Reports: Swansea reject big £45m offer from Everton

If not, well we'll no longer be able to take the piss out of the Reds for paying £35m for Andy Carroll.

But if Koeman and Walsh really rate him and want him so much, then you have to pay the asking price. If we've offered £45m and they want £50m then we should be able to sort this out a lot quicker than we have been.

So far we've only spent the Lukaku money, and if Barkley goes then we will have even more money. We should easily be able to afford this transfer regardless of who we sell or don't sell, so let's just get it done. If we want to compete with the top clubs then we need to show we have the financial muscle to do so.

Come on Everton, it's all about onwards and upwards for us now. We started this transfer window really positively, let's keep it going.

If he is added to these 3 then we have no pace and no width in a midfield that becomes predictable. Then what happens to the youngsters?

Spend the money on a decent centre forward!!!

There's not an infinite amount of cash and those here suggesting "just spend it" will be the same crowd in January or next summer asking where all the cash is gone.

There's better value out there for me and leave them with an unhappy player; they'll soon change their tune.

Problem is, convincing one in that category to come to a-club who haven't even as yet qualified for the group stages of the Europa League. As much as we'd love the romanticised version that said player "only ever dreamed of playing for Everton". Different times these days I'm afraid. Exhibit one is our former Belgian frontman.

Maybe their chairman plans to do an 'Arteta money' deal and take the money 10 minutes before the deadline so he can stick it in the clubs bank account rather than spend it on players.

I see other posts mentioning a striker or someone else for £50m but who else is there for £50m? some names? I can't think of anyone... although I am sure Steve Walsh could.

I also can't help but wonder what position he'd slot into and who would be losing out on playing time due to his being in the squad. First world problems but still...

£10mill – £20mill everyone's picking up these sure thing bargains.

I mean the top 6 have been spending this kind of dough for the last 10 years but we can pick a winner every time, never losing out with a dud, we're that special, us.

Let's pay up, bed him in, and get going.

Pay over the odds for one and save on three. Sounds like good business planning to me.

If it works and Sigurdsson adds some venom and guile to our anonymous midfield, then it will be money well spent, failure is unthinkable.

Man City after all, have spent £130million on full backs so let's put the fee into perspective.

Yes, it is a ridiculous fee and we'll be mocked by other fans, but this is how the market is now. Swansea don't want to sell and we really need a proven playmaker.

If he can continue the form he has shown over the past three years at Swansea and can help us into the top four or to win a trophy, then nobody will care how much he cost.

Is it a shame we can't spend the £50m on two or three hot prospects who could be the next Gylfi? Perhaps, but how long will it take for them to fulfil that potential and how often do these hot prospects flop? Sigurdsson is proven and that's why there is such a premium.

I acknowledge £50m is really steep, but we've been crying out for a midfield playmaker ever since Arteta left and now we have the opportunity, with no competition from other clubs.

The days of penny-pinching Everton are over. We don't have to consider resale value here, just how he can improve our team over the next few years and push us to the next level.

Surely Walsh's job is to find players better priced than this? Oh and what came of his very public trip to Milan to negotiate for six players?

https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/stats-gylfi-sigurdsson-might-feel-aggrieved-that-philippe-coutinho-pipped-him-to-team-of-the-year-23356

Surely we won't buy somebody of lesser quality?! I thought we were going places; so if Mosh wants to pay, who am I to argue.

Sure, we might be able to do better than Sigurdsson. But that will surely cost more? I won't be unhappy if Moshiri gets this over the line.

Have Koeman and Walsh got a plan about how they want the team to be set up and play? As far as we can tell, yes.

Will the club back his purchase? As far as we can tell, yes.

Is there any truth in this story? As far as we can tell yes.

None of us know for sure what the score is here, but if the above assumptions are correct, the question is not is he worth the money, but is he worth the money in this ludicrous market and more importantly, is he worth the money to us?

If the answer is, "As far as we can tell, yes," then pay up and smile.

By the way, where has it been said that this purchase would stop the purchase of a centre-forward? It may influence the type of centre-forward though.

Also, I don't understand the article saying he is apparently not agitating for a move... erm, he just refused to go training with Swansea in America????

How can people get upset with Swansea when they're doing exactly what we've done in the past and will do again in the future? They've put a value on their player and have every right to do so. Someone comes and pays it, or they look elsewhere. We've tried to get him at "our" price and now we have to pay up or move on.

Pochettino has admitted on several occasions he felt it was a mistake to let Sigurdsson go and that he would have been "perfect" for his team. To say Sigurdsson was an abject failure is rubbish, I'm afraid.

I would walk away now and see how Swansea get on with a disaffected player for the sake of trying to get an extra £5m.

We are mugs if we spend more than £35-40M on this guy.

Comparisons with Stones and Pogba are unfair. Both considerably younger and both have the potential (but Pogba in particular) to offer massive commercial boosts that in effect "pay back" the transfer fee.

I think the board have to stand up to Koeman here. I think he is a good manager, but he has no real interest in Everton 10-15 years down the line. Easy for him to suggest throwing £50m at a 28-year-old player. It smacks of recklessness financially. Particularly as I don't see him taking Everton to the next level.

He is a good player with exceptional dead-ball qualities. With Rooney and Sandro though, how important is it? With Sigurdsson we are still lacking pace, width and guile. The one player I would love to see for this money is Mahrez. Now, we aren't of interest to him now, but if the Roma deal doesn't come off, this time next month we may be. Gylfi is going nowhere. Nobody else is interested. Keep the powder dry for a while!

A No from me.

