Conflicting reports but Witsel situation appears unchanged

I'm sure the snag is probably a bit of mischief making to try and get a few more 00's added to the deal!

We've been linked to about 77 players so far this summer - and I'd like to know who (if anyone at all) really wants away - cos reports and counter reports are just getting jjaebcpmxloegdomgd...........

He's only been in his office a week! Players still on holiday after the Euros, give the man a chance! He still needs to talk to Lukaku, Stones and possibly others.

Hope I'm wrong mind, sign 'em up Ronald!

I think I saw this article shown on Twitter last night or today and Gianluca Di Marzio was running it and honestly, this fella talks shit! He's a football pundit for Sky Italia and does stuff on Italy's equivalent of our SSN so you'd think he'd have really good contacts over there and have his finger on the pulse of what's going on but he posts a right load of shit rumours what most of them have no fabrication what so ever!

You have to remember that this same fella not so long ago said we'd beaten Napoli to Witsel! Now he's saying Napoli are back in for him cos of complications?! This same fella has had us and other clubs in for all sorts of players. He said we had bid for Cristian Tello & Mbaye Niang! He said we were favourites to sign Nani! Said we were in for Zaza! Said we'd had a bid for Djibril Sidibe of Lille rejected! None of that he reported had any substance to em.

At the end of the day, no one knows anything right now and whilst things are quiet, people shit stir to fill back pages and columns.

IF it happens, it happens and we've got a good player. IF not then we move on. There is plenty of good CM out there for us to go for and I'm sure we're talking to plenty of agents just in case certain priority targets don't come off.

Us Evertonians who are attached to the club and rate our players, still think we need strengthening in certain areas so what is someone who isn't/wasn't attached to us and looking on in from the outside and seeing us finishing 11th for past 2 seasons gonna think when he's tasked with kicking us on and competing for the European spots and beyond? He's gonna know we're gonna need improving here and there to try and get to where he wants to take us regardless of what talent we have already.

Don't need Witsel, we've got Davies, Dowell and Ledson.

A team of homegrown players somehow feels more like a 'real' Everton than simply going out and splashing cash on big names.

Of course, it's really about getting a nice blend of the two.

I thought we had already bought the Russian player of the year! and if so does that mean this guy is not as good as Oumar Niasse?

Just read two tweets, one said its definitely off the other one said its definitely on. I think it's probably somewhere in between.

.

Niasse's "Player of the Year" award was just a poll run by a magazine. There was nothing official or important about it. Nobody who watched him play for us in recent months would be surprised!

By the way, Joe Ledley's shit as well!

The only question that really matters is 'is he better than what we have and will he benefit the first team?' Yes.

If a new player arrives, shirt in hand, contract signed, depending on who they are, we can jump about in joy or shrug our shoulders in disappointment. The window doesn't close until the end of August and we're only in the early days of July - despite the lack of sunshine we should take advantage of the fresh air and recharge our batteries for the upcoming season.

As for Witsel, I don't know enough about him, and he didn't stand out to me in the European Championships but then again how many players have announced themselves in that tournament?

It doesn't excite me personally. He's 27, played in inferior leagues for his career and looked decent and tidy in the Euros but I think we're overpaying. I think we might as well get Fellaini back in for that role with goals on top... (I will get hammered for that remark)

Mata doesn't excite me either because I think we have a better Spaniard in our ranks. Managed right, he is a world beater.

And I don't mean Robles...

Fellaini is awful as a holding midfielder. He's about the same age as Witsel and still hasn't got a proper position because he doesn't excel at anything apart from scoring the odd goal when playing behind the striker.

Manure have played him all over the place so he doesn't know what he is himself.

I'm not really saying bring him back because for me he isn't mobile enough but just don't get the fuss over the other fella.

Is he a holding midfielder? No: he's slow, can't tackle cleanly, crap in this role, undisciplined. Is he a second striker? No: slow, all arms, undisciplined,again. Is he a centre-back. No: see above,

Is he finished as an influential Premier League player? Yes... Do I want him back? For £2 million... maybe, but not a penny more.

Tackling is still awful and cannot beat a man on the ground.
Everton have a decent compliment of midfielders but the question is can Big K get the right combination and the right consistency from this bunch.

Far too often under RM they lacked the tackling and closing down when not in possession leaving the back line exposed. If Barry, Besic, McCarthy, Gibson and Cleverley along with Lennon, Deulofeu and Mirallas cannot form a strong middle-of-the-park line, then one or two youngsters must be given some more playing time if nobody is signed for the pre-season games.

Mata knows the Premier League and can change games. He would be my choice at present. Unproven Premier League players is the risk all clubs must take.

Role on the start of the season!

10 goals a season? I'd rather have him than Cleverley and McCarthy who cause zero panic in the attacking third and rarely score.

Man Utd did overpay but we also did for McCarthy.

Moyes played to his strengths and made him the focal point of the team – LVG never, plus to be fair to United, they have better quality so he doesn't catch the eye so much – I'd have him back, £15 mill?

As for Snitzel not seen much of him except for the Euros. Seemed decent but no world beater.

