Raiola expects Lukaku inquiries

Wednesday, 31 May, 2017 190comments  |  Jump to most recent
Romelu Lukaku's agent says that the striker was promised he could leave Everton under the right conditions this summer but admits nothing is imminent in terms of a move.

Lukaku has been the subject of consistent speculation linking him with a transfer away from Goodison Park since it was revealed that he has refused to sign a new contract with the Blues.

There are almost daily reports suggesting that he could return to former club Chelsea, particularly if Diego Costa leaves the Champions this summer, but it remains media talk for now.

Nevertheless, Mino Raiola says that having agreed last year to stay for Ronald Koeman's first season in charge, his client was given assurances that he could secure a move away from Everton this summer if the right offers came in.

He predicts that there will be interest in the 24-year-old who finished as the Premier League's second highest goalscorer behind golden boot winner Harry Kane with 25.

"Lukaku had a promise that if certain clubs came this summer that he could leave this summer," Raiola said on talkSPORT today.

"We are not in concrete talks with anybody at this moment, but hearing the market I think some clubs will contact Everton

"If the price is right for Everton and the project is right for Lukaku then I think he will want to make another step, but we are not there yet."

For his part, Koeman has said that while the player has two years left on his current deal, Everton are in control of the situation and that he expects Lukaku to remain with the club for at least another season.

 

Reader Comments (190)

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David Pearl
1 Posted 31/05/2017 at 14:57:16
Oh 🤐 zip it. Looking forward to his cut.
Alan J Thompson
2 Posted 31/05/2017 at 15:02:54
Why hasn't "Honest Ron" straight forwardly told us this? Wish him luck as Ron waves players who don't want to stay, Goodbye.

That'll be the productivity phone ringing now.

Michael Penley
4 Posted 31/05/2017 at 15:14:26
Tell him there was only a 99.9% chance he could leave Everton under the right conditions.
Darren Marsh
5 Posted 31/05/2017 at 15:16:27
Well, wish you good luck and all that, but if you don't want to be part of what's happening here, see ya. Honestly can't be bothered with someone who thinks he's bigger than the club.

Cash in move on. Not as good as he thinks he is.
Jay Harris
6 Posted 31/05/2017 at 15:33:04
I'm guessing he was told by Martinez/Kenwright and Moshiri and big Ron are not happy about it as he has 2 years left on his contract.

Shows how slimy Mino Raiola is. So much for his 99.99% comment. Just shows he is working on a deal to get Lukaku out now.

Although we'll miss his goals, I think it will be good for the club to get this egomaniac out.

Darren Hind
7 Posted 31/05/2017 at 15:33:15
Ah, you are probably like me, Alan, you haven't been able to grasp Ronnie's particular brand of Double Dutch.

In fairness its a hard language to learn. You have to appear (to the ordinary man at least) to be talking absolute bollocks, backtrack from half the things you say, issue deadlines that will NOT be passed, blame the players for every bad performance and issue blindingly insightful statements like "We need to be more productive" to a section of the fan base who will be left open mouthed at your ability to state the blindingly fucking obvious.

Some people have somehow managed to learn to understand this language, They call it "Straight talking" some will refer to it as "Telling it like it is".

You'll find them on here most days saying things like, "The king is in the altogether? Fuck off!!! His new clothes are boss!!!"

Stan Schofield
8 Posted 31/05/2017 at 15:39:20
Nothing new here. It was already reported that Everton have set a price tag of £100M. If true, then (a) that is a condition that would be considered by Everton to be right for Everton, and (b) unless offers of least £100M are made, then Lukaku is going nowhere.

Kenny Smith
9 Posted 31/05/2017 at 15:40:59
The 'right' conditions being our conditions I hope.

I'm not sure you can blame Lukaku he's got his ambitions and he's been here 4 years but Raiola is one greedy shite.

He's obviously spent the £40 mil he pocketed from the Pogba deal!!!
Jay Harris
10 Posted 31/05/2017 at 15:43:08
Darren,

You're getting very boring now with the Koeman bashing. Koeman wasn'st even around when the supposed agreement with Lukaku was made. Sounds just like Boys Pen Bill to me.

Alan J Thompson
11 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:03:36
Jay (#10); Are you saying that nobody told the Manager that his main striker was likely to be here only one more season as agreed with his Agent, subject to the right conditions?
Tom Bowers
12 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:04:17
What the agent says and what the player wants may all be conjecture. The media will report all the facts and if they don't have any then they will make them up or exaggerate. We have seen it all before at this Summer break stage and the known teams with big financial backers will head the list of all the rumours.

Rom hasn't signed a contract yet and neither has Ross but that's not to say they won't and I am sure soon we will know what's happening. It's a waste of time taking any notice of the tabloids or the ''fake news'' as it will drive you crazy. Wait till the club makes the announcements.

John Daley
13 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:22:11
"I'm guessing he was told by Martinez/Kenwright and Moshiri and big Ron are not happy about it."

Martinez? That's a pretty wild and probably wide of the mark guess (as well as a pretty blatant attempt at pinning the blame for any brewing discontent at the door of the ex-boss rather than the current bloke).

The story above states:

"Mino Raiola says that having agreed last year to stay for Ronald Koeman's first season in charge, his client was given assurances that he could secure a move away from Everton this summer if the right offers came".

Not as if a newly powerless Martinez will have been making promises on his former club's behalf, trying to sway Lukaku to stay one more season for the sake of his 'brilliantly magnificent, magnetic, could have been my best mate if we were born in different countries and possessed radically different personalities' successor.

We all know there were still persistent rumours about Lukaku pissing off well after Martinez had left Everton with the sort of eulogies not muttered since Milli Vanilli retired from the music scene. It rumbled on for most of the summer.

His decision to stay wasn't reached until late August, after Koeman had already made himself fairly comfortable in the hot seat.

At the time, Koeman said:

"He spoke to me yesterday morning and told me he had made the decision by himself to stay at least one more season at Everton. It is the same value as a mega-signing for this club. It is absolutely fantastic news for the club and our team. When it is ten days before the end of the transfer window and you are still focussing on business you may have to do as a club if he left, then it is just really good.”

Lukaku himself later admitted it was Koeman who talked him into staying:

"When [Ronald Koeman] called me during the European Championship I told him how I felt. I was surprised how honest he was with me. He was honest in the way that he wanted to work and how he wanted the team to play. He saw me as an important figure and a big character."

The charge sheet against Martinez is lengthy enough without fitting him up with shit that went down months after he'd been sent packing.


Will Mabon
15 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:25:20
Oh, that's interesting to see: a move would not be about more money for Lukaku's pocket, it has to be the right project for him. Nice to see a footballer thinking past his wallet for once.

Darren, #7 - last paragraph, you forgot "Refreshing change".

John Daley
16 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:25:50
"Koeman wasn't even around when the supposed agreement with Lukaku was made."

According to who?

Mike Green
17 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:28:53
Well, I for one applaud him for admitting that they're not in concrete talks with anybody and no-one has even contacted Everton about Lukaku yet. A bit strange. Why isn't the phone ringing off the cradle for "the best young striker in Europe"..?

Answers on a postcard pleaseMust be using the show as free advertising space for his product that it would appear none of the blue riband clubs seem to want.

Love him or loathe him, Raiola knows what he's doing; Rom knows what he wants and we've said we'll sell (for an exorbitant price) so why isn't this thing on? Because top clubs aren't convinced? Because top clubs are willing to wait to run the fee down? (Or just a post will do...)

Jim Harrison
18 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:30:35
Darren Hind (#7), do you ever give it a rest?

Agent pimps his wares. A player that we all know wants away to Champions League team. But, as of yet, no actual offers or deals. These discussions he speaks of, did they happen? Who were they with? Did anyone actually make a bid last season for Rom or did he have to stay at Everton because no-one came in for him?

But that doesn't matter, does it? Let's just launch into another rant. The manager is an idiot who blames players for his own short comings... His statements to the press are not profound, philosophical masterpieces that offer a deeper insight to life the universe and everything (42).

Why would anyone at the club disclose this supposed agreement? In the Barkley links, posters have continually told us that the club and manager have been unprofessional in their conduct, discussing confidential contractual information, but now they should disclose discussions? Ones that may or may not have actually happened?

Oliver Molloy
20 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:34:04
Darren @ 7,

With the "deadline" guy our Ross Barkley, it is reasonable for the manager to put a deadline (which probably had been agreed with Moshiri and Co) on which Ross had to sign. He has a year left and the club have this transfer window and a responsibility to try and get a decent fee for him.

Just like Lukaku, if he doesn't want to be here, then away you go, set the world alight somewhere else. He and his advisors are looking for mega money which he doesn't deserve in my opinion. Ross Barkley certainly isn't "productive" enough, is he!

Harry Wallace
21 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:44:32
Stop treating us like shit. If he wants to go, let him. No player is bigger than the club.
Brian Williams
22 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:53:00
So Lukaku was promised a move was he?

Was it a similar,legally binding, one contained within the terms of that contract thingy he signed of his own free will?

Bob Hannigan
23 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:53:55
Mino Raiola,
1) Sit down and shut the fuck up;
2) If anyone wants him and pays the price, he is theirs, IMHO.
Jay Harris
24 Posted 31/05/2017 at 16:56:24
John, it is all he said you said but, as far as I understood it, Bill and Martinez told him he could go if the right offer came in towards the end of last season. But he was then asked to give it one more season by Bill with the new manager coming in.

None of us know what actually went down which is why I said "supposed" and "sounds like".

It is just my opinion, nothing more.