He is a good player, but he is nowhere near the 'Hazards' that populate the Number 10 position in the team's we are chasing above us. I refuse to believe we cannot get a better player for £50 mill.

I heard that Bale wants to come back to the UK and would consider Everton as being Welsh is like been a cousin to souse Rooney like... He's only a £150 million more than Sigurdsson so let's go for it..

Money may not be a problem for the club now, but if we cave in and pay over the odds it will set a precedent for every future purchase.

We tried a couple of bids, they said no; time to move on. Unless Sigurdsson speaks up and forces it through (which he won't as he will be losing bonuses).

Or... do we just pay the extra £5m which seems bus money these days and get somebody who will probably improve us??? The latter will probably happen.

I agree 100%. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction!? Was this one of Newton's laws. (I'm 69 so it is a long time since school).

But I sense there's a reaction from the "smaller" clubs to the preying by the "Very Rich" clubs and their manipulation of the Very Greedy agents. So, I don't blame Swansea for sticking to this on principle, even if we are not one of the very rich clubs.

Our decision should be needs based, I suppose. That is, is it essential that we have this man in our team? Or Is there another that will fit the plans we have?

I can't answer this but, gut feel, I think at this price say No and we should look for a younger player using Walsh's intuitive understanding of who fits where.

After all, Pochettino is reported to have said that 'Gylfi Sigurdsson would have been perfect for me at Tottenham'.

See old Guardian report...
Link

In this report, it also mentions 'Pochettino wants greater productivity from his attacking midfielders and it is not difficult to see why he might look longingly at Sigurdsson, who has also tended to play well against Tottenham.'

Substitute Koeman for Pochettino and Everton for Tottenham in the above sentence... and it's not hard to see why Koeman might like Sigurdsson.

Giroud for half that price – here's one. Dembele of Celtic makes two... Nicolai Jørgensen, good player, three.

What most on here need to realise, Koeman is building a team of attacking midfielders who all score goals with just one focal striker who has movement.

I don't think [insert player's name] is worth [insert price tag], but if Koeman and Walsh think he can improve the squad, I'm happy with it.

Let's assume then, that none of the top forwards wants to be an Everton player and come August 25 one of the leading papers reports desperate Everton are interested in signing Nicklas Bendtner for, say £90m. It would be only logical to expect comments like this, then, right?

I don't think Niklas Bendtner is worth £90m, but if Koeman and Walsh think he can improve the squad, I'm happy with it.

Lads, just because the market has gone crazy, doesn't mean Everton have to follow! Sigurdsson is a top player, but he isn't near world-class and neither will he prove a difference maker between Everton consolidating 7th place and challenging for top 4. World-class players are out of Everton's reach and will be until we get to the Champions League. There are loads of players of similar quality who are / were available for far less than the mooted £50m, though.

Hakan Calhanoglu, 23, for example, whose free kick delivery (among other qualities) is even superior to that of Gylfi's, has just signed for free spending Milan for a mere £19.7m. James Rodriguez who actually is a world-beater (there's no shame in struggling to break into Real Madrid's XI) will cost Bayern about £42.9m in total (£8.9m for two-year loan, £34m option to buy), should they decide to sign him permanently in 2019. There are loads of players of similar quality who were / still are available for far less.

Besides, it would send a wrong message to all other clubs whose players we are interested in. Just like that, an extra £5-10m will be put on every player's head when Everton are mentioned.

And the famous "It's not my money, so why would I care?" line... Well, it might be true to some degree, but money isn't grown on trees and if we pay too much for one player, there might be a problem signing quality reinforcements elsewhere.

If Swansea are asking for £50M, but nobody is ultimately willing to pay that, then by definition Sigurdsson is not worth that amount. However, if Everton or another club is ultimately willing to pay £50M, then by definition he's worth that amount.

That doesn't stop Everton trying to negotiate the price down, but if Swansea insist on £50M and won't negotiate down, then either we get the player for £50M or we walk away.

Same applies to anything that people buy and sell.

I think Swansea are crazy not to take the money. I think Sigurdsson is justified in being angry because this is a very generous offer and by not taking it they are holding him back. This will cause bad blood between them and his performance level will likely drop (like Lescott for example). Having said that, his agent should have included a buy-out clause!

We have a full house for Thursday's Europa League game; I would be very very surprised if this deal is not completed before our game on Thursday, then he is paraded at Goodison Park on Thursday evening.

This is the first real roadblock in the new transfer policy. If we move on from Sigurdsson, then we will get the same resistance from the next club.

We have neither the international reach or status to get close to attracting the fantasy players people post as alternatives. We cannot buy 'top six' players but we can buy other teams best players and take players surplus to requirements at the top six. To date I think the strategy has been sound, nothing to complain about – even if it costs us £50m for Sigurdsson.

Anyone really thing for we could have bought Lacazette, Silva, Mendy or Walker? They are not even in the highest bracket of player. Same value as Sigurdsson. We will pay over the odds, and for sometime yet.

Look at Man City – still overpaying despite a couple of league titles and regular Champion League footy, but attracting a better calibre of player. The improvements we are making a incremental and in overall depth.

As for Swansea, nothing no more than they should do, good on them for sticking to their guns. Everton have done much the same having been in their position with one Wayne Rooney.

I wouldn't disagree with some of your arguments BUT players like James Rodriguez and his ilk would demand double the wages (if not more) than Sigurdsson would - overlooking the fact we wouldn't have a cat-in-hell's chance of getting him/them anyway. So with pure transfer fee, they would look similar or even less but with wages, they would be way more expensive overall.

I did like the look of that fella Milan brought too you mentioned, would have been a good signing I think for us.

