Reports: Atsu deal agreed

Shame on you for your low geographical nous.

Maybe Kennedy going on loan to Hibs might be a bit of a hint that we’ve got enough cover on the wings, hopefully with Atsu signing.

Now for the waiting game once more.

Wednesday I sat back at lunchtime with a coffee and The Guardian, and nearly spat my coffee out as at the footer of the front page, was a full width advert of "rat face" curling in a free kick at Goodison last season - bloody BT Vision. Why not run with a picture of Lukaku towering over the red shite to bury a header....

I think your going to have to forget about Gerry Delly coming back, at least for this summer as Barcelona clearly have him in their plans, whether that changes during the next 12 months who knows, he may eventually end up back at Everton sometime in the future.

Looks like the Atsu deal is going ahead so that’s as much a relief as anything.
He will give us a different kind of option, much like Deulofeu did last season, offering raw pace and an ability to take on the full-backs.

Apparently Atsu is more of a team player than the little Spaniard was and mixes up his crosses, Deulofeu always seemed to hit them hard and low, which in all fairness he did put in a few beauties such as Lukaku at Newcastle.

Whatever, the point is we are close to another important signing, just need to get another striker now to back up Lukaku whilst Kone continues recuperation.

Meanwhile, the RS line up two more £20 mill targets...

Just saying like...

Regardless. Chester thx for bringing up Henen as I was wondering the same. Atsu more important as he represents today. All sign point to YES!!! We are dying for an explosive winger! He and Mirallas will have defenses crapping themselves!

Traore is on ice until the Falcao situation is sorted. This could go down to the last day.

I’d much prefer the patient way RM is going about his business than for example Rodgers who seems to be spending money like a drunken sailor, another decent striker and I think were in great shape.

This will bring an added dimension to the first team, and I believe it will looked upon in the same light as our excellent use of the loan system last season.

Another plus is that it looks like getting wrapped up early. This gives us plenty of scope to further strengthen the squad.

Just think of any other transfer window. We're usually still frustrated at lack if incoming players at this stage, on top of the dread and anticipation that one of our stars is soon to be sold. That doesn't look like happening.

Baines, Barkley and Stones new contracts. Coleman never a worry unless ridiculous money comes in. Lukaku/Barry signed up. Jagielka/Distin look like finishing they're career here. Oviedo coming back to pick up where he left off. Naisy improving on his resurgence. Gibson exceeded expectations. Kone unknown, but the only way is up. Hopefully more of the same from Mirallas. Ossie and Pienaar with points to prove, but undoubtedly talented and great personalities to have about the first team. Besic, the cultured, technical animal that anyone/everyone in football would love to have in their team, or play alongside.

Good time to be a blue !!!

Cleverley played his best football at Wigan. I would have happily payed £8m for him after that season. Whether he is actually a dud, or has been mis-managed since is another question.

With the options we have in midfield, it is unlikely.

Also, the Everton - Man Utd link, coupled with the Martinez - Wigan link, screams of lazy journalism. We could buy a quality striker for £8m.

I’m not sure about Traore. If we have the money for Cleverley, reportedly £8m, I would rather it went on a striker as back up to Lukaku.

I have no doubt there will also be a striker, most likely on loan, before the end of the window. See, no need to panic!

I really wouldn’t mind seeing Traoré back; when fully fit, I think he can definitely be an asset for us.

I don’t know who else out there that would be available on loan who is decent and willing to be second fiddle to Rom and be happy with a few starts here and there in all competitions?!

Anyway it's great news because, regardless of whether we sign anyone else before the season kicks off this was definitely a signing we needed! I consider myself happy with the dealings done in this window. Anything else will be a bonus!

It's been a long long time(too long)since we've got such a talented group of players with a great manager in charge.

I don't fear any team this season but I know they'll all fear us.

I have to hand it to you you really do seem to have a reliable source. You have also remained steadfast when others doubt and for that you deserve credit. I'll await your future predictions with interest!

We may have almost the same squad as last year in numbers but improved in quality.

I’d recount everything, but it’d be better if you just read "Try Decaf" recently submitted.

Hope this is confirmed then we just need a back up for Rom and we're good to go for the season (with a couple of injuries to come back in Sept).

Hope the beta blockers can be put away by some on this site for now...

Atsu with a buy clause (happy anyway without), striker and 1 more and I'll be over the moon. We did more than that in last few hrs last season... we've 25 days to go!

However, both players were outstanding last year and there were serious doubts that we would get either player, let alone both.

Cheer up

However, both players were outstanding last year and there were serious doubts that we would get either player, let alone both.