Mark Morrissey
25 Posted 31/05/2017 at 17:04:57
I just hope that Chelski come and take him this week so the "big deal" of the summer goes through or it could get tortuous to read about, week-in & week-out, and it will fuck up our business all over the shop. Sell him and move on for God's sake!
James Byrne
27 Posted 31/05/2017 at 17:23:26
Who gives a fuck?

Lukaku's performances and his overall attitude at the end of the season were a disgrace.

Please let some massive club come in for the lad and get rid.

Steve Bingham
28 Posted 31/05/2017 at 17:29:17
I was very vociferous on here last summer about Rom and the constant media transfer hype but now, one season on, I want to say that the only person now with no class is the slimy agent. The player has been the very example of professionalism and just got on with the football.

However, if he does go, it's now no longer the catastrophe that it would have been. I still have every confidence in Koeman, Walsh and Co to have us starting next season with a markedly stronger team and bigger squad. A couple of top quality signings very early on wouldn't go amiss, for supporters and players alike though.

Derek Knox
29 Posted 31/05/2017 at 17:30:58
Sorry about that, I am on holiday in Croatia, and hotel wi-fi not that good.

Was going to say, that agents are about as bent as a Boxing Day turd, and have their own interests, at the forefront of any negotiations, are footballers that naive, or are they earning that much, that they care not about the Club, the fans, and their own image?

I suspect the latter is the case. As someone has already said, none but a minority want him to leave, so if that is the inevitability, despite having two years left on his contract, let's get this done and dusted for the best price we can possibly get and move on.

Oh, I forgot, agents are involved!

Robert Elliott
30 Posted 31/05/2017 at 17:45:39
I have total confidence in Koeman and Walsh to identify players to replace Rom if he leaves; unfortunately, I have absolutely no confidence in Kenwright and Elstone actually getting them!
Chris James
31 Posted 31/05/2017 at 17:45:47
Jesus, can this guy just shut the fuck up, seriously! He's been touting Lukaku about for the last few years – if one of the Champions League teams want him, they know where he is... this isn't a bloody market stall.
Chris James
33 Posted 31/05/2017 at 17:47:20
There needs to be some serious regulation on agents soon.

Advise the client on his contract, fine, look for a club if he's out of contract, fine. But having these people incentivised to constantly unsettle players and move them on whether good for them or not is a BIG problem.

Also, the money being leeched out of the game is criminal.

Rick Pattinson
34 Posted 31/05/2017 at 17:53:33
This is all getting stale now. He should shut the fuck up, stay with Everton, stop acting like Anelka, and become a club legend. We wont replace him as quick as we think we will. We've finally found a 20+ goals striker and he shits all over us.

But Rom unless your heart is with the club then it's time to go and find that oh so precious Champions League status somewhere else. We will be there soon enough anyway. Can't say I'd wish you good luck either.

Kristian Boyce
35 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:00:51
This actually sounds more of a desperation on the agent's side as it seems there isn't the market for him. There probably was quite a bit of interest in him 6 weeks ago, but seeing him basically down tools for the last month of the season probably turned a few clubs off him.
Will Mabon
36 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:00:57
Chris (#33), couldn't agree more. I'm still surprised at how little fuss was kicked up particularly by the "Big" media players, when we heard how much Raiola scooped out of the Pogba transfer.
Brian Williams
37 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:09:23
What I can't understand (if it's true) is why the club would promise him he could leave anyway under certain circumstances.

Why didn't the club just state that he'd signed a five-year contract, was happy to do so at the time and wasn't forced into it, and the club expects him to honour that contract?

James Hughes
38 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:11:28
His agent expects enquiries? Surely the golden boy would have had many enquiries already and a host of clubs beating a path to his door.

We may miss the goals that Lukaku scores and there is a very good chance that we will struggle to replace that. We do need to overhaul the way we play and Rom leaving would help the change.

The main point being, stop treating Everton like a second-hand car dealership.

"I have a rare Lukaku for sale not many miles on the clock, what are the bids "

Last year there wasn't any bids, will it change?

Stan Schofield
39 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:15:49
What the agent says is irrelevant. There is a contract, and the player will stay until the end of that contract if the club decides so.
Gerry Quinn
40 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:18:53
Good riddance – crap attitude. I hope he joins Man Utd and they get dumped out of Europe straight away.
Gordon Crawford
41 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:24:58
Can we sell him now??? Please just go.
Phil Walling
42 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:27:25
Boring, boring I think I'll watch Marine till he's sold. But do they run coaches from Pafos?
Patrick Murphy
43 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:32:06
I don't think they do much in the way of transport to and from Pafos Phil (#42), but you never know, they too may enjoy your musings on footy – it's free to join I believe :)


Marine Forum

Colin Glassar
44 Posted 31/05/2017 at 18:51:14
Isn't this slimeball, Raiola, under investigation for tax dodging or fraud? We should tell him until he clears up his act we are breaking off all contact with him.

I still don't think Rom will leave this summer.

Darren Hind
45 Posted 31/05/2017 at 19:09:33
Jay Harris and Jim Harrison,

You are either in denial or you simply don't know what you are arguing about. The conversations between Lukaku and Koeman were well publicised and directly quoted at the time.

"Give it a rest"? No chance. There are too many people like you two who are prepared to argue black is white in defence of this clown – see above.

BTW, I've only posted 2-3 times in the past couple of weeks. It would seem even the smallest amount of posts which interrupts your love-in is too much for you to bear.

James Stewart
46 Posted 31/05/2017 at 19:18:13
Mino Raiola interview.

http://talksport.com/football/if-certain-clubs-come-he-could-leave-mino-raiola-tells-talksport-romelu-lukaku-could-depart

Not what I expected I have to say. Talks articulately on a range of topics.

Andy Crooks
47 Posted 31/05/2017 at 19:21:55
Darren, there is no-one on here who cannot see Koeman's flaws. Some of us are prepared to give him time. I disliked some of what was served up last season but I think you are harsh and unfair.

You appear to have your mind closed and I am surprised at that. None of us embrace mediocrity, but some of us are not for sacking a coach who has got us into Europe in his first season.

Jimmy Salt
48 Posted 31/05/2017 at 19:34:35
I really hope he leaves. Attitude is awful, acts as if hes doing us a favour being here and even then he only turns up half the games.

I think him leaving could force us to adapt to a more all-round game from an attacking point of view and we will be better off for it.

James Morgan
49 Posted 31/05/2017 at 20:20:39
There's only a handful of clubs that can afford him. Most of the clubs won't want him.

Real? No.
Barcelona? No.
Juventus? No.
Bayern Munich? No.
Man City? No.
Arsenal? No.

That leaves Chelsea and Man Utd.

United will by all accounts pursue Griezmann. So, ultimately it's only going to be Chelsea in for him. They've got plenty of cash in reserve from all their outgoings to China before they even touch Roman's billions, but will they pay what we are demanding? Costa is likely to go so their hand will be forced a little more, we want £100m according to reports, maybe we can be haggled down to £70m which would be fair.

The sad thing is how much Mr Raiola will take out of the game. He will be certainly doing a few PowerPoint presentations of Rom's YouTube highlights in some boardrooms that's for sure.

Eddie Dunn
51 Posted 31/05/2017 at 20:42:14
I know we will struggle to fill the void that Lukaku's goals have filled, but I have become so fed-up with his pimp opening his cake-hole, that part of me will be glad to be rid of the egoist and his handler.

I honestly would be happy ten points worse off, with no Europa league, sitting in 8th. I want to see players like Coleman, Baines, and Jags who walk over to the away hordes and applaud them. I am so sick of merceneries, who don't give a fuck about the shirt.

If I was on £60,000 a week, I would run over to the away fans, give them all of my kit bar my jockstrap, and throw tenners into the stand. I'd also tell my agent to shut the fuck up!

David Currie
52 Posted 31/05/2017 at 21:01:06
Get rid of Lukaku, a goal-scorer no doubt although not much against the better teams. Poor technically, poor movement off the ball and crap attitude. I can't believe any club would spend huge money on this player.

I want to see EFC with strikers that are skilled and have good movement and high work ethic. The amazing thing for me is he never gets taken off. I never want to see him play for us again.

Stu Smith
53 Posted 31/05/2017 at 21:03:34
Last time I checked we hadn't been taken over by the Americans like that lot across the park. Shouldn't it be 'enquiries' – not 'inquiries'? :)
Ian Riley
54 Posted 31/05/2017 at 21:30:56
No bids. Nothing to talk about.

Just another summer at Everton.

Teddy Bertin
55 Posted 31/05/2017 at 21:37:16
John Daley (#13). People have short memories sadly, John. Easy to blame Martinez and Kenwright for everything that is wrong at the club.

I do think the Pickford bid (if true) was insulting and surprising. I hope Moshiri is seeing that some of the people behind the scenes are lightweights and not fit to run such a big club in such a huge industry.

I hope we cash in on Rom for £85m. If Barkley goes (which will be a shame but looks likely) that could be £40m. That would be £125m in the bank and towards FFP. I assume that there is £50- 75m to spend regardless of those sales as we keep hearing that we don't need to sell and have transfer targets.

So that could be two players out and 5 or 6 players worth around £35 million each. That's still a lot of money (even when players like Sissoko go for £30m) and we could see a completely transformed starting line up next year.

I'm looking forward to seeing what type of player Koeman wants because he did a great job at Southampton after losing half a team.

Frank McGregor
56 Posted 31/05/2017 at 21:40:24
Like most posters on here, I will be glad to see the back of him as soon as possible.He''s just a cancer in the dressing room.