I think at this junction of the 'project' we do have to over pay for players that are just below that world class bracket as we can't tempt those world class players just yet.

But if Sigurdsson can get about a double figure of assists with only really Llorente to aim for, what could he achieve with Sandro, Rooney and Klaassen to aim for???

Just a thought.

I wouldn't underestimate our appeal to be honest. It's obvious we are a club on the up. Keane, Klaassen etc wouldn't have come otherwise. And the Rooney factor helps – he's still massively well regarded round the world any young forward would want to play alongside him and learn from him.

I'd go for Sanchez, Dembele and Dolberg then come back to Sigurdsson and a light night fast left-back.

Perhaps we have got more money than anyone is allowing for though, and frugality and normal business sense is a thing of the past for us. Maybe it doesn't matter too much if we overpay for a player who we want and wants to play for us.

If this is a statement of Farhad's commitment to getting the club Champions League football, maybe we will just have to get used to spending big!!!

Think of Sissoko, Perez, Slimani – all players that we were in for at a massive wedge, all who have proven not to be as good as their price tag suggested.

I like Sigurdsson, but even £45 M is a piss-take. I say move on and spend on a striker instead

Now, however, with Klaassen, Rooney and Sandro along with Davies, Lookman and Bolasie to come back, I'm not too sure he would always get his game. I don't think we want to be spending £50M on a player who could be like Sissoko was for Spurs last season and not be a regular starter. If he does come, where do people see him playing? Next to Klaassen in a 4-man midfield?

I suppose if I knew the club have got a new top striker lined up and ready to sign, I would feel a lot happier, but I still have my doubts that an exciting summer transfer window could end with only Sandro and Rooney as our main strikers and we'd have to make do with Calvert-Lewin.

However, if Moshiri is happy with us spending another £50M on a player who I doubt we'll get any money back on, then by all means bring him in as the lad does set up a lot of goals and scores his fair share too. I just think Klaassen will end up being a much better player for us than Gylfi will as he looks to work harder and run a lot more. At least I hope he will.

I simply don't see the commercial sense in Sigurdsson at these prices. Marketability – negligible; sell-on value after 3 to 4 years = fuck-all... And would he really make us that much better than the vaunted price tag suggests that we gain a higher Premier League position, make the Champions League, win silverware, and the associated money that come with that? IMO – no.

Why aren't other clubs chasing his signature?

We need to walk away from this charade before it detracts from what has been a very good transfer window to date.

I was wondering that myself. Walsh was seen all over Italy, yet nothing to report. I wonder was he scouting up and coming youngsters? Has Walsh actually done much since he has arrived? Just wondering.

If we want Sigurdsson so bad, then just pay the money; if not, move on.

Next season, the price will go up again no doubt.

Well, we've brought in seven first team players and about five for the Under-23s, so yeah I would say he's done a bit.

However, his rankings among Premier League midfielders over last 3 seasons:

Goals scored – 2nd
Goal involvement – 2nd
Goal assists – 5th (above Silva)
Free kicks scored – 1st

He's certainly not "average", as some have claimed. He's matured and improved into a quality player.

So what if his stats are inflated from his quality set-pieces – is this not something we've been crying out for for years now?

He also fits the mould of the type of leader that Koeman/Walsh are filling our team with.

We would be better paying £40m and loaning them a few youngsters, eg, Dowell and Calvert-Lewin. Not sure if that option has been explored yet...

Klaassen is certainly more open to debate but hasn't Koeman specifically said a few times that he is there to coach the team – finding players is down to Walsh? It's then down to Walsh to show said player to Koeman to get his buy in? Those latter words have been said by Walsh.

The two I would imagine are pure Koeman signings would be Stekelenburg and Martina because of the previous relationships.

Sigurdsson is a class intelligent technical player, exactly the right type to gel with Rooney and Klaassen, so imo sell McCarthy to West Brom or Newcastle for £20 million... then Sigurdsson only costs £30 million. Simples!

The question is: how desperate are Everton to get him? Decisions, decisions.

We have a load of midfielders. Spend a packet on a new striker instead.

We've got some quality players in. Most of them not cheap, granted, but I think he's done a good job up to now. I'm sure Leicester fans may have felt something similar when Kante, Mahrez and others joined too.

Got to say we are in a much better position than we have been for a very long time, but buying silverware still doesn't fit right with me. I don't think it will stop me cheering when we win some though.

We relied on Rom far to much when we knew he would go. Get Barkley to sort his shit out or go, he's too inconsistent. We have an army of young players, who will bring this club the honors it deserves.

If it pans out this way, we will have to wait and see to judge the difference in quality and benefit to the team.

With all of the signings we have added and they have improved the team no end. BTW, we have added no pace whatsoever. You need to get some players in the squad that will frighten the shit out of teams and we just don't have that right now.

That's why I would love to see them spend this money on Mahrez if it was an option. Sigurdsson is just adding to what we already have in the team in my opinion. We need diversity.

If another club gazumps them then we will moan why did they not just pay the money.

Personally, I think he improves the team so lets go for it.

His first season there we finished above them, remember. What "Big-time" Spurs? His second they finished 5th. That's it. He left because he wasn't getting playing time, which Swans guaranteed.

And Pochettino's feelings about being told the player was sold: Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has said it was a "shame" Gylfi Sigurdsson was sold because the Swansea midfielder would have been "perfect" for his team.

And this: "Every time we meet him and see him he shows his quality not only as a player but as a man," the manager added. "All the people here talk very highly about him.

"It's a shame, but sometimes in football you never know what will happen in the future."

