Everton in for Reguilon

I would certainly take him, though I don't see left-back as a primary need unless Digne is to be sold.

This is a curious one. If we have bid and we want him, I'd interpret it in 2 ways:

Either we're gonna sell Digne to Man City or Chelsea for £60M and we can buy a couple of more players with the £40M+ profit.

Or, Moshiri and Usmanov are really backing Ancelotti and we're going to spend big on 4-5 positions and to hell with FPP, and we'll just pay the fine.

I'm not buying it that we'll go after a player who would want first-team football just to keep Digne on his toes.

Wow, just wow. Yes please. This kid is absolutely explosive down the left side, the essence of a modern attacking fullback. The goal he scored last week against Valencia was brilliant. Hard to imagine we could get him for £18m, but who knows.

I haven't seen enough of him to comment on his defensive skills, but his Transfermarkt record says he collects lots of yellow cards, so he may need to spend some time in Defense 101 at Ancelotti University. But if he can defend his position, Digne has a problem. He cannot compete with this kid in attack.

Madrid is only selling him because they already consider Mendy the best left back in the world, and he's only 25.

If anything, I hope he also better at defending then Digne.

Never heard of him but surely left-back is the least of our priorities?

I just wonder if he is seen as a left-sided midfield player who can cover left-back if Digne is injured or leaves.

Good that we are looking at this level of quality rather than some of the no-marks we have been associated with previously.

Interesting one. Possibly just the agent stirring up interest.

Full-back is an important position these days, and Digne does need real competition.

Or as some mention, Digne could be sold for a decent fee meaning more to invest (we need a right-back and 2 midfielders, and a winger plus maybe a striker and a central defender).

We're gonna be linked with all and sundry over the next 5 weeks or so. Hopefully we have the players targetted already and Brands is in deep negotiations – I just pray that, come Transfer Deadline Day, Everton are not one of the clubs running round to close last-minute deals.

Fran,

Ancelotti has stated that he wants to do business early so, providing we can get our first-choice targets such as Gabriel, I wouldn't be surprised if we brought in 3 first teamers in the next 2-3 weeks.

Why are we prioritising left-back?

Slightly off-topic, but I see from various sources (no quotes) that we may be seriously considering Cebolinha (Everton Soares) again. Please, please, let this be true. He is only small and similar in stature to Bernard, but what a centre of gravity he has, in comparison with his Brazilian compatriot.

This guy is like a Deulofeu, but better! I think he would thrive and prosper in the Premier League alongside his fellow Countrymen.

Are we going totally Brazilian?I hope so!

Just ask Jay Woods (BRZ) about this guy, we have exchanged many a message on TW about the 'Spring Onion'!

Kase – cos we're probably going to flog Digne if this story is at all true.

Derek – I'd love us to buy Everton Soares. A great player who would also do a great job selling shirts in the commercial department. Not sure he's the player we need for the right wing but he'd be a vast improvement on Bernard and Iwobi. It's feasible that he'd play on the left wing cos I don't see Bernard being with us next season.

A lot of transfer talk as you'd expect and a lot of talk about strategy, especially on the Richarlison thread. I'm not wedded to any of our players. I'm all for finding a player's replacement and selling the asset for more money.

It could be all of the above that posters have mentioned. However if it was Digne's replacement because we can accept a big bid, then be my guest. It's smart and I wouldn't be against it, even selling Richarlison.

Derek @ 10.

Don't get your hopes up on Everton joining Everton.

On this side of the water the only gossip surrounding the player is that Benfica is looking to land him.

If you missed it, THE biggest football story in Brazil this last month was Jorge Jesus, having landed five trophies in less than a year at Flamengo, turning his back on them and returning to Benfica.

Probably can't go back to Flamengo and poach their best players, so has gone fishing for the next best at other Brazilian clubs.

Ask Steve Ferns why Jorge Jesus's return to Benfica is not universally popular with their supporters.

Kieran @5; Kase @9. Because he's available now at a decent price and this may not be the case later?

Assume this is nonsense journalism, written to coincide with Baines's retirement.

Reguilon is one of many youth products who never seem to get a fair crack at Madrid. But we have Digne ahead of him. The left-back cover is light but Reguilon is not going to come here to play 2nd fiddle.