We need to go into Europe next season with a fully committed squad.

Kieran Kinsella
57 Posted 31/05/2017 at 22:21:47
Raiola's nightmare is Rom staying on his current contract.

If he signs a new deal, more money for the agent. If he is sold, more money for the agent. If he stays as is, no extra dosh for Raiola.

His dream scenario would be Rom signing a new deal on more money but then leaving anyway.

Jon Cox
58 Posted 31/05/2017 at 22:33:40
Fifty quid says both are with us next season!

Andrew Presly
59 Posted 31/05/2017 at 23:15:18
Keep the boy; another 25 goals, World Cup under Martinez, then sell for £85m-ish even though he has one year left.

If anyone has a better strategy for Everton / us, enlighten me.

Eugene Ruane
60 Posted 31/05/2017 at 23:54:48
"We are not in concrete talks with anybody at this moment."

But we are continually in non-concrete talks with every gossip and two-bob, lazy-arse, fat-arsed, alkie hack looking to fill a blank space with any old bollocks (before fucking off to the Spoofers Arms for a session).

Bill Gienapp
61 Posted 01/06/2017 at 00:25:35
I figure Chelsea will either come in for him... or they won't. And a deal will be struck... or it won't. Not much else to say.

I don't really see any other logical landing spots for Rom this summer. Maybe Man Utd, though I remain skeptical, especially when they seem to have their heart set on Griezmann.

James Watts
62 Posted 01/06/2017 at 00:39:51
Ahhh, the poor agent. No one had talked about Lukaku for a week or so... better get a story back out there then just to remind Chelsea he's waiting for them!

So come on Chelsea, hurry up and bid so we can sell and start buying some players of our own. Unfortunately we can't buy until then as we'll breach FFP rules. And not because we still haven't got a pot to piss in. Honest.

Nigel Johnson
63 Posted 01/06/2017 at 00:40:10
I think the only reason we are not buying at the moment is because Farhad doesn't have the cash. we are simply waiting for someone to buy Lukaku and even Barkley and then we will spend.

Bill Kenwright needs to stop trying to be the best wheeler and dealer and start buying players now. Pickford is not worth £30 million but worth more than £8 million. Everton need to buy a top player than other top players might be happy to follow. Koeman needs to get angry again and force the board to spend the money.


Jim Harrison
64 Posted 01/06/2017 at 02:00:54
Darren Hind (#45), it's the stupid comments about Koeman being a clown that draw ire. Not because I believe he is infallible or should not be criticized, but because they are disproportionate.

A manager who improved the squad and league position? Obviously a blithering idiot! Why is it only me who can see this guy for the charlatan that he is? Shit logic. Perhaps you like the wind-up, or you are just blind to what is actually obvious. An improvement in virtually​ every aspect on the previous season. That's why some of us choose to look favourably on the manager.

Again, you talk about reports in the press. Are there any quotes, from manager or club to the effect of "play one more year then you can leave"? Or did Koeman just say that talks had been held and the player was staying?

You may have only posted 3 or so times, but all with the same message, one of over the top outrage at the manager. Be critical, be disappointed, but stop just turning up and shouting the same, caustic message.

David Pearl
65 Posted 01/06/2017 at 02:02:12
Maybe we can get Baty chops or whatever his name is in return and then also sell him back to Chelsea for £100m in 3 years.

Regardless what happens with Rom and Ross, we still need 3 top class attacking players. FFP is really working. Keeps allowing Man City, Man Utd etc to spend whatever they want. Pretty soon we won't have any other option but a European Super League.

How can Huddersfield play in the same league as the super rich teams? Over tired, can't sleep... moan to myself on ToffeeWeb!

Brian Wilkinson
66 Posted 01/06/2017 at 02:03:43
No love lost from me, bring in two strikers who can score goals and who are team players. The sooner he goes, the better, instead of the circus every month if things are not going his way.

Mind your head on the way out of Goodison, onwards and upwards Everton. No player is bigger than Everton Football Club.

Derek Thomas
67 Posted 01/06/2017 at 06:21:55
Raiola [In manner of fruit stall holder]:

'Get yer Champions League striker here, get yer big Champions League striker here'

'Oi Missus, yes you Missus, fancy one of these fer yer Oldman's footy club? luvvly jubberly, you know it makes sense.'

'Get yer big Champions League striker here' etc, etc.

Darren Hind
68 Posted 01/06/2017 at 06:27:33
Jim Harrison,

What is it going to take for you?

Nobody has spoken about "reports in the press" – we are talking about quotes made (and filmed) and all you can say is "Yeah, you may have seen and heard both Lukaku and Koeman say these things . .but what does that prove?" FYI the quotes have been put up by John @13.

There are levels of expectation here and yours are very clearly not the same as mine. Your repeated claim that we have improved dramatically makes me wonder which team you watched last season.

It was hardly a poisoned chalice which was passed to Koeman. It's true he inherited a squad which was clearly unfit and without discipline, but he also inherited a dressing room bursting with internationals – one where three players alone were worth around £150m. He inherited a group of youngsters to call on who would prove to be good enough to win their league. There are few (very few) managers who would not have brought about some improvement in our results, but I don't think there are any who would have done it in such uninspiring fashion.

Evertonians were forced to endure at least 30 miserable, miserable matches. If you have any doubts at all about that, read back through the reports from Ken, Lyndon, Michael and Paul. Despite being given all the money received for Stones (plus another £30m). Koeman has turned us into one of the most ugly teams in the Premier League. It wasn't just the fact that we were poor away which made me feel such embarrassment, it was the fact that we did not have enough ambition to muster a single shot in many of those games.

So throw up your worthless stats which are completely distorted by several flattering scorelines at home; they wont wash with me, I was there and I know what I saw.

I'll swerve Koeman threads for a while because I know nothing will change, but I'll leave you by offering you a little of your own advice; Be positive, make yourself happy by recanting meaningless stats. Just stop turning up on an almost daily basis to apologise for this fool.

Jay Harris
69 Posted 01/06/2017 at 06:34:51
Darren, would this be the same clown who played for Barcelona and is revered by their fans, was a top Dutch international player at a time when Dutch football was appreciated the world over, took Southampton to a record 6th place in the Premier League despite having half the first team sold just as he got there?

The same clown that brought some pride back to Everton following the disastrous tenure of Martinez?

I am afraid that your rants are becoming so laughable that you are the clown and not our current manager.

Darren Hind
70 Posted 01/06/2017 at 06:39:58
Jay,

You made a point about Koeman not even being here when the discussions took place. That point has been laid bare, you will just have to accept that.

You will also have to accept that Koeman's ability as a player will not change the way he manages.

Will Mabon
71 Posted 01/06/2017 at 06:42:01
James (#46), thanks for posting the link. I listened to the interview.

Whatever the guy has to say, when people are pulling £40-odd million out of deals a la the Pogba transfer, we really are in situation of decadence within the sport.

It's all well and good Raiola talking about repairing the system, and mafia journalism. The actual Mafia would love to be in on this kind of action.

Will Mabon
72 Posted 01/06/2017 at 06:45:50
"FFP is really working. Keeps allowing Man City, Man Utd etc to spend whatever they want. Pretty soon we won't have any other option but a European Super League."

Careful now, David. Simple football fans are supposed to be blissfully unaware of long-term strategic thinking.

Nev Renshaw
73 Posted 01/06/2017 at 06:47:50
No point in trying to hang on to somebody that doesn't want to stay. That goes for Barkley as well.
Paul Dewhurst
74 Posted 01/06/2017 at 06:50:32
If he goes this summer, it needs to be for more than Man Utd paid for Pogba, anything less sells us short. I'm happy if he stays as I think it will be another 20 goals.

If not fine, no bitterness here but reading this thread I see where the Bitter Blue tag runs true. I would like us to set a deadline (and keep to it) if he's going to leave BUT buy first and get caught short.

When we sold Rooney and when we sold Lescott we where a stronger team afterwards, just don't want us to do what Spurs did after selling Bale and Liverpool did after selling Suarez and throw as much money at the wall and hope something sticks. Or panic buy like we nearly did Sissoko!

I no longer care what we pay for players as long as we balance the books, saying he's not worth this he's not worth that, it's not my money just make us stronger and try not to get your pants pulled down in the deal.

Will Mabon
75 Posted 01/06/2017 at 06:59:19
To Jay, Darren, Jim and all involved in the "Clown" debate – it seems to me that you're all simultaneously correct to a degree with your own points.

Arrested a decline, some measurable-but-not-outstanding improvement, yet very uninspiring so far.

My jury's still out.

Keith Slinger
76 Posted 01/06/2017 at 09:49:27
Atletico Madrid have just had their transfer ban upheld by CAS meaning Sandro might come to us this summer?
Sam Hoare
77 Posted 01/06/2017 at 09:54:20
I just hope (fruitlessly I suspect) that it all gets sorted out sooner rather than later. Not helpful to anyone to have it lingering on all Summer while potential replacements are being snapped up left, right and centre.

Hopefully there'll be a mid-July deadline for him to be sold or kept for another year. Personally I'm gunning for the latter.

Bobby Mallon
78 Posted 01/06/2017 at 10:23:22
Max Kruse would be a starter for me. £10.5 million is a bargain, just start buying now ffs.
Tony Marsh
79 Posted 01/06/2017 at 10:40:19
I don't understand the Lukaku knockers on here. He can't do this, he can't do that?? Lukaku scores goals by the dozen were ever he goes. Ffs what more do you lot want from a striker?