So, the price is what it is. But we're not talking about some also-ran, who failed at a "big-time" club.

I remember when Baines was linked with Man Utd, and there was so much speculation, will he go, will he stay?

Roll on a couple of years, and yes he did obviously stay, but I don't think he has ever been the same player since.

Which again brings me back to Sigurdsson, we have been chasing him for over a year, not just a few weeks. He has signed a new contract, over a year ago, stating he was happy to stay at Swansea. Roll on a year – we go back for him; okay, he has no say in his transfer fee, but he pulls out of their pre-season, stating that he now wants to come to us. I must admit, I am confused.

I doubt we'll get that £50m back for Barkley – not that it is the end of the world.

I suspect he is under instructions from Levy to sit tight and wait for the life raft to come in at an opportune time this summer. This may be after we sign Sig as Levy will then use this knowing full well Ross will not be used this season.

I suspect Levy will end up paying £20 million – a ridiculous bargain. The board have really dropped a ball in being so complacent with Barkley.

I hope Everton are not going to play through the middle of the field by avoiding the wing areas. Our Liverpool neighbours still look stronger than Everton because they have strengthened those parts of the field.

I agree. Also, he was a 24-year-old without the experience he has now. He is now in his prime and ready to show how good he can be for a top club.

He will be fantastic for us. We're getting him in his prime, and he will put in consistently great performances from the off. Also, he's one of the fittest players in the league and never injured.

ps: Gordon, at the very least Walsh scouted and brought Lookman to the club, great bit of business.

Koeman obviously thinks this guy will make a huge difference to Everton so he's going to demand Moshiri buy him. I wonder what we are going to spend on a striker!

Man Utd thought Rooney wasn't worth keeping at 30 and yet Everton got him for free. Okay, Rooney has been arguably a far better performer than Gylfi over the years and may be the wrong one to compare him with but I question whether Gylfi can still be scoring regularly in 2 years and so the question still remains: Is £50 million a good investment on a 28-year-old for the short term.

That could possibly be the reason they don't want to let him go on the cheap. If all the stats being bandied about then he has been key to keeping them up. So £50m will get them 2/3 decent players to cover his absence.

As for Sigurdsson, everyone is banging on about the fee, has anyone seen the Unibet video that compares his stats to other PL players and players round Europe. They stand up to the best. His stats outshine Coutinho but I bet if he went for £60m or more no one would say it's shit value.

Get the guy, he's worth it.

In what world is a player spent by the age of 30? He's 27 now, which is usually the age a player enters his prime. Do you realize that Hazard is 26? Do you think he only has three years left? Aguero is 29, is he washed up?

Alexis Sanchez is 28, Vidal is 30, Messi is 30, Ronaldo 32, Ozil 28. Would anyone say no to those players because of their age? Age is not the issue here. He's got many years left.

Sigurdsson is 27 and Rooney is 31. After 3 years service, Sigurdsson will still be only 30 and have a good sell-on value, if we decide to upgrade.

I personally fear Klaassen is going to take the spot of Tom Davies and I would wager Swansea would jump at the chance of taking him for a season. From the point of view of Tom's development, a season of first team football as opposed to being a rotation player may be more satisfactory.

Certainly if this saga becomes drawn out towards deadline day and Tom is not 1st XI at that stage, then this makes sense. I wonder if they might be interested in Niasse, Besic, Jagielka as alternatives. I don't think we should offer McCarthy as he should secure a really solid sale fee.

I was wondering myself what the purpose of the "Italian trip" was As we don't seem to have done anything to follow up.

I don't blame Swansea for sticking to their guns, they know we want Sigurdsson, he's contracted to them & up until he pulled out of their pre-season tour I'd say they were in the driving seat.

It's now a case of either going back to them if we have made a £45 mill offer for him that they have turned down, with the focus on getting him in asap. Or playing the waiting game & taking the chance on them backing down, or him putting in a transfer request.

That leaves the chance come 2nd September he's still at Swansea though. I suppose it depends who else we're looking at.

Huge fee but it's a new world.

I really like Sigurdsson and think he will help to improve us and yeah, £45-50m is not a steal but it's the way the market as gone with the money in the game these days! Look at Man City, they're still spending £50m on defensive players to improve the team and, to keep up, we need to spend big amounts to try and help us get better.

Sure, there are some like Coutinho who Liverpool took a chance on for £8m and it paid off but we want ready-made Premier League talent who can hit the ground running.

I don't care if we pay £50m, if he comes in and does the job he has done at Swansea, but in a better side, then I'm all for it.

All that's then left is a really pacy forward who can bags us the goals & doesn't sulk big time!

We have to have a good-sized squad to manage four competitions so why does the arrival of one player automatically mean one of our best prospects will be farmed out as a makeweight, especially to Swansea!

I would agree that £50m is worth it IF Neymar and Mbappe goes for the quote price but it isn't sound business to go after just one player so desperately.

Get Mahrez and Dembele for a combined £60 Million and loan a bench-warming play-maker from Spain, Italy, France, Germany, etc.

When Swansea get relegated, we'll pick him up on the cheap.

Ridiculous shout!

The shoe is on the other foot now and we're looking to push on and spend big so clubs like Swansea are testing our resolve and putting big price tags on their players' heads to see if we're serious enough about spending big and taking other clubs' best players.

Koeman and Walsh rate him very highly. Walsh has watched him since his Leicester days and it's why Leicester have been interested this summer. They will know him inside out and know exactly what he'll bring to the team and that is why they will be prepared to pay big bucks for him!