Cheer up

Does your contact know if Osman will be first choice this year? That one gives me more nightmares than anything at present. The thought of him being even on the bench gives me palpitations .. please speak to your friend, Col.

We’ve been banging on for years about Red Bill spending some frikkin’ money. A lot of us on here are now mistaking scraps for Scampi... It’s not too much to ask for a little ambition is it?? We have made TONS off of different player’s sales going back to Arteta and maybe beyond. OFM and our current rock star wheel and deal with the best of ’em...well deal at least... we haven’t been wheeling a whole lot.

I guess the season is over, we can all go home. Phil Neville says that Man U will win the league this year: What a total buffoon.

http://www.espnfc.com/club/manchester-united/360/video/1977693/manchester-united-are-favourites-phil-neville

Michu £2m to Swansea

Benteke £6m to Villa

Diego Costa £1.5m to Atletico

Lewandowski £4 to Dortmund

Aduriz to Bilbao £2m

Giusseppe Rossi to Fiorentina £8m

Burak Yilmaz £4m to Galatasaray

Jackson £7m to Porto

It's not easy Harold, but it's certainly not unheard of...

Obviously we're not going to buy an elite, proven striker for that money. What we need is another hungry, young striker, with the right attributes and potential, to come in and contribute to the first team and provide some healthy competition to our Belgian Beast of a similar ilk.

Of course, £8m might get you someone who goes on to win Le Ballon D'Or. A young prospect who improves out of sight or someone from an unlikely source who has slipped completely under the radar. The latter would be perfect. We need someone who can do the job right now in the event of Lukaku getting injured or is having a poor game.

Also most of the guys Christopher was talking about went to foreign league not the Premier League.

Hey, true Blue!!!!

Although pre-season performances and results have not been what I would have liked to have seen I don't believe they are indications of how we will start the season. Having thought about it I'm also supportive of Roberto's decision to hold back Mirallas and Lukaku until the Leicester game because of their longer involvement in the World Cup even though I'd love to see them.

So why is it that when a half empty supporter like me feels things are looking good are we still seeing some almost vitriolic and negative comments from a handful of diehard pessimist? I have often wondered whether they are actually undercover RS activists who come on here to try to stir the crap for the rest of us!

With that logic Liverpool will probably have spent something like 20 million to our 6 (lets assume). Whatever way you look at it we are being outspent by the bigger tes as usual but we have not only invested 9 million this summer.

Agent fees, increased wages on contracts, fees and wages for Byrne, Barry, Galloway, possibly Henen and Atsu all cost money, theyre not just free because they don’t have a numbered transfer fee. Likewise Lukaku, Deulofeu and Barry probably cost somewhere around 7-8 mill for their loan deals last year. Lukakus was rumoured to be 5 just for the loan fee so that 33 mill plus wages that we will pay to have Lukaku over the next few years. Hardly a meagre investment.

I get your point Heken, i’d love to see more players come in for big money but we’re not City or Chelsea and havent got a Suarez windfall or massive revenue streams. We’ll have FFP restraints as well as our own budgetary limits. With these in mind I think its been a very positive window (not yet finished) and I am in full support of Everton’s long term policy of investing in youth and giving them passage to the first team rather than the gamblers approach of spraying money around hoping you crack the top 4. Our model is more sustainable, it has delivered a great group if young players whose values are alreasy huge. If they increease their potential and we prudently add to them then champions league qualifying will remain a possibility for as long as we keep them all together. When we do break in we will have a group used to playing together for Everton and are loyal rather than mercenary players who view us as a stepping stonewho will be enticed as soon as another club come calling or will decline in value as they age.

I think if fit Kone might surprise quite a few people and hopefully Lukaku can feel settled and improve on last years tally,Naismith is capable of scoring particularly around the box and always seems focussed and Traore (if we get him) could be challenging Lukaku in the scoring stats so a position that a lot of people think we are weak in could be very strong once everyone is fit and hopefully with the addition of Traore.

I really think goals are going to be an issue for us this season and we cannot really expect our full backs to contribute so many again. We need the three who play behind Lukaku (whoever they may be) to contribute about 25 league goals between them as were not going to get many from McCarthy and Barry. If Lukaku can get near 20, we might have a chance of top 4.

Europa League is just 5 extra games over 4 months before Xmas.... it's hardly the most demanding schedule to work around for pro footballers.

Also, our games following EL will be on a Sunday so, I suppose you're correct, we will not win any Saturday games in an EL week.

Success in the cup comps. depends a lot on luck in the draw bag till the semi's, so which of our 4 targets will Roberto make the priorities? Its not that clear cut.

For me the Prem. picks itself, then the Europa, the FA Cup and lastly the League Cup but you could argue otherwise, because we do need to win a trophy.