Like I have said in an earlier Barkley thread why worry about who is going or staying here that is just how football is.

Why not worry more about the lack of movement and info regarding Bramley-Moore Dock site? Worry more about Ronald Koeman being clueless in the Premier League away from home and against the top clubs. Worry more about Robert Elstone still being at our club despite being useless.

Stop whinging about Lukaku he is a great player who wants to play for a club going places. At this moment in time Everton FC are once again static talking shite... Show me the money!


Kevin Rowlands
80 Posted 01/06/2017 at 11:58:00
Here we go again, at what point does even his most ardent fans say enough? Just freaking GO already!
Mike Berry
81 Posted 01/06/2017 at 13:53:52
The agent is getting anxious about delaying buying a lear jet out of his commission.
Brian Wilkinson
82 Posted 01/06/2017 at 15:07:29
For once, I really hope we get things sorted and dealt with before the new premier league starts.

Sort Barkley and Lukaku out, rebuild and be ready for the start of the new season, we hold the aces on Lukaku, pay so much or he stays, would that benefit Everton keeping hold, no, unless he signs a new contract he can just wait for it to wind down,his agent is not panicking, the longer we keep Lukaku, the more the price will go down and the more wages his agent can command from buyers.

It's time to start our next phase at Everton, sell Lukaku now while his stock price is high, use the money wisely and go into the new season with a settled squad and team spirit, same goes for Ross.

Dan Egerton
83 Posted 01/06/2017 at 16:16:35
Yeah Atletico lost their bid to overturn the ban :
you can read about it here.

Hopefully this clears the way for us to sign him,

Alan Bodell
84 Posted 01/06/2017 at 18:17:42
Mino mate, no bids ? , c'mon ya not doing your job and not long now before the big boys (you know the ones that play CL) have to submit their squads and we don't want another season when the big boy is unsettled do we ?
Will Mabon
85 Posted 01/06/2017 at 18:57:30
Hmm - most were predicting a lift of the ban. Sandro looks like a worthwhile purchase at the likely cost. If terms really have been agreed maybe there'll be some action soon.

He also looks like Leon Osman...

Ian Hollingworth
86 Posted 01/06/2017 at 19:46:42
Is this the same clown that said his client was 99.9999% sure to sign his contract?

The fact that Sky and TalkSport give clowns like him airtime etc just makes the situation worse.

If Rom wants to go, good riddance. Let's get on with bringing hungry ambitious players into our squad.

Jason Broome
87 Posted 02/06/2017 at 12:39:39
Lacazette is available from £45 Million. Similar goals-to-games ratio as Lukaku, better attacking intelligence, is only 25 and has a similar style to Thierry Henry.

Let's end this "small club being held to ransom" mentality. There is much life after Lukaku!

Dan Egerton
88 Posted 02/06/2017 at 15:21:37
With Atletico being disallowed to sign anyone, this could affect Lukaku. Think of this: Their ban means they can't buy Diego Costa and, if he stays there, Lukaku is less likely going to go to Chelsea.
John Daley
89 Posted 02/06/2017 at 15:29:36
Jason (@87),

Lacazette is a fantastic player and I would take him over Lukaku any day of the week. A few years ago maybe (he nearly went to West Ham at one point), but now I don't think we stand a chance. He recently came out and said he would only contemplate moving to a club in the Champions League.

Winston Williamson
90 Posted 02/06/2017 at 15:33:28
No way!! Lukaku wants to leave?? Well, that's totally new information!!

I never saw it coming!! What a blow!!

Lukaku signing his first EFC contract:

"I sign here? On the dotted line? Okay. Brill, glad that's out of the way. Gonna call Chelsea now, see if they can reserve me a first team locker... Champions League superstar...ain't that right, dad?"

Joe Edwards
91 Posted 02/06/2017 at 15:50:04
As much as Lukaku's goals have helped us achieve this season's success, I am sick to death of his constant utterings about Everton being a stepping stone to his greatness. If it's not Lukaku, it's his dad or agent disrespecting the club and I for one will be glad to see the back of him.

Having struggled in every game against a top 6 side, Lukaku has proven he is far from the.finished article and I believe his remaining at the club next season would cause disharmony in the squad. £100 million or a deal including Mata and Martial would make me happy.

So long, Rom and thanks for all the fish!

Martin Nicholls
92 Posted 02/06/2017 at 16:08:39
Alan (#84) – I appreciate that yours is a lighthearted post but the matter of Champions League squad lists is relevant. Last season, lists of players eligible for the group stages didn't need to be submitted until 1st September. Obviously Chelsea will enter at the group stage so the Rom saga could rumble on for the next 3 months!!!
Anton Walsh
94 Posted 02/06/2017 at 19:34:41
Glad to see the back of him. Thing is... who wants him? Same goes for Barkley.
Jim Hardin
95 Posted 02/06/2017 at 22:21:45
I am amazed that people still get so worked up over what an agent says. Why do they (some on here) attribute the agent's comments to the player? They are not the same. The agent does his job puffing up his player. So what! It matters where the player signs. the comments of an agent or family member are not those of the player.
Over here, we have agents involved before the draft in the NBA and NFL, and at the top of the picks for the NHL and MLB. What they say or do during pre-draft, pre-season, or off-season is generally irrelevant to what deal ultimately is shaped while they are selling their client.

If I had an agent, I would damn sure have him out there generating as much publicity and interest for me as he possibly could. If he didn't say anything about wanting his client to go to a championship quality team etc., I would fire him. Why should we treat this agent any differently?

When I actually hear something from the player or Everton about where he is headed, then I will believe it. However, I will not attribute his agent's remarks to him. Similarly, I do not attribute Barkley's silence to mean anything about his plans either, except to say that he should get himself a better agent.

Brian Porter
96 Posted 03/06/2017 at 06:40:31
Obviously not one club (rumours aside) has actually made any inquiries about Lukaku so his agent thinks he can ramp up the pressure on Everton by his latest speculative statement. Never once have the club confirmed that any promises were made to Lukaku about letting him leave if certain clubs came in for him and the real was right for club and player. FFS, Raiola, those circumstances apply to every player transfer, surely.

The guy reminds me of a first class spin doctor, a bit like that guy who helped Tony Blair years ago, to become Prime Minister. And look where he ended up!

The club hold all the aces at present so if Lukaku expects us to roll over at the first sniff from Utd or Chelsea he might have a shock coming. And I find it very telling, that with all the talk surrounding various big name transfers around Europe, not one Champions League team in Italy, Germany, France, Spain etc has come out and said they want the great Romelu Lukaku.

Maybe he could get a few group games with Besiktas if they are Turkish champions, or maybe not Greece with Olympiakos? You know Rom, those 'big' clubs in the Champions League? If they're in the Champions League they must be bigger clubs than Everton, using your own logic, wouldn't you say?

Had enough of the guy and his total disrespect for the club that has paid his wages for over three years and stuck by him despite his constant carping on about needing a bigger stage for his so called massive talents!

Martin Nicholls
97 Posted 03/06/2017 at 22:43:25
Just watched Champions League Final and couldn't help thinking that Rom wouldn't get near either of those teams – if he and/or Raiola think differently then they're seriously deluded.
Will Mabon
98 Posted 04/06/2017 at 01:06:08
Martin, forgetting individuals for the moment, and the margin of the result, the standard of both teams' play was another level altogether.

Also, slower pace in Spain and Italy? Not in this game.

Martin Nicholls
99 Posted 04/06/2017 at 09:22:08
Spot on, Will. Game played at pace, superb and instant control most of the game and significantly both played with spirit and as teams. Only downside was some of the play acting (eg, Ramos) but that is something that is already endemic in the Premier League.
Sam Hoare
100 Posted 05/06/2017 at 10:09:03
Predictable gossip about us demanding Batshuayi in return about today. Not sure what they would value him at, I think they bought him for £33m but he's obviously not played much.

Think I'd be relatively happy if we got £55m plus Batman. Perhaps spend some of that chunk getting Dembele from Celtic or another livewire goalscorer.

Brian Williams
103 Posted 05/06/2017 at 17:54:34
Tell you what. Wouldn't surprise me if nobody came in for him!
Tony Abrahams
104 Posted 05/06/2017 at 19:08:32
I would like to sign Dembele, Sam, and have to agree with Chris (#33), about agents. I wouldn't regulate them though Chris, I would deal with them every time, but only after every football club got together and introduced agents fees to the players,and charged them whatever for having to deal with these leeches.

If the money is going to go out of the game then let the players pay the agents percentage; otherwise, just simply refuse to deal with them. See how this goes?

William Cartwright
105 Posted 05/06/2017 at 20:15:12
Every footy fan with an ounce of knowledge in the game has a good idea of the potential quality players and there possible / probable likelihood to emerge on the scene. Wanayama, Van Dijk, Robertson, Dembele etc. It's the same every season. Why is it that we wait until they 'emerge' and then get interested when their value goes through the roof!?!

Foster or Heaton, Sigurdsson, Keane or McGuire, Klaassen and Dolberg. Job done. Release / sell Romelu, Deulofeu, Ross, Lennon, McCarthy, Garbutt, Robles or Stekelenburg, Williams. Bring in the new kids on the block and see where we go.

Trevor Peers
106 Posted 05/06/2017 at 21:19:17
It's plainly obvious Everton won't spend one penny on transfers until Lukaku has been sold.

What a wasted opportunity; we should have identified our targets, about six top players needed, sorted out the fees and wages and have everything in place before Lukaku is even sold, saving us a fortune in what will become an inflated market once we receive the huge fee involved from that deal.