He's not bothered if the players he wants are sold for less money when he might not be here. The time for Everton is now – buy him for £50 million and let's get Everton back for the next two years at least!

Offer another £5m in add-ons dependent upon us qualifying for the Champions League.

If we achieve that, they get the full £50 million. Not many Blues will begrudge it then.

Some of the above suggestions (e.g. Tom Davies) as a way out of the impasse are getting a little far fetched. So I'll suggest two of my own. The first is: offer Niasse in part exchange. If that doesn't work then we move to that scene from the Godfather involving Michael Corleone. It would appeal to Bill's theatrical side.

There he sits in his office saying. "You can have my answer now, Swansea. My offer is this: Nothing. And I would appreciate if you would pay for his salary out of your own personal pocket."

Don't thank me anyone. All part of the service.

He's the sort of centre-forward who would offer us something different and, if we signed someone like Giroud, then we would have two completely different types of strikers who could change the way we play. We could get both and have £10 million in change with the Sigurdsson money.

Koeman wants him now, he doesn't want South Americans on the cheap who may fail miserably, he wants a tried and trusted Premier League player that's done the business, season-in & season-out.

I'd like to know who they think is out there that's better, cheaper and getable who can play in the positions that Sigurdsson does and come in and do the business from the off?!

Good job it's not our money that will pay for Sigurdsson.

Get Mr Magic Fingers Walsh off his overpaid fat arse to get the much vaunted treasures, hidden gems that he's been recruited to bring in.

I don't class mega million pound signings as him doing anything more than the average fan saying, "Oh, I would like him in our side, he's proven class!" Do your job Walsh, because so far you're not!

What are you on about? Because he's at Swansea he isn't that good?

So, I guess Sadio Mane is garbage since he was at Southampton? Pickford must be a real piece of trash since we got him from Sunderland?? That Keane, must be a useless player we signed as well???

Baines must have been shite all these years since we took him from Wigan. And Coleman, he wasn't even in the English Football League.

You're absolutely right. The club a player is at is 100% an accurate gauge as to their ability. What idiots Spurs must have been for signing Gareth Bale all those years ago. Great contribution and sound logic on your part.

Leicester are looking for £50m for Mahrez and I doubt Celtic would let Dembele go for £20m despite the paper talk.

Dowell is not far off Mahrez and is better defensively but far enough off that if we have top 4 ambition we should go for the likes of Mahrez, Lanzini etc.

I took it that Paul was being sarcastic?

Surely that is not a genuine post.

Now, Walsh's job is not to sign everyone he wants to, Koeman must also agree, certainly for first team players. So maybe now we are down to the last couple of players, as stated by Koeman, it's a bit more difficult. We are a bit off Sigurdsson's valuation, and that's why that has stalled, as we cannot just force Swansea to drop their price overnight. As for the expected striker, there must be lots of negotiating going on with various players. No doubt the scouting and selecting of targets is done and it's a question of agreeing a price, which may be contingent on how much we have left to spend after completing Sigurdsson.

If I was Koeman, I would not sign Sigurdsson. However, despite this, if I was Everton Chairman and Koeman said he wanted him, and I told Koeman the price and that this only left £20m or maybe £30m for a striker, do you still want to go ahead and he said yes, then I would sign him. The board must back the manager with all available funds. If we cannot afford him, we say no. Otherwise it's the manager's decision, that's what we pay him for and we trust his judgement. If we do not trust the manager, then we, the board, should get rid of him. Luckily, we are not on the board and it is not our decision!

Don't worry, some people struggle to grasp the fact that Steve Walsh is not an Everton scout.

Utter garbage. Unless, of course, you have the inside track of all that goes on at Finch Farm, Goodison Park etc.

"Get Mr Magic Fingers Walsh off his over-paid fat arse"

You clearly have a much closer acquaintance with Walsh's arse than most people. I didn't realise it was fat. Or over-paid. Tell me, is his arse on a different pay scale to the rest of his body?

It's never a good idea to get pissed in the afternoon and then come on ToffeeWeb spouting shite. So don't do it again, Paul.

Well there hasn't exactly been a plethora of Italian players that have set the Premier League alight.

Serie A is going through a renaissance, and is arguably the most exciting league in Europe.

Inter, AC with new money, whiles Roma, Juve, and Napoli all quality teams, who are competitive in the market.

Are AC's and Napoli's cast-offs good enough for Everton? Zaza, a regular international for Italy, and fringe player at Juve, went to West Ham recently. Scored fuck-all goals.

Mahrez was the Player of the Season and a huge reason why Leicester won the Premier League. If we have top 4 ambitions we need to be targeting the players that Arsenal, Spurs etc want. A player proven to step up when required.

Dowell is good and will have a breakthrough season but nowhere near Player of the Season standard. With 3 cup competitions and 38 league games we need depth and Dowell will provide that.

Mahrez is unsettled and will probably go for £40 Million if there isn't a bidding war. He is exactly what we need to carve open defenses and create chances for Klaassen, Rooney, Sandro, Dembele (hopefully), Lookman, etc.

Dembele looks like the next big thing after Lukaku. His finishing, presence, speed, heading, positional play reminds me of Lukaku when he first arrived. He also has the right character for his age (21) and he is a pain in the arse for defenders on a consistent basis. He played well for Fulham but at 19 was expected to carry a relegation-fighting team. A little unfair in my opinion.

Why are we targeting players who are nearing the end of their careers with no sell-on value when this kid has matured to a standard worthy of a chance?

I have changed my mind about Walsh but I think this endless chasing of Sigurdsson is absurd and tiresome. If we have £50 Million then let's try and buy one of Tielemans, Kessie, Lemar, etc and use the rest of the money to buy a quality young striker.

