many teams have an out-and-out no 9 but forwards who can play right left or centre. Having another option will open up space elsewhere, if we have Siggy, Zaha, Richarlison and Bernard with Walcott and DCL off the bench as options I think we'd surprise a few people.

I think if we got this over the line it'd be a great move and a statement of intent from Marco and Marcel.

He was more than adequate as cover for Seamus in my opinion.

" Everton have denied Sky Sport's report claiming the club made second bid worth £55m, plus Cenk Tosun and James McCarthy to Crystal Palace for Wilfried Zaha.

Chris Bascombe shared Everton's statement in the telegraph;

“Everton Football Club categorically denies that a bid has been submitted to Crystal Palace for Wilfried Zaha that included an increased sum plus Cenk Tosun and James McCarthy.

“Everton and Crystal Palace have a very good relationship. A bid was made over the weekend which was turned down. Both clubs agreed that was the end of the matter.”

Here we are again scrambling to get up to 5 players in the next 12 days before the season starts! It's the same every year...

Gana is a huge loss to what we do and the high pressing that Silva wants, I don't think we can replace that energy within a week now either which is more concerning.

Moise Kean looks set to join and I think he will be confirmed in the next 24 hours. That's a big one for us and he fills the striker role we have been demanding. So that's the attack sorted and considerably strengthened on last season.

midfield, it seems Lemina is on the radar but so it seems is Gbamin. I know little about the latter, but I saw the former a couple of times for Marseille and Southampton and he looked decent. He was playing centre back for Marseille though and bringing the ball out of defence, somewhat like Stones does. If they are as good as hoped, and with the addition of Delph, perhaps the midfield is stronger than last season.

Then there is defence. We need to replace Zouma, and I hope Timori is not the proposal. Even if he is backup, then surely that makes no sense as he's blocking the way for the impressive Gibson. We definitely need better there. Also, lets not forget Santi Arias. He's the Atletico Madrid right back up who is now set to play backup to Kieran Trippier. Brands is a long time admirer and we're heavily linked. I expect him to leave and hope he comes here. Although he's not young, would want guaranteed football and you wonder what that would mean for Coleman.

If all that comes off, and it is a big if, then we would be stronger. It does rely a lot on Brands, and let's see if he if his reputation is justified. I am hoping he is just doing his thing and playing the game and keeping the prices down by jumping between different deals, but by the time the window closes, the squad will be in place, and we'll have avoided the panic buys that created the financial mess in the first place.

Obviously I hope you are right!

I also hope if Moise Kean does arrive he's good and ready to be thrown straight into the team at the age of 19, we can't afford to wait half a season or more for players in attacking positions to hit the ground running.

I'm not too fussed on Neres to be honest, he doesn't look as good as the rave he has had.

When I am thinking about him I am thinking of Michael Owen in the late 90s and the impact that he had when he was 18 and 19. Banging in 18 goals in 36 games both seasons as a teenager.

It's do-able.

If Neymar signs then the HAVE to sell one of their non EU players. Only 3 per side allowed in Spain.

So Kean, Malcolm, Lemina. Well within budget. Lewis Gibson has done enough pre season to show he can make the step up to replace Jags & if anything be an improvement.

Still need a right back, Seamus was poor in the Opel Cup. I would also like to see us go in for Rafinha of Barcelona close to the end of the transfer window when the price drops. He can play anywhere across the front line & also in midfield. In pre season for Barcelona he has looked impressive & just what Marco wanted is left footed.

For me, there's a world of difference from Tosun to Kean. Tosun is a singing that makes you google him. Few had heard of him on here. Even people who watch a lot of Champions League football had only seen a couple of clips. He was a signing made of a certain level. A signing to cement 8th place. A sure thing to slot into a certain way of playing.

Moise Kean is someone most of us had heard of. He was someone that most football fans had heard of. And what he we heard? Here was Italy's new hope. The best player, or at least forward, in the country under the age of 21. The new Balotelli. Someone they considered to have the talent but not have the demons.

I don't think this is the next best thing. I think this is the best thing. If Liverpool were signing him, I would not be surprised. I would expect him to walk into their side, replacing Firmino down the middle, and would make them better. That is how good he is. And he's only 19. He can be so much better.

You infer settling, but this signing is one of ambition.

Who do we think?

I would really like Reece James for right-back but (as with Zouma) I don't think Chelsea would be foolish enough to cash in on such a top talent. I watched him at Wigan a few times last season and he looks an absolute superstar... better than Wan-Bissaka IMO. S. Arias from Athletico Madrid might be a decent option, if we could get him for the £13 million they paid PSV. He seems surplus to requirements after the signing of Kieran Trippier.

I kind of suspect one of the signings will be a loan... Probably in the centre back position. Finding a player as good as Zouma could prove to be tricky though. I'm hoping Mina can stay injury-free and cement a solid partnership with Keane.

Arias for the right back would be good, especially as a long term replacement for Coleman, but more likely we'll end up with someone unexpected only on loan.

As for the winger, though we've been linked with Neres, Zaha etc...I'm expecting it will be Jarrod Bowen from Hull.