Most of our business will be done in late, late August. Kenwright will make sure of that, we will start the season in utter chaos as usual. Unless a miracle occurs, fat chance of that!

Patrick Murphy
107 Posted 05/06/2017 at 21:26:08
Manchester Evening News are reporting that Bayern Munich have joined the 'list of clubs' to show interest in our star striker, Ancelotti the Bayern Manager is apparently a long time admirer of the Belgium striker.

It also says that Romelu's father, Roger, seems to think that Rom's situation at Goodison will soon be fixed.

Brian Williams
108 Posted 05/06/2017 at 21:31:42
Forest Green are in for him now too.
Robert Elliott
109 Posted 05/06/2017 at 22:05:11
I fear you are right, Trevor, and if it happens, I think Koeman's reaction will be interesting. He doesn't strike me as being like either Moyes or Martinez, happy to toe the party line. If he isn't happy, the world will know about it!
Gordon Crawford
110 Posted 06/06/2017 at 01:05:33
William, it looks like Van Dijk is will be signing for the RedShite across the park. Rumour is he wants to play for them. Do we have any top targets? I'm not so sure, sometimes I think we just throw out the net and hope to catch someone.

As for Rom, he will be gone this summer, I truly believe this. As Trevor has said, I think this is when the panic will set in and then we will try to make a few signings at the 11th hour. Emphasis added.

Ian McDowell
111 Posted 06/06/2017 at 09:01:53
Just been reading on Sky Sports that Lukaku says his future has been decided.

"My agent knows what's going to happen," the 24-year-old told SSNHQ. "I know what I want to do, and whenever something happens, you guys will know."

Gordon Crawford
112 Posted 06/06/2017 at 09:06:03
Then he is leaving, but please no Vardy.
Brian Williams
113 Posted 06/06/2017 at 09:15:00
Ian (#111),
Dunno whether I'm just being picky or pedantic but if Lukaku's agent "knows what's going to happen" then it can only be one thing for definite (unless something's been sorted and been kept totally secret which is unlikely) and that's that Lukaku is staying.

I say that because unless a transfer HAS been sorted already (which I doubt) then what CAN the agent know for sure? Unless of course it's the infamous "lost in translation" type statement from Lukaku while away on international duty.

Then again, our Rom seems pretty cock sure there's a huge queue of top clubs waiting to make concrete offers as per the previous few windows. Hope he's not disappointed when there maybe isn't!

As for us not buying anyone until he's sold, should he be sold. Does that not make perfect sense, guys? If he was going to stay we might have considered buying someone to complement him whereas if he's away our choices would change, surely?


UPDATE. Further "alleged" quotes from Lukaku.:

"I know what I want to do, and whenever something happens, you guys will know.

"In the end I do take the decision. I want to improve and enhance myself.

"We are in talks with the club. I want to play in the Champions League, and try to win the Premier League a few times."

Which club? Ours? Another club?

Laurie Hartley
114 Posted 06/06/2017 at 10:03:36
Brian (#113) – If he said he would like to "win the Premier League a few times" I'm tipping that he's not expecting to stay at Everton. It will be Chelsea or Man Utd. I'd put my money on Chelsea.
Brian Williams
115 Posted 06/06/2017 at 10:14:59
Yeh Laurie, when I saw that I thought, "Hmmmm... he's probably not talking about us then!"
Shane Corcoran
116 Posted 06/06/2017 at 10:23:50
How exciting. Thanks for letting us know, Rom.
Jason Bowen
117 Posted 06/06/2017 at 10:29:07
He is a pain in the arse and always has been. Get rid, move on and watch us play better football.
Tony Abrahams
118 Posted 06/06/2017 at 10:47:17
Honestly, I can't wait to see the back of him myself.
James Watts
119 Posted 06/06/2017 at 10:47:22
Well, every cloud has a silver lining. And Lukaku going has several.

i) Circa £100m to spend so we at least can start our summer shopping.
ii) A lazy arse egotistical guy who doesn't give a shit about us and the circus he brings will be gone.
iii) We can report him and who ever he is in discussions with to FIFA/UEFA/Premier League to get them on a transfer ban as, unless we have accepted a fee and given him permission to speak to clubs, he shouldn't be in talks with any one.
iv) When (oh okay, if) he flops, we can all giggle. Quite loudly.

I'll miss his goals but hopefully his transfer fee will be spent wisely and we'll come out the end of it with a stronger squad.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Bye bye.

Dan Egerton
120 Posted 06/06/2017 at 10:51:05
According to the BBC:

"Everton's Romelu Lukaku has decided where he wants to play next season.

The 24-year-old striker, who scored 25 Premier League goals last season, turned down the most lucrative contract offer in Everton's history in March.

"I don't want to stay at the same level. I want to improve and I know where I want to do that," Belgian Lukaku said on Monday.

"We are now talking to the club. I know what's happening, but I will leave the talks to my agent."

Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have been linked with a move for Lukaku, who has been at Everton since 2013.

"I know what's happening, but I can't tell you anything more," he added to journalists after Belgium beat the Czech Republic in a friendly in Brussels.

"What I would like most is to play in the Champions League and try to win the Premier League once. Or better - a few times."

Lukaku is represented by Mino Raiola, the agent who helped negotiate Paul Pogba's £89m move to Manchester United last summer."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40170131

Denis Richardson
121 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:04:46
Sooner he's gone the better so we don't waste the summer on this.

He's off anyway so may as well sort out on 1 July. Same goes for Barkley (if we can find a buyer).

Colin Hughes
122 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:08:40
Whilst Van Dijk announces a "come and get me" plea to the RedShite we only hear of our best players wanting to leave. So much for things changing with the arrival of Billionaire Moshiri.

If we start the season with a centre back pairing of 2 out of three of the current hillbillies, then expect more of the same in the big matches next season with all of the top six hitting three at least every time they play us.

Joe Foster
123 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:13:25
As sure as night follows day, Lukaku on international duty brings another "I want to leave" story.
Daniel Lawrence
124 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:17:57
Thing is, you can't blame him. He states that he doesn't want to stay at the same level, and despite a relentless barrage of noise, we've had no action that states the club want to change the level that it currently operates at...

Magnificent Seventh.

Tim Kells
125 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:23:23
I wish he would just keep his mouth shut for once. You can't argue with his goals but his disrespectful attitude towards us really is starting to annoy.
Gordon Crawford
126 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:27:20
I do hope we start to get bigger and better players in, but I won't hold my breath. All of the players that we are supposedly after, are being scouted by the top 6 plus West Ham. Do I want Rom to go, absolutely yes. But when he hints that we are stuck in limbo, then I totally agree.
Ernie Baywood
127 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:29:39
"I know what's happening, but I can't tell you anything more,"

I'll call bullshit. If he knew where he was going, he'd be singing it in front of the cameras.

Full of shit.

Gordon Crawford
128 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:34:02
Oh and good news is that Southampton are reporting the RedShite for tapping up Van Dijk. I hope they get a transfer ban.

Oh and Arsenal have now agreed to sign a player.

Still nothing from us.

Thomas Surgenor
129 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:36:18
I'll be furious if we let this drag on to the end of the window. The longer this goes on, the lower his price gets as we start to panic about the deal not going through. Also leaves us less time to reinvest the money and get the new recruit up to speed (in pre-season/team building etc).

My approach would be that we publicly declare that unless our terms are met that we expect Lukaku to play in the opening rounds of the Europa League. I'm not sure if this would cup tie him from Champions League? Can you play in both European comps for different clubs?

If it does cup tie him, then his suitors will be under pressure to meet our demands before that tie. Much like Man City were when submitting their Champions League squad while negotiating over the Stones deal.

I know it's a very flawed opinion but if he has decided to go, I want him gone sooner rather than later. Will be gutted to loose him though, he is one of the only players we have who can create something from nothing. He is the first striker we have had in the Premier League era that when he is one-on-one I expect the net to bulge (rather than just hope it does).

Robert Elliott
130 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:37:28
I'm not having that we lack ambition. Just the other day, we offered a staggering £8m for Pickford and we're working hard to convince a kid from QPR to come here as well.

Sod him. If he wants out let him go. Personally, I think these strikers who guarantee you 20 goals a season are overrated anyway.

Steavey Buckley
131 Posted 06/06/2017 at 11:38:44
Koeman needs to deal first with the Lukaku and Barkley situations asap before getting down to the serious business of finding new Everton players.
Ian McDowell
132 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:01:33
I have no problem with Lukaku wanting to leave. He has done very well for us. Very rarely injured or suspended and scored bags of goals. He wants to leave to be more successful and earn more money. Those are the two of the main motivators in life.

If we are serious about competing for the top four on a consistent basis, we are going to have to get use to the fact that the type of players that we require, will be ambitious, talented and wont hang around for 3/4 years accepting mediocrity which we have just endured.

James Watts
133 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:01:51
Steavey (#131). Surely you'd expect a manager on £6m a year to be able to do a few things at once no? And what's to sort out? Lukaku has all but gone. Barkley too.

And you're also forgetting it's not down to Koeman to find us new players. That's Walsh's remit. But the blockage isn't that.

It's much simpler. We have Kenwright 'negotiating' for transfers and we won't buy until we sell. It's what we do – despite all the bull 'leaked' to the press about us being ambitious.

Robert Elliott
134 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:03:42
Seems to be a few fans on here happy to see Rom leave. Maybe they can answer a question for me?

If Rom leaves we will need at least one if not two players of a comparable quality to replace him. If we can't convince Rom to stay, why are you apparently so confident we can convince players of a similar level of ability and, in all probability, ambition, to join?