So if there is £80m left, and Sigurdsson is £50m of that, Walsh/Koeman need to make sure there is a viable target for the other positions (and it is multiple) that we are lacking, within that budget.

And if it needs player sale(s) to raise extra money, that we actually have a chance of selling for the budgetted price (eg, I don't think we have actually had any bid for Barkley)

The only matter for the board to consider is where, as with Sigurdsson, we can expect a very modest re-sale value. He may have a good 4-5 years left at the top level, but he won't be worth much when his contract expires.

I can imagine Koeman seeing more positives in this deal (instant, hit the ground running player) than the board who face a near guaranteed write off of close to £50m.

So I hope our management have a back up plan to Sigurdsson, because you do not want to be in a negotiation without one. You must be willing to walk away and the other side must believe you might.

That might focus the minds a bit more because I doubt Swansea will want the disgruntled player they are likely to get if it doesn't go through, much as we are facing with Barkley at present (and I think right now we would have to accept a cut price deal for him).

What...? Lookman, Sandro, Pickford, Keane, Klaassen – not to mention all the new recruits in the U23s – are a waste of money, are they?

Put a value of how much profit we could make off them in 3 years time and then say Walsh is a waste of time. Those players alone with go into the £100s of millions

Swansea set the price, Everton haggle, and eventually they do a deal. Simple really.

Sigurdsson had more assists than Mahrez last season.

Mahrez won the Premier League and Player of the Year.

Mahrez clearly has ability. However, we are filling the team with model young pros, and mature (not old, but peak) leaders, which can only be a good thing.

Mahrez can be exciting, but doesn't really fit the mould. Walsh clearly knows him well, yet no approaches from Everton – that speaks volumes, in my opinion.

● Cesc Fabregas (37), Mesut Ozil (33), Christian Eriksen (30), Kevin De Bruyne (27)… and Sigurdsson (26).

● Since he made his Premier League debut (2011), Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored more free-kick goals than any other player;

● Sigurdsson covered more distance in the Premier League than any other player in 2016-17;

● Only one player scored more goals against the Premier League's top six last season than Sigurdsson (Sigurdsson 5; Vardy 6);

● Sigurdsson provided more assists from dead-ball situations than any other player in the Premier League last season;

● Sigurdsson was involved in 48.9% of Swansea's goals last season;

● Sigurdsson is both Swansea's leading scorer (34) and assister (29) in Premier League history

He's extremely consistent, one of the key things that makes a very good footballer, and one of the key things we've not had for years.

Why on earth is 27 the wrong age?!

Don't believe me? Just look at the track record of how many Academy players we have vs how many become first team regulars.

A player being 27 is not old, it's entering their prime. Those are the best years a player will have. He's at the perfect age.

Players off the top of my head that are all between 26 and 29. You need a blend of ages throughout your team/squad.

I think I'm right in saying Siggurdson had more assists than him that season as well.

I'd love to hear the reasoning behind your assertions, if it's not too much to ask?

If we buy him, so be it – but I fear that it'll be a long time before we spend another £50 mill on that position.

Can I also appeal for people to stop calling him "Siggy". Please.

Funny how Ross has become less of an issue now. 12 months ago, we would have reacted in the same way as the current nonsense re Davies going. Now? Is anyone really bothered?

Jesus, this is a steep upward climb for the club. I also think Koeman may now have a team that understand his tactics and won't run back to what Moyes or Martinez told, or maybe didn't, tell them.

I just checked: Mahrez was well ahead in assists two seasons ago.

He wasn't in the top 20 last season though.

I don't understand where people get this idea from. Yes, perhaps 20 or 30 years ago, but not for a very long time as it held any weight.

I haven't seen enough of Gylfi to form a view but £50m seems an awful lot to me when we need a striker- or does Ron think we can get by?

Fascinating stuff but, like Dave Abrahams and a couple of others,I think we must keep and blood the youngsters and not get too carried away with the fact that we have cash in our pockets.

Also, of all those players you mentioned having better stats than Sigurdsson – Ozil, Erikson and De Bruyne – I'm pretty sure you'll be lucky to get one of them for under £50m, with Eriksen costing approx £60M and De Bruyne £70-80M.

So really, £50m for a 27-year-old with his record is about the going rate.

"But I fear that it'll be a long time before we spend another £50 mill on that position."

Based on what? For all we know, they may spend that much or more next season.

Absolutely right. He's just under those players by stats, and just under them in value. £50m for Sigurdsson in this market is exactly the right price in my view too.

The market has changed massively in the last 12 months, which is blatantly reflected in the fees paid recently. Kyle Walker for £50m being a case in point.

How many people on here would turn down the chance to sign Ronaldo at his age or Messi also over 30?

I would be happy to take last season's Juventus back 5 and there age must add up to our whole team. At 27 he ain't even hit his peak.

Look at Rooney's record the season he was 27.

If Koeman, Walsh and Moshri want this to happen I believe it is going to happen and we will all enjoy watching him this season. If they don't value him that highly they will move on and we will all cheer somebody else on in his position.

There really is no point in any of us discussing whether or not we should raise our offer!!! Anyway onwards and upwards blues and here is to a great season ahead. Not had optimism like this since the 80's !!!!

I heard David Gold today going on about West Ham going for it this year... well, with what they have bought, I'm pretty sure Everton fans are a lot happier than theirs!

Exactly. It's okay to say that a player has been injury-prone, relies on pace, etc, may start to decline when he hits 30.