If the link was to Rodriguez (the young Spaniard, not the Colombian), I could see that happening. Goals and creative passing, set pieces etc.

But Reguilon... no, unless Digne is being sold. Being objective, other clubs' fans will probably deem Digne and Richarlison as too good for Everton...

And finally on Cebolinha Everton, he reminds me of Ribery. Lovely player.

I'm 50 years of age, have never seen him play a game, and yet like Derek, I'd love to see us sign Everton!

I've only seen clips or read what Jay W, told us about him last summer, but he appears both lively and hungry for the ball, so I hope this is more than a rumour.

Just read a report about Frank Lampard, in The Guardian. He's definitely hungry, talks about his trust in Petr Cech, because he's a winner – he knows how to win, and although it was inspiring to read, it was very sobering being an Evertonian, even at half-six in the morning!

Whoever we sign must be hungry, and not just for money, because the bastards get paid an absolute fortune. This has got to be the remit for Everton FC now.

This story originated from Sky. Which means it is probably total horse crap.

If there is any truth in it then we will need to bid more than £18m and I can only assume that it means we will entertain bids for Digne. No way we are paying £25m+ for backup to one of our most reliable players.

Strange rumour, but – as others have already pointed out – this could be a prelude to selling Digne for big bucks to someone like Man City/Man United, thereby freeing funds for other positions.

For me, this window is more interesting to see who we shop out. Of course, we then need to find good replacements, which is easier said than done. As I have mentioned previously, I would like to see us sell: Sigurdsson, Bernard, Iwobi, Tosun, Besic, Bolasie, Sandro, perhaps Mina and Delph. Get in a centre-back, a right-back, 2-3 world class midfielders, and a couple of loan signings for left-back cover and a striker.

Sam, make no mistake, I like Digne a lot. He's one of our 3 best players. But he is 27 years old, he is not one of the top left-backs in the league, and he will never again play for France (Mendy and a couple of others, all younger, have surpassed him). Nor will he ever get much better than he is now. This is likely his peak.

I don't know if Carlo or Marcel think Reguilon has the potential to carry us higher in the long term, or if they think they can sell Digne for enough to help finance a new midfield, but I'm not dismissing the possibility. From my glimpses of this kid, he is electric.

Or it could, as you say, be Sky Sports crapola.

Total bollocks from Sky. 😂😂

Who do you think is a better left-back, Mike? I personally think Digne is our best player, and definitely one of the best full-backs in the Premier League. I've only seen Traore blitz him, and I think he's a victim of not having enough players of a similar ability or character around him.

Sorry, Mike. I really rate Benjamin Mendy and was a big fan of his at Monaco. In the three years since, Lucas Digne has played more games in one season. Of course that's mainly due to injury, but over the last 18 months Digne has held onto the starting left-back berth for France. He played in all the internationals. Mendy appeared just once. You're mistaken if you think Digne has lost his place.

I don't know why it's suddenly fashionable to criticise Digne. Maybe blues sense his time is coming to an end, and want to say, “I never liked him anyway!” Madness if you ask me.

Mike. I think (and the stats suggest) that he is definitely one of the best left-backs in the league. He certainly has the second most assists. I also think Deschamps likes him and he has an excellent chance of being in their squad next summer. He started and came on as a sub in their last two matches.

You could be right at him being near his peak though. We could potentially sell him now for between £40-50M if Chelsea or City were keen and financially that would probably make a lot of sense. Though Ancelotti would surely be unhappy about losing his most consistent defender.

If we buy Reguilon for £20M and sell Digne for £45M then I'd say that's pretty good business. This is the sort of thing you see Dortmund, Lyon etc doing.

Nonsense, unless Carlo pushes Digne to play on the wing.

Sky are by no means the oracle but, if there is any truth in this, it must be that Digne is off to pastures new.

Who knows, but overall in one of the poorest, if not the poorest sides in modern times, in terms of levels and effort, Digne, for me was the most consistent.

I'd say there's more pressing areas in the park, that need replacement, certainly not left-back, but could it be to enhance competition...

It will be interesting to see if the young lad recruited in January gets to the fringe of the squad this preseason.