Michael Penley
135 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:06:44
Robert (#134) – Because the fact is, Rom's "level of ability" is not that high. It is restricted to scoring inside the box, with mostly tap-ins. Most of our chances, by design, go through him.

It's really not that hard to find a similar player. They wouldn't even need to be able to guide a shot on target from outside the box, for example.

Brian Williams
136 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:07:20
First line from the original story on here:

"Romelu Lukaku's agent says that the striker was promised he could leave Everton under the right conditions this summer but admits nothing is imminent in terms of a move."

I'm guessing that was word of mouth and not written into his contract (obviously). I'd be tempted to tell him "Shut the fuck up, because if we hear another peep about big club this and winning that and next level the other, then your promise aint worth the paper it was never written on in the first place."

Promise!

Eddie Dunn
137 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:11:02
Our club will be working hard to get in whoever, but they certainly won't be alerting all and sundry (Spurs over-gazumping our targets) who we will be trying to land.

I saw the Lukaku quotes and I expect him to be leaving. it would be nice if we had the balls to only sell him to a foreign side, as most rivals in our top 6 would balk at selling to their competitors in this country. However, I can visualize his smiling face as he ponces about with his Chelsea teammates in the near future.

He (despite his goals) is one player that I will not miss next season, for his apparent lack of effort at times, and his massive (it's all about me) ego that prevents him from bothering to applaud the travelling plebs.

Oh and his regular laments about the level he wishes to be at. I really hope he goes to Chelsea, and flops.

Mark Wynne
138 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:12:11
I don't want him to leave, but more than that, I don't want to be sat here on Sky deadline day with his future still not nailed down. With him apparently angling for a move, they may wait until near the deadline to try and use the pressure to force a move. For those who say Everton can play hard ball, just look at the mess Berahino caused when Jeremy Peace did the same.

More than anything I want players who want to play for Everton and Lukaku, in spite of his talent, is prone to sulking. If he wants to go, I want Everton to maximise the transfer fee, but more than that – do the business early, so we can plan beyond.

Kevin Rowlands
139 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:15:29
"Lukaku makes his mind up" okay, makes cup of tea, reads book, yawns a couple of times... zzzzzzzzzz...
Tim Sharpe
140 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:16:26
I don't believe we need to sell before we buy, but we need to know what we need to buy. If we blow our wad, then Lukaku buggers off, we are right up the creek of smelly brown stuff, in concrete wellyboots, let alone without a canoe.

We need to make sure this situation is nailed down, before we make our move.

Robert Elliott
141 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:19:54
Michael, if Lukaku leaves, it will be because either Mourinho or Conte are willing to spend north of £70m for him. Why would they do that for a player who is as limited as you say when players like that are so easy to find?!
Steavey Buckley
142 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:20:07
James (#133), whatever way you look at it, there is an awful amount of money tied up in the values of Lukaku and Barkley and what has been offered to them in the way of salaries before any meaningful incoming transfers can be completed.
Andrew Clare
143 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:23:17
Hopefully we have already lined up his replacement along with other signings. Am I dreaming?
Patrick Murphy
144 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:34:18
Tim (#140),

Everton FC may not have to sell before they buy; however, the club has mostly in the recent past waited until the TV money is banked before embarking on major transfers; there's nothing to suggest, even with Moshiri on board that things have changed on that front.

Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea and the others don't have those sort of cash-flow situations to contend with, therefore they usually pounce long before we do.

If Rom and Ross are departing Goodison Park, then that will change the dynamics of who Everton will look at in the market and the offers they will make for any potential targets. Too many are looking at things the way they want them to be, rather than accepting the way things really are.

If, as seems more and more likely, Rom moves on from Everton, then we will definitely miss his goal output, but we won't miss his high percentage of lacklustre displays – particularly away from Goodison Park.

Looking out of the window it doesn't feel as if it is high summer, but the calendar says that it is therefore there is no need to panic just yet.

It's June 6th not August 6th, therefore there will be plenty of transfer activity before the Premier League re-starts. Hopefully there will be enough activity prior to the opening games of the Europa League qualifiers to ensure that Everton have a side good enough to get through those and into the Europa League proper.


Matt Butlin
145 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:37:04
Forget yee not, Lukaku might be our best striker in years but he has been blessed with a head emptier than a hermit's address book. He was practically gone last year too, according to himself at the time...

If we find that he's right and it is a done deal now, mark the occasion when Lukaku said something and it was true.

Matt Butlin
146 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:38:36
(Yes, I know it was a Blackadder quote.)
Michael Penley
147 Posted 06/06/2017 at 12:39:54
Robert (#141),

Time will tell. I have seen no signs that Conte or Mourinho want him. In fact, we know that Mourinho doesn't want him.

James Watts
148 Posted 06/06/2017 at 13:05:42
Steavy (#142).

But we know Lukaku isn't signing. He said he isn't. We know Barkley is unlikely to sign, because he hasn't. Not much to figure out really. Well to me anyway.

And if we were serious about going top 4 and confident of keeping them, it wouldn't matter and we would have already factored in their new contracts and we'd know what we have available.

My heart is hoping that we are getting our ducks lined up and are close to getting some quality players in. My head tells me we won't buy until we sell Lukaku and / or Barkley as we simply don't have much money to spend on transfers.

Paul Tran
149 Posted 06/06/2017 at 13:15:03
Any early business will be youngsters or the 'under the radar' players that Walsh has been brought in to find for us.

The late business will be the decent players overlooked by the Champions League clubs, or the ones we convince that joining us means you don't end up like Perez or Sissoko.

I can't see the attraction we hold for established, proven Champions League players. It has to be either the canny acquisition of decent players that gel together quickly enough so we're successful before we lose them, or the gradual build that we've seen at Spurs.

Well, if you can't dream in June, when can you?

Dan Nulty
150 Posted 06/06/2017 at 13:43:33
I agree with most of the above. It is clear he is going. Fine, he has served us well, we can't complain and shouldn't. It is the board who have let the club down, not him.

I do also agree that we have to, simply have to get our business done early, buy his replacement in before he goes to avoid an inflated price for anyone else. We certainly shouldn't be paying top dollar for Vardy; I hope that is nonsense.

I think it is clear we are going to be offered Rooney plus cash. We need to smash a major signing to show our intent though before this happens. I'm not going to get into fantasy signings but with just the Europa League to offer, to get the top players who perhaps are being overlooked at Man City /
Real Madrid, then we are going to have to break the bank.

This window will tell us everything we need to know about the board's ambitions.

Sam Hoare
151 Posted 06/06/2017 at 13:44:03
From what I've ever heard (no ITKs, just whispers) Lukaku will be at Chelsea by August for something between £80-90M. He's keen (he supports them and idolises Drogba) and they are too.

Alternatively he could head to Utd with Romero and Smalling coming the other way (both of whom I think would be good with a first team run).

I'll be relatively happy either way so long as it doesn't drag on. I would rather Chelsea gave us £60M plus Batshuayi but they'll want to keep him if Costa moves.

Steve Ferns
152 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:01:46
Patrick Murphy (#140), waiting for the money to be banked is a fallacy.

It's a simple fact that the players we want, wait to see if a better offer comes along. Why, oh why can't you lot accept that most of the players we want have never heard of us, don't want to join us and only do so for the cash? Most would prefer West Ham over us because it's in London!

We will sign a load of players on deadline day again, when we settle on the players we can get, and they settle on us. In the meantime, we will try to get the very best we can, but we have to wait for the other clubs to get their targets first.

For example, we are interested in Lacazette. Follow the rumours on him, the very biggest clubs are linked to him, all the way down to us. We have a chance here, but certain things have to happen first. We have to wait for the circumstances to align and then we can sign him. The reality is one of the bigger clubs (see more monied clubs) will miss out on their target and take him instead.

If you want to get players in early, then it's a case of signing crap like Troy Deeney. Do you really want that? Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. Let's get the best we can, and if it's deadline day, so be it.

James Stewart
153 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:17:40
We are not progressing at the rate of a RS or Spurs, despite Moshiri's arrival, so to be expected really.

@152 while that may be true of players like Lacazette it is not the case with a lot of players who WOULD drastically improve us. Sigurdsson, Klaassen, hell even Rooney could all be snapped up now and would give the club a very different impression to those on the outside looking in.

All we have done is try and sign some Southampton reject on a free, which we still haven't even completed. Hardly the way of an ambitious club trying to crack the top 4.

John Raftery
154 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:18:56
We should not be too worried about our opening round in the Europa League qualifiers. Even without Lukaku and Barkley we should have enough available to defeat what will be third rung opponents. It will be important however to complete the sale of both of them in time to bring in replacements for the start of the Premier League on 12th August and the play off round of the Europa League on 17/24th August.

What we cannot afford is for the uncertainty to drag on until August. So I assume the club have set a mid July deadline to Lukaku's agent that, if a deal is not sorted out by then, he will be staying for another season.

Under-the-radar signings will not come cheaply. Yesterday's rumour that Solanke will be earning £20k a week at the RS tells us what we are competing against. Yet a combination of young, hopefully hungry players with potential plus a handful of proven, experienced players just below the level required by the top Champions League clubs offers us the best chance of progress.

Eugene Ruane
155 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:20:20
Just pinged up on twitter - BREAKING: @Everton striker Romelu Lukaku says he has reached 'an agreement' with another club #SSNHQ
Shane Corcoran
156 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:24:20
I saw that, Eugene, but the quotes seem to be the same as earlier; "talking to the club" which I had previously taken to be Everton, ie, regarding getting away.
Ian Hollingworth
157 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:26:23
Steve (#152)

Do you really believe that we will get the best players we can on deadline day?