Gylfi is easily one of the fittest player in the league. He has been on a big upward curve the last few years, and every reason to believe that this can continue at a club like ours.

In my opinion, his best qualities are his footballing brain, leadership qualities, passing, shooting, crossing, dead-ball ability.

He is an intelligent footballer, with elite-level technique. Anyone saying that he only has 2 or 3 years left are, quite frankly, stupid.

Bang on there, mate!

So I guess we just plod on eh.

Anyway... footy starts soon. Thank god.

Ross's clips have a similar impact too, so what's the difference?

Well, for one reason or another, he wants away... and, if reports are true, Gylfi wants to join. Also, Ron and Steve want him, so it should be a good move. I hope we can get it done.

The big forward for me should be Dolberg; if not, Giroud. Dolberg would have more future but Giroud more instant impact in the shorter term.

I've mentioned on other posts about the young Scottish lad Ryan Gauld but he seems to have dropped under the radar after going to Portugal. He may be worth a punt?

Few good points there. I would love Ross to succeed, and he has all the physical attributes needed, I just don't think he'll ever have the mentality to make the next few steps up.

One thing to add – Gylfi is also effective defensively, and isn't afraid of putting a tackle in.

I don't understand the comparison. Was Mirallas ever a consistently good player? If he was, do you put his decline down to age, or lack or intelligence and application? Is Mirallas anywhere near as technically sound as Gylfi? Does Mirallas have 50% of the fitness/endurance levels as Gylfi?

The issue is the commercial one. At the end of that period- or frankly,, by the time he is 30, he will have very low resale vale, way less than £50m (in real terms). Ronaldo might be worth £100m at 30 plus but that is because he does make commercial sense in terms of the commercial value he adds, however there are a tiny handful of players in that category, and we are certainly not in the market for them and Sigurdsson is most certainly not in that category.

So it might make sense as a footballing decision but not from a commercial/financial one and ideally you want any transfer to make sense for both.

Fickle doesn't come close!

The market dictates prices, it doesn't matter how old players are, or what they cost.

Player sale money is often put back into transfers so most fans would rather a player you could sell for vast money towards the end of their time (as in Lukaku) over someone who will be worth very little, which would be the case with Sigurdsson.

I don't think Sigurdsson is going to make the difference between us coming 4th or 7th. I don't think his abilities are what the team needs most now. I don't think he is the best player we could get for £50m. I don't think he is good enough from open play.

I do think we are going to buy him and I will adore him once that comes to pass.

He is not worth £50M and the resale value is important. If we don't buy, who is queuing up? Go elsewhere or get Wayne to show Barkley how to play.

Possibly he gives us two fantastic seasons, then goes to Real Madrid or PSG etc for £35 million aged 29.

Unlikely but a possibility that makes the fee more palatable...

He has out-performed the majority of top 4/6 midfielders in all offensive categories over the last 3 seasons (2nd behind Eriksen in goal involvement).

He also performs very well against top 6 sides, in a poor Swansea team. He hasn't played with above-average "open-play" attackers in a long time. His ball delivery made Llorente look world class at times.

I respect your opinion. Who do you think will give us a better chance of cracking that top 4?

Just pay the money and get him in. Then turn our attention to a striker.

Put this in context – we would be spending nearly two thirds of the Lukaku money? I am a critic of our former striker with his role in our team meaning the chances all went to him and it became bottle-necked but are we really going to part with £45 million to buy this guy?

Swansea have been an average to poor side for 2 or 3 seasons now and Sigurdsson hasn't dragged them up from that and it's easier to score consolation goals or create them when the pressure is off and the opponents are relaxing. I'm not saying he's a bad player, he clearly isn't. But I don't expect us to pay these fees for a player who is nearly 28 and played for a side nailed-on for relegation most of last season.

Lastly, we've been comparing Ross with Sigurdsson for months. One gets to take all the set-pieces. The other has several other talented players to fight it out with. One is 4 years younger and he plays for us. I would rather Koeman sort out his relationship with that player than spend £45 million.

Have you noticed the type of players that Koeman and Walsh are filling the team with at present?

Walsh knows Mahrez well. Have you asked yourself why he hasn't been anywhere near him this window?

Building a team isn't always about obtaining those with most ability. Mahrez is good – so were Nasri, Payet, Robinho, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Depay, Martial, etc... for a year or two.

Attitude, professionalism, application, team ethics, willingness to adapt/improve, effort – I'm not sure any of these apply to Mahrez.

For years we've complained about us not spending high fees on players, and now we are, people are still complaining.

We've spent some money, and we've recouped some on Lukaku – we have plenty of TV money like everyone else – spend it!

"Lastly, we've been comparing Ross with the Sigg for months. One gets to take all the set pieces. The other has several other talented players to fight it out with."

Gylfi "gets to take all the set pieces" because he is the best set-piece taker in the league, and by quite some distance.

Who are these other talented set-piece takers that Ross has had to contend with? Bainesy been decent over the years, without being outstanding. I'd love to hear the other "talented" names you're throwing into this mix...

You seem tell bent on bashing Walsh. And not for the first time. Why? Have you not seen the business we've done this window for both the first XI and U23s? And during January?

So, no pressure on me then if we sign him! Ha-ha!

Mahrez?

Other than the first half of Leicester's title-winning season, what has he done?

He's been figured out since then and will be as long as he stays in the Prem. Please no.

I'm all in on Sigurdsson. But if that doesn't happen, let's look elsewhere rather than Mahrez.

I would have begrudingly handed over £30m pounds for Sigurdsson, but he's not worth £40m, let alone £50m.