I think Lukaku will be with us next season; nobody will pay £65 million – he's not worth that fee. If we ask £50 million for Stones ,that transfer won't happen either – he us not worth that fee.

Guardiola looks more interested in Bonucci, a ready-made defender at the full height of his power. Stones is only potentially a good centre-half, far from the finished article that Bonucci undeniably is.

This just needs to happen now, let's force it through and move on to the next target.

According to conflicting reports, Witsel wants to come to Everton but his agent is insisting on Naples as he gets a larger cut. At the same time Zenit have told Napoli they're not interested in dealing with them. This is all very confusing.

I think that's a very good reminder, Phil. And in which case, just a couple of really significant signings could well take us into a top 4 position. Assuming, of course, RK really can make that much of a difference, which I have no reason to doubt. The fly in the ointment at the moment is whether we can convince players who would not normally see us as worth signing for that in fact we are going places; and keeping the players we value.

Phil, I'm personally looking forward to breakthrough seasons from the likes of Besic, Galloway and (believe it or not?) Cleverley. It might be a step to far to see the likes of Dowell, Kenny, Davies etc...but these other players I expect to come good this season.

I do expect to see three new top players; A GK, CDM player and a left sided attacker. As per usual, I'm quietly confident about the new season. No predictions though.

I would like some genuine physical presence in midfield; a big unit who is mobile, can put it about with an eye for a pass and chip in with the odd goal.

This is a squad that finished fifth three seasons ago. At the time I thought we needed two or three quality additions to push on. We didn't get them and were badly managed the last two seasons.

Keeper, centre half (if Stones is leaving), striker. We need a good spine before we can start moving forward again.

Thank heavens for me, he is a squad quality player at best and yet another indicator of the lunacy of current valuations. Lukaku £75 MM, Stones £50 MM? You can build schools and hospitals for that and it's obscene that instead we make thick under talented young players and their agents rich on it instead.

As for Witsel, well this has become more tedious than the yarmolenko farce. They can both sod off if they want to use us to get their "dream" moves to other clubs.

Next we have a go for Milik, who plays for... ???

We will still land Witsel, but not Koulibaly. Mata is still on the cards as this deal is dependant on Pogba going to Man Utd (although Mata has been transfer listed).The Fiorentina guy is a great backup if everything goes tits up.

Advice: stop panicking and go and have a look at the Chelsea sites and see what they are saying about "corrupt Everton" – it's hilarious. Comments about us having loads of money and must be corrupt... we have signed a third choice keeper and they are owned by someone from the mafia. :)

Onwards and Upwards Guys COYB!

Summer International competitions always disrupt the close-season recruitment and training programmes and we are just having to be patient whilst RK gets his feet under the table.

Personally, I'm as interested to discover how the new man rates our 'unusual seam of young talent' as I am about signing Witsel and shall be just as happy if he turns last season's losers into a Leicester City as I shall be when Mata waves the scarf!

But as good as watching players train is valuable it is still not the same as playing in a competitive game. I am sure with having played against us he has a fair idea of the talent in the squad. But Klopp didn't make any signings in his first transfer window, he took his time to assess his squad. I am not suggesting RK wont make important signings before the start of the season but give the guy some time first.

Our current squad has a lot of ability, and could do extremely well. We need clear improvements, not quick big money signings as a PR exercise to the fans.

Having a new manager means we're behind other clubs, they should be implementing long term plans, we're only just starting a new regime.

We will see... either way, the club seems to be dealing with transfers in a calm and professional way. I think that, by the end of the week, there will be some sort of news for us.

Neil @ 17 – nothing like an optimistic view of things then?

Just remembered why some of the posts on TW can be bad for the blood pressure at this point of pre-season.

He'd have played him in goal.

However, having lost so many players from the squad and with an aging Barry, Jagielka and Baines I am concerned that the top talent is already being snapped up.

Best we sit back and hope it's a good ride. Koeman won't let us down. If we can't trust him at this stage, God help us.

Errrrr....Osman, Pienaar, Hibbert.

Top talent........ 10 years ago!

"On the 11 July 2016, Witsel signed for S.S.C. Napoli for €25, on a four year deal".

Presumably not too much of a risk for that money ;)

Still think he'll be ours. Statement yesterday in Russian govt press saying Zenit were not speaking to Napoli.

Reckon we'll announce it the day he returns from holiday unless Chelsea gazump us...

In fact why don't we?

He must be worth at least £30 though Darren.

As for the week after next, I won't even go there.

I believe I speak for many ToffeeWebbers. Grrr.

http://www.espnfc.us/blog/transfer-...eiger-and-more-in-manchester-united-clear-out

http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/report-napoli-one-step-away-from-signing-Everton-target-witsel-102269

Personally, I'd look elsewhere anyway.

I'm a fan of his but it seems to me like Napoli may have been his first choice and no-one likes being second pick....

( yet another senior moment!)

( yet another senior moment!)

( yet another senior moment!)

Another senior moment. I hope they don't all join up.

http://www.football-italia.net/87287/sarri-rejected-witsel

Not going to flesh out my reasoning. So that's a Nope.