We have recruited Steve Walsh to oversee our transfer dealings. We should have a Plan A and Plan B in place and be actively pursuing those targets.

Deadline day signings should only cover last minute opportunities that may or may not come up.

Trevor Peers
158 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:29:09
Just shows the utter contempt the 'lump' holds for Everton;, no talks, no fee set, in public anyway, yet he's telling us all he's playing for his boyhood dream club. What a tosser! I hope he's a complete failure, like last time he played for them... haha!!!
Ian Hollingworth
159 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:30:42
The Sky Sports report quotes Lukaku as saying he knows where he is going and that he wants to play in the Champions League and win the Premier League. That narrows it down a bit then.

He and his agent may have agreed with the new club but has a fee been agreed? He could still be some way of moving.

Sooner the better, though, so we can re-invest the money in the squad as it looks like we still have to sell to buy.

Jim Knightley
160 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:33:11
The reports are as expected: He will be sold to Chelsea.

We will lose our best finisher and striker of the Premier League era. But, as good as he is, and despite his potential, a rumoured fee of approaching £80 million is a good £20 million more than he is worth.

Sigurdsson could arrive, and we would still have around £50 million left. We should look to invest that in a top striking replacement and a top goalkeeper. Then we need a left back, another striker, and another creative presence if Ross is leaving. I'd like to see another centre-back too.

It's a big loss, there is no doubt about that, but we can improve the team and squad with that money. We look like making 5£0 million on a player who has returned 87 goals in 4 seasons. It was great business.

I hope we look abroad with some of our replacements, and to players with European experience. The Europa League could offer a better chance of Champions League football than the league, especially if the standard is as low next season as it was this.

Patrick Murphy
161 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:42:56
Steve (#152) – you state that waiting for the money to be banked is a fallacy. I would argue that it is not a fallacy but rather a logical reason as to why Everton and other similar clubs don't sign players until later in the transfer window. Similarly the big clubs wait as long as possible to complete deals to buy players from clubs such as Everton as they don't want us or others to interfere with their transfer plans.

I'm not saying you're wrong about the more desirable targets wanting to wait and see if they can get better deals for themselves, and then coming to us as a last resort, it is after all a market place and as yet we don't have the clout financially or in terms of attractiveness but surely we are in a slightly better position than in previous years?

BTW, I'm not too enamoured being lumped in as "you lot" as most of the posters on TW are individuals and not part of a sub culture or group who are railing against common sense.

He [Romelu] said: "To stay at Everton is not really an option for next season. I remain calm, serene compared to what is being said."

See ya, Rom! Make the move happen quickly, mate, and allow Everton FC the time to replace you and progress without you.

David Chait
162 Posted 06/06/2017 at 14:56:02
Andrew (#143)... absolutely!
Steve Ferns
163 Posted 06/06/2017 at 15:03:44
Sorry Pat, I am very fed up of reading every day how we have to get them in early. It cannot and will not happen. We have to accept the reality.

Of course, Walsh's job is too oversee the communications with agents and the like to try to get players to come in as soon as possible, but these are slippery bastards like Riola who tell you everything you want to hear whilst doing the exact opposite. Just read his comments to reassure Everton over Rom over the last 12 months and you'll see what I mean.

Also, Sissoko's agent told us his player wanted to sign for us, led us to believe it was a done deal whilst then negotiating with Spurs to get a deal sorted there.

This transfer fiasco is in fact the reality of the situation we face. Clubs agree fees, agents agree terms, everything is sorted, and yet the transfers stall and stall whilst they look for a better offer from elsewhere. We cannot get top quality in early. so please, please, please stop saying it.

if it does happen, then it's Christmas. Otherwise, you won't be disappointed.

Paul Tran
164 Posted 06/06/2017 at 15:04:20
Well, Koeman said he wanted business done early, didn't he?

Wonder how much? And any part-exchange, which may be better than us having money we can't spend?

Steve Ferns
165 Posted 06/06/2017 at 15:09:38
Ian, it's all a game of chicken, isn't it? Clubs and players and agents all holding out for the best deal and the one who blinks first loses.

We're left feeding off the scraps from the top table, so we have to wait until all the other vultures have picked the carcass clean and then we take what's left over.

The other alternative is to dine at a lesser table and take players like Deeney who are not good enough, or indeed players like Gueye who others aren't interested in, or gambles on youth like Lookman and Calvert-Lewin.

We need a mixture of the three for sure, but the big signing will be subpar if it's done early, unless there's a special reason why he wants to come to Everton (see Rooney).

Yes, we got Schneiderlin in fairly early, but January is a different beast. No-one else was really in for him at that price, and he clearly preferred a move where he would link up with his ex-boss and not have to move house.

Dick Fearon
166 Posted 06/06/2017 at 15:19:31
A solution to transfer problems is easy and all it requires is for agreement between associations that a player could not sign a new contract until his existing contract has been completed.

Is that really so simple or have I missed something?

Alan J Thompson
167 Posted 06/06/2017 at 15:23:16
Lukaku is reported as saying he knows to which club he is going. Interestingly, Bayern Munich (are they renown for splashing the cash?) are said to have shown interest in the player but it would not surprise me if that doesn't flush out what may be happening with other clubs.

Any news from the productivity phone yet?

Eddie Dunn
168 Posted 06/06/2017 at 15:55:09
It seems we are about to lose two very good players. Whatever their fauts, they are seen by most other clubs as players of quality.

The acid test for us, is to bring in men who are as good as these two, should they both leave, as is generally believed.

Michael Kenrick
169 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:00:51
Steve (#152, #163, #165), I feel compelled to agree with your depressing analysis of the real process under way here. It explains the otherwise completely nonsensical Deadline Day shenanigans, and is exactly exemplified by the Sissoko embarrassment.

I mean, if you've had since February 1 to think about who may be next on the incoming bus (and let's face it – exactly what else does Steve Walsh have to do all day long?) then you would be out there at the start of the window (or earlier, apparently), signing up all your prime choices. "Getting it done early"!

We used to convince ourselves it was Blue Bill wanting to save on a few months of inflated wages, unnecessarily shelled out of his personal bank account, but your explanation makes far more sense.

John Daley
170 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:03:10
Despite saying he can't reveal any more, some seem to think Rom may have generously signalled his destination after getting a bit of grit in his eye.

No sound on the video, so no idea if he was really being 'quizzed' on the particular club they say:


Link

Michael Kenrick
171 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:12:53
Dick (#166),

On first reading, that would require all players to fulfill their contracts. The club's registration of the player then lapses and he can walk away for nowt (Dan Gosling, anyone?)

Are you suggesting this for all transfers? Thus effectively eliminating the transfer fee, as there would be nothing of value for the acquiring club to reimburse?

I *think* this might be what happens for professional players in other US sports, where it is effectively a closed shop in that they don't have much international competition or sourcing of players. As I (poorly) understand it, players are "traded" with the value being that of their new contract, and no exchange of a fee between the clubs?

The trend to longer and longer contracts, and multiple extensions to keep players, means this is never going to happen in professional football. I just can't see it.

Jamie Morgan
172 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:19:53
How is it other clubs can agree terms with our player before agreeing a fee?!!

This blatant unpunished tapping up by the Sky darlings has to stop.

Steve Brown
173 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:22:14
To be fair to Lukaku, he has given us four years which is all we can expect these days. I am a big fan of his, but he is not the finished article and Chelsea will not set up to play to his strengths.

My take is that we are not having to wait for the TV money to make a move in the transfer market. We will have a list of Champions League calibre targets who can help us make the next step, but these players will see us as their Plan B. They will only look at us if the top tier clubs have looked elsewhere.

I know that is painful but if avoids us spending one hundred mil on the likes of Saleh and Van Dijk then good.

Liam Reilly
174 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:27:55
Just tiresome this.

Tell Chelsea to front up £100M and let him fuck off and if they don't then hold him to his contract or sell him to any other club that bids that amount.

The club needs to put a time limit on it though and not let it run into 'Jim Whites' day where he's sold at the 11th hour for £40M plus Rooney and (please god no) Smalling.

Kristian Boyce
175 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:33:14
I would imagine that the deal will be completed for Lukaku after the international games finish. I imagine his comments are aimed at Everton to speed things up. But at the end of the day, we hold all the cards and will only do a deal that is best for us. He can talk up where he is going all he wants, but unless Chelsea pay up, he's not going anywhere.

I can see Barkley waiting to see who Lukaku's replacement is and who else gets purchased before he makes his mind up on signing a new contract or pushing to leave. If there seems to be a replacement/competition player coming in, he'll be off too.

While we want players in early, this summer's deals are dependent on these two players. With them leaving adds another dimension to our incoming targets as we will have £100+ million extra to spend.

Jim Knightley
176 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:42:53
Re doing business 'early' – it is the 6th of June. The transfer window isn't even open yet, and we do not know what is happening behind the scenes.

We should look to have several targets in by Mid-July – half way through the window, around one month before the season begins, and six weeks before the end of the window. If that doesn't happen, then there are reasons to complain and to draw conclusions about our policy.

Complaining because we haven't brought anyone yet is premature, as is assuming it's because we don't have the money. Our January spend, sponsorship deal, and stadium movement illustrates that this is the Moshiri, not Kenwright, era.

It's irritating that Kolasinac has gone to Arsenal – we offered him a contract and he could have been our attacking left back for years to come (or until he was taken from us for a big transfer fee).