Mike. Sorry, mate, but Digne is definitely one of the best left-backs in the league and don't forget he displaced Baines with ease in the end. I can see him moving on unfortunately if the right price comes along and If Carlo thinks this lad can do it then we'd have to back him.

We need to get some early fresh hungry faces in to put pressure on the deadwood and deadbeats as soon as training starts. Carlo has only signed Braithwaite up to now. I think that's why most of this squad know they're on the way out. Fingers crossed.

Steve,

I'm pretty sure Mike is talking about Ferland Mendy of Real Madrid and not Benjamin Mendy of Man City.

Here we go yet again. One of our better players gets a mention in dispatches and a mob of you lot start gabbing about how much we should sell him for.
We should be more concerned with keeping the better ones.

I am hoping both will stay and we can have a proper left-sided left mid for a change. When was the last time that we had a left-footed left midfielder?

Digne is a top left-back, there aren't many better in the Premier League. 27 is a prime age for a footballer, I am not bothered if he doesn't play for France ever again.

Quality of delivery may go unnoticed when we only have 1 guy who can find the back of the net. The cross-field pass for Richarleson's goal v Southampton is a case in point.

This can only be if we've had a solid top dollar bid from a side, say like Chelsea. No way we'll be selling one of the best left-footed players in Europe (playing with none existant Bernard sometimes and manning the whole left side of the pitch himself).

The other side of the equation is that, as many mentioned, a top player from an elite club won't come to a mid-table team to be a reserve, so makes this rumour doubtful, again unless a fee for Digne agreed.

If we have agreed a figure to sell, then it has to be £50 mill minimum.

I've always said I don't mind selling some of our top players for a good profit, like sell 2 buy 3, as long as the recruitment is excellent. This gets the average ability of the team up more quickly.

If this rumour turns out true, then it works out well for us only if we get a good cash upfront deal.

Ideally, we keep Digne for another year to allow the team to go for Champions League this coming season with the new players, especially as he's the only player that can get a measure of Richarlison's runs into the box more than any other player in the team.

But if we take a good amount upfront in a cash deal, then we can buy another first-team left-back and right-back I suppose.

At this rate, we're looking at revolution as we've got midfield and possibly one centre back place in transition too – to play with Holgate, if we want to play on the half-way line and have more pace at the back.

Sky bigging him up this morning. You watch: we sign him and, 6 weeks later, we discover that he can't trap a bag of cement and is feeling homesick as wants to go back on loan.

Jim, Mike, Steve Mendy at Man City has been culpable for some costly errors. In the semi, vs Arsenal, he made wrong choices in attack on several occasions, in fact every time I watch him I am frustrated by his decision making, overhit crosses, shooting when better options are on etc.

I know he had injury problems but the real problem with him is a lack of football intelligence.

Good point about Madrid’s Mendy, forgot about him! The thing is he’s still only played for France a few times. He’s not that much younger than Digne. I think our boy is not done internationally like Mike suggests.

I don't believe any speculation till they sign for us. Some transfer speculation seems more plausible than others. This has no legs to me.

We have one of the best left-backs in the Premier League and have just signed a young French left-back. So why, with money being tight, would you spend £18 million on another left-back??

Marcel Brands and the expensively assembled Everton scouting network unearthing another rapidly appreciating diamond from... Real Madrid!

Oh, wait...

We can hardly afford to spend £18M on cover, therefore, if he arrives through the door either Digne is on his way out or Carlo is thinking of a formation change that allows but of them to play.

We need a centre-half with pace to finally replace Zouma, a central midfielder, to replace Gana, and a wide player to replace Walcott, Iwobi and Bernard.

If we achieve that and offload some of the deadwood, then it will be a good window and we might finish somewhere between 7th and 10th and accumulate 60 points in the season ahead. I would take your hand off for the above scenario at this point in time.

As others have said, if funds need to be prioritized, it doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense going after a guy who'll either be a very expensive backup, or force one of our few elite players to the bench. And I haven't heard so much as a whisper about anyone coming after Digne, who just re-iterated how excited he is to be part of Ancelotti's project.

So Chelsea and Man City will give us a free run at the left-back rated Number One in Spain, because they will take Digne off us for 2/3 times the price?

