Martinez aims to keep Stones and add three more

I’m still hoping for the Yarmolenko deal to be salvaged, although I’m not holding my breath and also depending on Stones, if he goes I want Van Djik in.

I’d also not complain about Lennon and a decent goalie like David Marshall or Tom Heaton of Burnley to take over from Howard.

I think you can now add a left back, even on loan if necessary to that wishlist.

As I say though, holding my breath I certainly won’t be!!

There's no way Ashley Cole would come back to the Premier League, certainly not up North, not unless it was City or United offering him silly money.

And can we keep Stones? I would love him to be lining up against Chelsea in a few weeks time. But has his head been turned? Who knows what really is going on at Everton?

Sorry people, showing my age here, but I’m still unhappy we sold Alan Ball.

What a load of shite!

For what it's worth, the Echo are now saying we are after Januzaj, but they don't seem to have a clue and are just throwing names around like confetti today.

The Echo, rumours, failed bids for guys we had no hope of getting, from Shaqiri, to Yarmolenko to being favourites to sign Charlie Austin, it's all just dying on its feet.

We will be lucky to add anymore after these two River Plate lads.

I'm not even going to build my hopes up we bring him in now. I remember Moyes trying to get a permit for a young African player, a winger if I remember right, on loan from an Italian club, possibly Inter Milan, and he had more caps than Mori but we failed to get the paperwork and green light to sign him.

This club really is farcical at times.

Newcastle have spent £50 million so far without any money coming in. Villa have taken in £40 million but have spent £60 million so far. Most other clubs are over 㿀 million and even newly promoted clubs have spent much more than we have.

I agree about the Yarmolenko deal, it was probably all about selling Stones. So BK has told Roberto that if he wants to keep Stones then it will be just a pittance to spend.Who on earth is this Uruguayan? We could have gone for Ayew on a free and he is known.

As a long-standing Evertonian I despair at the club’s amateurish ways of doing business. I am embarrassed that a club of our size is reduced to picking at whatever bargain basement dross is left. BK will be asking for change soon. :(

Jon woods on John Stones "I won't sell him, Bill Kenwright won't sell him" #efc pic.twitter.com/qFDGeUfwOx

— DeulOviedo (@deuloviedo) August 23, 2015

I'm pretty certain we will keep Stones this season with the Euro's coming up. After that he will be able to pick his next move as I'm sure Man Utd will join the chase for him one of these days and you would think that as a supporter they would be a more attractive proposition than Chelsea. I know they haven't had the best of times since Ferguson left but they're still one of the biggest teams in the world and in the Champions League every season. They really could do with someone like Stones too. Of course my hope is for Everton to have a cracking season and make it in the CL so that he doesn't want to leave, but I'm realistic enough to realise we may not hold onto him indefinitely.

I think a move to Chelsea would be premature and could risk his place as a starter for the Euro's. Everyone at Everton seems intent on keeping him and Stones himself has made no noises about wanting out. If he really wanted to go he would have made spoken out by now! The lad doesn't strike me as cynical in any way and I can't see him suddenly dropping a bombshell on September 1st.

The nightmare scenario is no Yarmalenko and a Stones exit on deadline day followed by the last minute arrival of Evans. I think there would be real unrest then and I can't see the board allowing that to happen. We're not desperate for the cash and we will spend some of the TV cash on at least one big name. I just hope that it's not the case that Yarmalenko is demanding a wage structure busting deal and the wrangling is over his fee. If the transfer fee is the sticking point I'm sure we are just driving a hard bargain, but will pay what is necessary to get it over the line, even if we have to take leave it until the deadline.

(1) Get right away from the Premier League and find someone who is a complete stranger to RM.

(2) There are good players in obscure leagues all around the world. Let’s find one or two.

A very creditable performance against a 300m quid outfit at the top of their game; Stones still onside (screw the tabloids), Mirallas back fit ready for next game?; Howard played well (near post blooper aside); good camaraderie in the ranks, back-up centre-back of promise close to signing; Potential gem unearthed (note potential as an acknowledged strategy we have to accept); Yarmolenko deal not quite dead in the water albeit seemingly so (therefore we have to write off the dealbrokers without knowing the state of the discussion); Roberto still in pursuit of his stated goals (the doom merchants still giving premature negative messages).