Denis Richardson
177 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:44:30
Rumour has it Bayern are interested.

They would probably suit him down to a tee. One club league where he can bang in tap ins all day long and play Champions League every season and retire with 4-5 Bundesliga winners medals. Bayern also have loads of cash although can't see them splashing £70m on one player. Maybe they have one or two that can move the other way.

John Pierce
178 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:48:54
If Everton sell both Rom and Ross, we are cutting our own throats. Whatever Evertonian opinions on the players, they are perceived from the outside to be our best players.

If you are ambitious you don't sell them, it's blood in the water. Further to sell to a domestic rival is suicide, widening the already gaping chasm.

If Everton must sell Lukaku then it has to be to a European side. I'd happily take the premier league tariff off his price tag to sell him to PSG or Bayern for example. Rom's outburst is nothing new and feels like a follow up to Riola trying to drum up business.

Whatever the outcome, it feels like Everton are on the wrong end of a shafting.

Dan Egerton
179 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:51:01
Sky is reporting Lukaku agreement reached with a PL club.

According to their twitter account linked here

Jay Harris
180 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:51:35

It is being reported by Loudmouth Lukaku himself that he has agreed terms with another club and now feels better that he is clear about his future. The media are reporting that it is Chelsea and the only thing to be resolved is the fee with Everton.

Now to my mind this is blatant tapping up if true (and I emphasise 'if true'); however, it is coming from the player's own mouth which, on its own, is surely grounds for a club fine.

Up for debate: where do we draw the line in clubs being allowed to tap up players?

Denis Richardson
181 Posted 06/06/2017 at 16:57:49
John (#178), if the players don't want to stay what choice exactly do we have?

Barkley doesn't want to sign a new contract so the club would be foolish to keep an unhappy player in the last year of his contract. He'd then walk off for nothing next summer and we'd be down £20-30M – for what?

Lukaku by all accounts was given a gentlemen's agreement he could leave this summer (and he wants to leave) so not sure what you expect the club to do in this situation. Other than try to maximise the cash they get for him.

No player(s) are bigger than the club and I'm looking forward to seeing a few new faces to lift up the place. We need to bring in some strong hungry characters, who importantly want to be at the club and play for Koeman.

Hopefully they'll be at least 5-6 shifted out to give the place a new lease of life. Get rid of some of the remaining Martinez signings and ageing Moyes ones.

Ian McDowell
182 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:00:50
Jay, I think that nowadays it's common for an agent to agree terms first. Then the clubs negotiate a fee.
Liam Reilly
183 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:01:01
Disrespectful twat – agreeing terms with his new Club whilst under contract at Everton.

Time for some Koeman straight talking and this arse should be fined and put in the reserves.

Tom Bowers
184 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:03:13
Do we really know what's going on here or is it just ugly rumour-mongering by his agent or the media?
Marc Jones
185 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:03:40
If the Lukaku reports are true I'd like to see the new club reported for tapping up. Gentlemen's agreement or not, no fee has yet been agreed as far as we know.

I'm fed up with Rom mouthing off every international break. Just get rid for top dollar. It would be nice to get some sort of statement from the Board over this but this is the Everton pantomime.

Brian Williams
186 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:13:56
This agreeing terms before any fee is agreed between the clubs may be the done thing now, just like defenders wrestling attackers when a corner/free kick is being taken into the box was, but my understanding is that it's an offence, just as the wrestling is, unless the buying club has okayed the approach with the selling club. The buying club have to ask permission to approach the player in question or it MUST be tapping up?

Otherwise the practice is a fucking disgrace as it's intended to put the selling club under pressure to sell as everything else is already agreed. It also, IMO, shows a distinct lack of respect on the players part towards his present club.

Be glad when it's all done and dusted, and to be honest I hope he just fucks off. Loved his goals, just couldn't feel anything for him. That might make me a halfwit but I don't care.

David Barks
187 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:14:34
It's common practice for the discussions to go on far before the signed transfer is made public. Do you people honestly think that a transfer is negotiated between two clubs and only then is the player and his agent made aware to begin negotiating a contract? That's how the business works.

But hey, don't fear. We're going to get the third string right-back from Southampton on a free, we're really going places. Going to be so fantastic to watch that at a shiny new stadium in 4-5 years time. Oh and the owner bought a building in Liverpool, so cheer for that as well.

John Pierce
188 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:19:36
Dennis, you are of course right. I did put things in a very trite way.

The issue is not the current state of affairs but that Everton have allowed themselves to be put in this position. That's my biggest gripe.

We still have it in our power to sell to a European side, which seems more sensible despite not getting full value for Lukaku.

Brian Williams
189 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:48:57
"It's common practice for the discussions to go on far before the signed transfer is made public. Do you people honestly think that a transfer is negotiated between two clubs and only then is the player and his agent made aware to begin negotiating a contract? That's how the business works."

Currently under both the transfer rules established by FIFA and the Football Association followed by the clubs playing in England, if another club wants to procure the services of a player that is registered with another club they must speak directly with that club and not to the player or his agent. The individual player and the agent who represents him will only be brought in for discussions with the potential purchasing club once the two clubs have agreed on a fee.

That's the rule!

Incidentally Southampton have reported the Red Shite for tapping up Van Dijk.

David Barks
190 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:54:04
Brian,

And you assume for some reason that no fee has been agreed and that Everton had not given permission at that point for the player and club to discuss terms? Do you think these contracts get drafted and agreed overnight, after a transfer fee is suddenly agreed and made public and the player jets in and is taking pictures signing a contract?

Southampton are reporting that incident because they obviously had not agreed a fee with any club and thus had not allowed contact to be made with the player.

The far more common practice is that clubs have discussions in private, agree in principle, and then the player is allowed to begin discussions with the other club. When all seems about wrapped up, that's when the club's make it public. That's how it works.

Phil Walling
191 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:58:24
It seems not all our players are in love with Everton. Is it the money? The abysmal record over the past three decades? The corny old thespian at the helm? Or even the straight-talking manager who refuses to sassy round his inherited charges?

One way or another, there's changes afoot at Goodison and you can bet that not all the new stars we are about to sign will be any better than those they replace. I'm no fan of wholesale change – mainly because it means yet another season 'in transition' – but I bet there's a few on here who will be predicting great things for us next season, nevertheless!

Brian Williams
192 Posted 06/06/2017 at 17:59:56
David. I've assumed nothing. I'm merely posting the facts regarding "tapping up". If Everton have given permission then there's no problem. If they haven't then it's "tapping up".

I didn't say what has actually happened either way for the simple reason that I don't know, but I do know the rules on "tapping up."

The far more common practice is that clubs have discussions in private, agree in principle and then the player is allowed to begin discussions with the other club. When all seems about wrapped up, that's when the club's make it public. That's how it works.

Unless it's somehow made public by somebody else?

Jay Harris
193 Posted 06/06/2017 at 18:07:46
Yes, Ian, but, as pointed out by other posters, the clubs have to agree first before the buying club are allowed to speak to the player or his agent.

Clubs are dodging around this by getting the agent to line up the transfer on the quiet and IMO this practice has to be stopped as much as the media telling players which clubs they should go to or the so-called expert pundits who are allowed to publicly voice opinions without penalty.

Mark Murphy
194 Posted 06/06/2017 at 18:09:35
I used to spend my Sunday evenings worrying about a possible problem I would have to deal with on Monday at work. Then I realised that I was ruining my weekend over something that quite often didn't develop to be as bad as I thought. And sometimes it was.

but worrying about it before Monday morning never changed anything and just ruined my weekend. Chill – "Monday" is still weeks away and "Friday" even further!

Brian Williams
195 Posted 06/06/2017 at 18:10:03
You're right, Jay, about clubs dodging around and, when it suits them, lots of them use dodgy methods and even dodgier people to get deals done.
David Barks
196 Posted 06/06/2017 at 18:11:39
You all realize that we do the same thing when signing players from clubs below us, right? We're not some innocent victim in this cruel football world.
Dave Ganley
197 Posted 06/06/2017 at 18:11:53
Phil (#191), you're possibly right that players we sign may not be better than some we let go but so long as they want to be here, perform to a certain level every game and not just when it suits, and don't come across as being too big for the club then I'll be happy.

Compare, for instance Tim Cahill to Lukaku. Is Cahill better than Lukaku? Probably not... but Cahill was far more influential in games than Lukaku ever is/was. You knew that Cahill would do something when we needed it most. Either leading by example, scoring when we needed it, or just cajoling other players to put in that bit more effort.

Far better than an overpaid decent player who has constantly wanted away from day 1. Good riddance to Lukaku for me. Never a team player and always had to be all about him.

For the amount of games he played for us against the top teams, from memory probably he was bothered in maybe 2 or 3; the rest, he either bottled it or just wasn't good enough.

Trevor Peers
198 Posted 06/06/2017 at 18:20:07
Phil @191;

Barkley and the Lump are clearly not worth keeping and, beyond defending, getting rid of their miserable "I'm too good for tiny Everton" attitudes will be a breath of fresh air. No matter how average their replacements may turn out to be.

Two years of watching them trying to force a career move, has been repulsive to watch, especially their cowardly performances at Anfield; we will be well rid of both of them.

Andrew Lum
199 Posted 07/06/2017 at 05:48:23
Dave (#197).

Totally agree with you. The guy has the cheek to talk about winning trophies. Where was he in the FA Cup semi-final against Man Utd two seasons ago? Went missing again and took a shit penalty!

I'm looking forward to an Everton team of 11 committed players who want to play for the club, the supporters and for one another.


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