Surely they'll change targets now it's out this kid is available.

If this is true then we must have money to burn this summer. Unless of course this is to prevent inflated prices once we have £60M in the bank from selling Digne.

Or Carlo is thinking of moving Digne further forward and playing both of them?

Red Echo saying no bid has been made.

If it's a back-up left-back, I'd have a look at Ryan Manning from QPR, better at going forward than defending, but he could be another Coleman in his prime.

Remember, like 90% of what we will see and read in the next several weeks – it's only a rumour!

But I'm disappointed that several fans are okay with selling Digne, one of our best and arguably most consistent players the last 2 seasons, on the back of a rumour of a relatively unknown player.

And fans have the cheek to say players have no loyalty...

It is almost certainly bollocks. But it highlights how hard it is to build up a squad. As soon as a couple of players start to stand-out, they will inevitably get looked at by richer clubs. I'm not averse to player sales, but it's usually better to keep your best players than cash in. Unless of course you have been grooming the replacement.

If we were to sell Digne and / or Richarlison this summer, we'd have to spend the lion's share of the transfer fee on an immediate replacement. The replacement (being bought at lower cost) is likely to be inferior to the player sold.

This is how you deteriorate. See post-Bale Spurs and post-Lukaku Everton. I can't immediately think of any clubs that have improved after selling their best players. But clubs like Dortmund, Leipzig and Atletico Madrid manage to stay at the same level because they have a strategy in place to cope with the inevitable departures.

The replacements need to come in the form of world-class youngsters who are developed (including by way of the loan system) so as to be ready at the likely point of sale of the player they will replace.

Digne might well hang about for a while because he's played second fiddle at a very big clubs already. It's at Everton that he's got his career back on track.

Richarlison will leave – quite possibly this time next year. His replacement should be bought sooner rather than later (unless the club think it might be, say, Lewis Dobbin).

Justin, they don't.

See Tommy G runs at Goodwood in 20 mins. More chance of him coming back than this happening I reckon!!!

Sky are about the most unreliable source when reporting transfer gossip. They obviously have their own betting arm and often 'break stories' to stimulate transfer betting that have no substance whatsoever.

If a transfer story originates with Sky, then 95% of the time it's rubbish.

Man City or another Champions League club have offered big money for Digne.

Digne has said at this stage in his career it is a big opportunity and that he loves Everton but he would like to leave for the opportunity to play Champions League football.

Everton have agreed on the premise that we sign a quality replacement first.

[* That's if the whole damned thing wasn't dreamt up.]

Steve #22 (and Eddie), Jim is correct, I was talking about Ferland Mendy, not Benjamin. I mentioned in a post just prior that Zidane considers him the best left-back in the world at this point, which makes Reguilon sellable.

Sam #23, yes, that's what I was talking about. I'm NOT promoting that we sell Digne and buy Reguilon, I was just pointing out that this rumor is not necessarily outlandish if Carlo and Marcel feel that way.

Tony #21, as I said before, I love the guy and he's one of those in the side whose effort is never less than 100%, and his bombed long ball to Richarlison against Southampton that Rob mentioned was the club's best single pass of the season, no contest.

But I think his consistency in attack dropped off this season -- fewer accurate crosses, more giveaways on passes through midfield. At this point I rank him well behind Robertson and slightly behind Chilwell, which was not the case last fall.

I love the transfer window.

If the player is good and we like him, we say: “Oh, I hope this is true.”

But if the player is crap or we don't like him, we say “Oh, it's just paper talk.”

I love it!

From Robert #44,

“But it highlights how hard it is to build up a squad. As soon as a couple of players start to stand-out, they will inevitably get looked at by richer clubs.”

So can anyone explain why this doesn't happen to Wolves? And Leicester have also been pretty immune. Meanwhile, we still haven't replaced Lukaku.

I'll wait.

When we signed the young French lad, it was partly because he would get first-team chances this season. Either Ancelotti or Brands (can't remember who) said that he wouldn't be ready for the first team straight away, but they expect him to get his chances this season.