Look on the upside please and be patient.

We need to be patient, support the team and I do believe that we will have 5 new additions to the squad who will all be international class to add to this squad over the course of this window. We already have two very good acquisitions.

The strategy is clear, leave space for the youth to come through, be creative with loans etc and then splash out on a Rom or similar one per couple of transfer windows.

Even if you have Champions League football £60M burning in your pocket, you cannot get the players you want that easily. Ask Arsene...

The two South Americans fit and add to the squad nicely in the context of the squad and team showing progression again yesterday, against what I see as a runaway Champions elect; it will all be over in 2-3 months of this season if Silva keeps fit.

The Squad after 5 Windows with RM is shaping much younger and some great potential promise, if we keep right behind this manager, this team and (dare I say before I have to get my tin hat) the Strategy and calm persistence of BK and the board.

We shouldn’t be looking at two lads from South America for answers; one of whom is playing at the equivalent of Championship level, and the other one lower than that. Our manager is that arrogant, he thinks that we are Wigan and he can try and replicate what didn’t work there at our club.

I am actually disgusted in the players we are linked with (Yarmolenko aside). And we all knew that wasn’t going to happen, didn’t we?

Our 1st eleven is pretty strong at the moment with Cleverley, Kone and Barkley being creative and not losing possession in the final third.

Lukaku needs a back-up in case of injury. He didn't fare too well against City and their organised defence but put in a good shift. I've given up worrying about his dodgy footwork. It ain't gonna change. He'll still bang a few in.

People are screaming for Howard to go and they may be right. He could be faulted with the goals but so could half a dozen of his team-mates. He did manage one or two amazing saves. One with his face. Okay, he's very scary with time to think but RM will stay with him.

The left back situation is a serious temporary blip. With Baines, Garbutt, Oviedo and Galloway on the books, we're not likely to sign anyone which would rule out shouts for Ben Gibson and Andy Robertson. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed.

So, as you have noted, who is this guy who will come straight in and improve the 1st team? Easier said than done. Certain RM players are set in stone. No names needed. They will not be moved to the bench.

For me it can only be a younger, more skilful version of Kone. Funny thing is. Leandro Rodrigues is exactly that. Granted, he'll need strengthening in the gym and brought up to speed but I'm very hopeful.

I can't have Bernard or Januzaj, who is a nuisance to his own team-mates, which leaves Yarmalenko, a player who would improve most teams. Goodness knows where he would play. The LB position is vacant and Kone doesn't mind the bench. Everywhere else is fully occupied. Maybe he can play in goal.

STONES LATEST

Regarding any potential arrivals at Stamford Bridge, we are still waiting to see if Chelsea will go back in with a fourth bid for Everton defender John Stones by the way folks, but we will keep you updated on any movement with this deal...

Hardly worth typing really.

Well said. It is.

Hmmmm...

They say he has neither the physicality nor the mentality to play in the Premier League.

Happy days.

I am afraid he makes Ossie look like a carthorse.

I only wish we were after and could afford a "David Silva"...

Even the lesser-spotted Jon Woods was apparently asked by a fan about it at the weekend, and said "We aren’t selling".

So now the only mystery is just who are we going to buy? In the meantime, the press are getting ever more desperate to be able to run their "As we exclusively told you... " line and sell Stones...

If's it even true that is... the media have seen it as a personal front to their big 4ism that Everton even had the nerve to turn down the earlier bids.

I say tell him no and honour your contract. He'll fall into line.

I agree he has no loyalty to us but then why call him a little prick and talk about people being proud to play for us?

The England defender informed Roberto Martinez, the Everton manager, last week that he wishes to join Chelsea if possible, but the Merseyside club have maintained a firm stance that he is not for sale. Stones is now contemplating whether to go a step further by officially requesting a transfer, even though Martinez has stated publicly that such a move would make no difference.

So there.

Of course you would. Loyalty has nothing to do with it.