Therefore either:

1. The rumour is indeed an unsubstantiated rumour;
2. We are buying him to replace Digne;
3. We have lied to the young French lad and damaged our ability to purchase players like him in the future.

Personally, I hope it's not number 3 as I am often proud of our club for treating players and staff the right way, even if some call for them to be heartless mercenaries.

I've no idea if this is anything more than a rumour but, daft question of the week: Can either of these left backs play right back?

I mean, we have recently played two left-backs while having two right-backs and two goalies on the bench.

Everton are buying everyone – if you believe the media. Personally, I will just wait to see who Ancelotti gets in and not fuss over it.

If he is not fudged off by the money men, then I trust him to get the right personnel in.

Oh and balls to FFP – just pay the fine in a couple of year's time.

With regard to the FFP rules, I don't think it matters what we spend. After the Man City fiasco, I think Uefa won't be rushing to fine or ban anyone anytime soon. I think the FFP rules will have to be reconsidered or scrapped altogether.

Nick # 51.

"So can anyone explain why this doesn't happen to Wolves? And Leicester have also been pretty immune."

Raul Jiminez is off to Man Utd if you believe the rumours, and I've also heard Adama Traore could be in his way. Meanwhile over at Leicester it's not that long ago that Harry Maguire went to Man Utd and Ben Chilwell seems to have made it pretty clear he wants a move to Chelsea.

Nick #51,

Thats not true. Leicester have lost Mahrez and Maguire, Wolves are about to lose Jiminez.

These things do happen; however, we are not going to build a top 6 side by constantly turning over our best players and Digne is definitely one of them.

We need to build a side around Richarlison and Digne because they are the only genuine international class players we have right now.

We should remember NSNO and start to hold our club to it. Sir John was not one to sell off the family silver.

Frank,

There may be a slight relaxation in the FFP rules and that will allow some clubs to take advantage of it, but it will start to get out of hand, and Uefa will step in and enforce it by fining one club, and banning it from transfers for a couple of years – and we all know which club that would be.

Man City had the most expensive lawyers available to prove their case and were most probably just on the limits to be fined or banned.

The reality is we cannot keep either Richarlison or Digne. We have zero form in recent years for being a club worth staying for. We are a middling mediocre club, with piss poor recruitment.

Leicester especially have sold players and maintained a good squad. Dortmund similarly. Sell and recycle and stay at the right end of their league.

That's what we need to be; if that means selling Richarlison and Digne then so be it. We lost the last player I felt anything for in Baines; sadly players are transient.

Selling the player is not the crime, not being able to use the funds wisely is.

Nick @51.

It hasn't happened to Wolves yet but let's see how they fare if they lose Traore and Neves.

As for Leicester, they fell back after winning the title and losing Kante and Mahrez. They rebuilt pretty quickly because they have an outstanding recruitment and development strategy. That's what I'm saying I want us to have.

We need players in to strengthen the midfield, right-back, and centre-half before selling one of our best players, and I put this supposed transfer down to more lazy journalistic comments.

Digne's form may have dropped a bit since Ancelotti came but I think that was due to a formation change. Digne work is best when he has help from players ahead of him, his best form was when Richarlison was playing on the left side but since he has been moved as a striker Digne has to rely on one of the midfielders and the only one that has shown he can work with is young Anthony Gordon.

Bill #61, good point.

John 59, sad but true. This is where we are as a club.

Off topic, but if Arsenal hold on, will Arteta be the first ex-Everton player to win a trophy since Joe Royle?

Kevin @ 52. I think the likeliest scenario is that Digne is going no-where this summer – and Nkounkou is being developed as someone who is first-team ready in the next 12 to 18 months.

In the meantime, the stand-in for Digne might be a combination of Delph, a specialist right-back or possibly Branthwaite or Gibson (although I think the latter will probably be on loan again, hopefully to a Championship side).

Obviously if someone does come in with a massive bid for Digne (I doubt we'd sell for anything less than £40M) then the plan changes.

Robert 65

For what it's worth, Kirkbride, the second least-incompetent Echo writer, agrees with you. He says Carlo is determined to keep Digne and wants a stop-gap to support Baines until the new kid is ready. Maybe the Branko Ivanovic rumor is true?

Re my post at 64, I meant as a manager.

Joe McMahon

Did Heath win anything in the US or McCall in Scotland?

Well deserved for Arteta.

Kieran, I think Heath did in USA, but I was thinking in England. I should have made myself clearer.

Joe,

I think within England you're right. Beattie, Rowett won nothing. Can't think of any others.

Some wag on Twitter said he hoped that Arsenal would win today as they've had such a tough time in recent years – just a few cup wins and 25 years of unbroken European football.

As for Arteta, I believe he's only the second former Everton player to win a major trophy with a club other than the Blues, joining Joe Mercer who managed Manchester City. But I could be wrong on that.

Kieran,

Ivanovic would be a weird signing as these days he's a very slow centre-half and was always a right-footer. I know what you mean though – there are a few (unremarkable) free agent left-backs who might be worth a season-long deal. One name stands out, however – Luke Garbutt.

It's so obvious now that we were too quick to let him go. The campaign starts here to bring Luke Garbutt home. It's his time to shine (albeit on the bench). He'd only be 32 at the end of another 5-year deal. It's win-win.

Joe, Heath won a couple of minor league titles in the US, and I'm sure trophies came with them, but he has not won anything top level.

Note for the USA fans that Pulisic became the first Yank to score in an FA Cup final. The ugly injury pretty much ruined the historic moment, however.

Very good, well done Arteta. Would have been an ideal manager but, I don't blame him, took the much easier option. Digne I'm sure has caught the attention of Man City and will no doubt be sold because that is what Everton do. This bloke is sort after, I would imagine Everton won't be his choice, can't see it happening.

Thanks Mike, not the FA Cup Final but an American scored for Sheffield Weds in the League Cup Final in the early 90s. It might have been John Harkes?

It looks as though Mina has changed agents; they are saying its because of the interest from Valencia and Ligue 1.

It was indeed, Joe.

And I'm informed now that the first Yank to score in an FA Cup final wasn't Pulisic but Carli Lloyd scoring for Man City in the 2017 women's FA final.

Wouldn't be fussed at all if Mina left but expect we'd lose about £10m on the transfer fee. Digne would be a shame, even with a healthy profit. If they both leave it turns the plan for a restrained rebuild into more of an overhaul.

Difficult job for Ancelotti. Arteta has obviously got off to a really good start, good on him, but the Everton rebuild may have been too much for an inexperienced manager.

Eddie Howe gone from Bournemouth?!

Yes, he's gone. Cue the clamour for another 'get him in, he's a Blue' saga of bollocks.

Cheers, Mike, a couple of American global keepers with medals also, Tim Howard (with Man Utd) and I think Brad Friedel, League Cup with Blackburn. Two very good keepers, IMO. Both keepers also scored a Premier League goal.

Mike, it's my bloody phone: 'goalkeepers' – not 'global keepers'!

Eddie Howe is the new Alan Curbishley. Right man for that one club. Did a good job while it lasted. Obscurity now beckons for both parties.

Robert @73 - your comments about Luke Garbutt have to be a piss take surely? He's never been good enough for us before, so why do we need him now?

Reading through your earlier comments you said this about Leicester: “They rebuilt pretty quickly because they have an outstanding recruitment and development strategy. That's what I'm saying I want us to have.”

How on earth is Luke Garbutt coming back an outstanding recruitment and development strategy?!? Let's not get sentimental for players who don't make the grade because they are born and bred blues.

None of us should accept this mediocrity shit but instead should demand the best – Nil Satis Nisi Optimium anyone?

Robert,

Yep; good analogy.

The best free agent out there would be Willian. I was watching him against Man Utd the other weekend and, even at almost 32, he's still the main focal point for Chelsea's offensive play. Apparently an MLS and two Premier League clubs have offered him deals. I really hope we're one of them.

Also, if we picked up Willian, we could go for Everton Soares to play left-wing. If we got them two and lost Bernard and Walcott, we'd instantly score more goals.

Gavin,

I've always liked Willian but the last 18 months he's evolved into Mirallas with few good performances.

Kieran, I can only go on what I've seen this season and he still looks decent. His goals and assists are still highly impressive and miles ahead of any of our wide players. He's 31 now but still scored 9 and got 8 assists. You wouldn't turn that down on a free transfer. I think we'd have to offer him a 3-year deal though.

Andrew @ 85. I was being silly. About Garbutt at any rate. Relatively serious when making other comments.

No worries, Joe, I understood your phone!

And you're correct about US keepers winning medals, only it wasn't just Howard and Friedel... Kasey Keller won the '97 League Cup with Leicester City, and Marcus Hahnemann won the Championship title with Reading. (He was later signed by us but never played a game... was released the same day as McFadden.)

Slightly off-topic, I know because of profligate spending in the past, and the threat of breaching FFP Rules, we are to approach the Transfer market with caution, and hopefully ensuring we get value for money.

While I fully appreciate that, I am equally concerned that we are not following up the promising talent in Joe Geldhart. For the alleged £1M, I believe he wouldn't command high wages and could very well be an asset for the future.

While I also appreciate his youth and no experience of the Premier League, he has played in what many regard as the hardest League to get out of, the Championship.

He has scored once for Wigan in limited appearances, but has been involved in the England Youth set up U16/17/18 Groups and has scored several goals at that level.

It is being reported that a deal with newly-promoted Leeds is looking ever likely, I do hope we don't regret this in the future. After all said and done the last 18-year-old we got from the lower leagues has turned out a bargain in Branthwaite.

Other young players we never followed up spring to mind in Jarrod Bowen, David Brooks, to mention two, where we could have had for buttons, but chose to ignore and instead paid megabucks and long contracts on a series of flops... take your pick, too numerous to list!

Gelhardt looks like a good prospect. Low fee due to Wigan's financial issues. I think they've lost a couple of teenagers already – one being David Weir's son. I guess these teenagers look at first-team possibilities too.

Leeds might be a good fit for the young lad since we have Kean, Simms and Dobbin. It would be great if we pipped them though; I do like these kinds of signings (as long as we have a good path to the first team plotted out).

Reminds me of when we bought James McFadden before the departure of Wayne Rooney. I hope those days remain in the past and that we are increasing our playing strength.

Ah shit...

Mikel Arteta will be allowed to make major changes to his Arsenal squad this summer, with as many as six first-teamers set to leave.

You just know what's coming, plain as the nose on yer face.

Derek,

I don't believe we are looking for players for the future – we need, need, need players who will be ready for the start of the season in September. They will need to take the place of some of the deadwood to improve the team and make a good start, as, knowing our luck, the first 10 games will be against at least 5 of the top 6.

BBC saying we haven't yet bid for Reguilon, but are interested in Josh King... Oh, and we're interested in David Brooks, too.

Just another close-season, then.

King isn't a goal machine, is he... plus he's probably near 30. Any relegated player has to stand out, otherwise it's Wigan players and Pickford all over again. None of which were the standard we wanted, and we didn't move for Victor Moses.

The club have denied this story.

Denied... must be true then.

Plenty of top quality players in the Championship and the 3 recently relegated clubs.

Bournemouth are not a big or rich club, makes sense to raid them for their attacking talent.

4 players in, 1 big name, 1 other starter. 2 squad improvements.

Personally I want a quality proven goalscorer but I don't think it's going to happen.

Michael,(#95) I suspect you're an American so you won't be familiar with British adverts. The one that comes to mind is, "It's the fish John West reject that make our etc etc".

With that in mind you're probably spot on about the destination of some of them.

Going to Chelsea.

Apparently Chelsea are letting Rudiger and Zouma go. I can understand Zouma with some of the defensive lapses this season but Rudiger looks a top centre-back to me.

Jay,

Rudiger was a top centre-back before his knee injury but he has looked simply awful for much of this season, and he was a train wreck in the FA Cup Final. At 27, he's probably a good gamble for somebody to buy on the chance he regains his form.

By the way, the Telegraph says Højbjerg to Spurs for £15 million is a done deal.

Robinson at Wigan is available for £1.5M. Considering AC Milan tried to sign him for £10M, we could do worst than re-sign him as a back-up.

Bournemouth being relegated speaks volumes for their squad but Everton looked just as bad all season. They do have one or two decent players and one has been snapped up by City but King isn't one of them. Callum Wilson may be decent.