At £50m, you're expecting someone who's 22-23, who's got his future ahead of him that you can sell off later if you need to. Sigurdsson is already 28 and no-one is going to pay anything remotely like that in 2 years time.

I hope Everton are just playing with Swansea right now, and go find somebody else just as good for half the price.

2.The price of an item is largely irrelevant, if you can afford to buy it; and it seems we can.

3. How old was Manchester United's top scorer last season? Clue: He was 8 years older than Sigurdsson, and 4 years older than Rooney.

Do it!

You won't find one wealthy person on the planet that would say that, about even a pair of socks.

He's a competent, tidy player for sure. I rather think some on here though, are envisioning an attacking impact more in the realm of a Hazard or similar.

In my opinion, should he come to the club, I feel there'll be disappointment.

He's nothing like Hazard. I don't think I've seen anyone insinuating that. He's a very creative player and an incisive passer. If you make the run, he will find you. His wonderful set-pieces are a giant bonus.

And who knows what other interest there is or may be? But, as a general rule, apart from Barça or Madrid very few British based players make their way into those top European teams anyway so that point of view doesn't really stand up.

However over priced Sigurdsson is, what ever way you look at it, he is probably one of the best players we can currently attract, in that position.

Will he be worth it? If we get top 4 and he's assisted 15 times and scored 10 goals would any of us care what we paid for him?

We have money to spend. We have other positions we also need players for. We have to assume Koeman and Walsh are not going into this blind and blowing the rest of our kitty on one player.

He's a very good, consistent player we need.

Isn't that exactly the point David made, James?

"Where as Koeman and Walsh do."

Koeman also sees Martina as part of the side...

As for Martina? Crap signing in my eyes but a free signing for a player to cover a position is hardly justified in comparing the two is it?

I do think Sigurdsson is over priced but I also think he'll be a good signing for us. I don't think we can currently attract another player as good as him right now. Which means we have to pay the asking price.

Don't get me wrong – it's a fortune... but he is a superb player and will make a real difference.

End of the day, it's nothing much to do with us, is it?

Years later, when you are happily married, do you count up all of the expenditure that you shelled out? Of course not!

Spend the money on Sigurdsson and, when we win the Cup or get in the top 4, no-one will think that he was a bit over-priced!

Because all of the Spanish and Italian clubs, apart from Barça, Madrid and possibly Juve, couldn't afford him.

I think he'd walk into Man Utd's team and do very well there. Thankfully Mourinho is persevering with the likes of Lingard.

I also believe Spurs would have taken him back but not for the money Swansea are demanding. Their stadium has left them penniless, not that Levy will admit that. Sigurdsson most probably wouldn't want to go back after his last experience anyway.

Come on, you Blues! Enjoy the ride.<>ps:. Paul (#132), is your middle name Juan by any chance? Just a feeble joke.... no offense.

Once he comes and grabs his first goal and assist, those 40% will be just as happy as the 60%.

I can't wait to see him play for us. I genuinely believe he will make a huge difference and be worth all the effort. Sigurdsson is a player of true quality who wants to come and is clearly Koeman's and Walsh's top choice. He will give his all every week and soon become a fans' favourite.

I can't understand why some posters think they know other players who will suit us better, when they have no idea how Koeman wants us to play and where he expects Sigurdsson to fit in.

I keep reading, "I'd rather we went for..."

Why would you rather we went for a player that Koeman doesn't want? He's the manager and he wants Sigurdsson. Koeman and Walsh would have watched far more of all of the players mentioned and they will know who is the right fit and who they have a realistic chance of getting.

With Sigurdsson, they get proven Premier league quality, fantastic fitness and work rate, world class delivery, and a player entering his prime.

Pay the money!

I think we've got some good quality in the middle, options-wise, already.. paying £50 mill for someone who's clearly not going to be left on the bench will seem more than a bit counter-productive if he just pushes someone else out, then proves to be no better... or worse!!

Personally, I'm waiting for Klaassen to kick on, in, and be the box to box central midfielder and scorer I'm hoping he'll prove for us!!!

It would take a ridiculous world record bid from the likes of Madrid or Barça to prise him away. We can dream though.

I don't think we can assume that TV rights will continue to go up. I think it is quite likely they may start to come down (but I have thought that before and it didn't happen – hey ho, I'll be right eventually).

I don't get the old "top 6 sides don't want him so why should we" argument, to state that players aren't good enough.

Are you saying that we shouldn't have signed Coleman, Baines, Gana, Schneiderlin, Lukaku, etc?

Spurs have built one of the best teams by signing players not fancied by the other top 4 teams. Should they not have bothered with Vertonghen, Walker, Dembele, Alli, Eriksen, etc?

Yes, it's apples and oranges. Sanches is a different kind of midfielder and he's also different calibre of player to Sigurdsson. A marquee name who is available for less than the fee Swansea are demanding.

We still still need a centre-back. I'd prefer to pay another £10m and buy Van Dijk than overpay on Sigurdsson.

Seems like he's going you know where. That is going to be devastating and will massively improve them.

Sigurdsson will have little impact on our league position.

Also think we haven't improved as much as many think. Don't think Sigurdsson is the man to help us break top 4.

Was hoping after Walsh's trip to Italy that we could tempt some of the Napoli contingent with the riches of the Premier League (Insigne, Callejon, Mertens, Hamsik, Koulibally or even Milik).

Rooney is a good signing but I would have liked one big name from the continent. I accept that not everyone from the continent transitions well but it would have been exciting to have been the club to tempt them here.

On Eriksen has been involved in more goals (scored/assisted) over last few years than Gylfi.

Coutinho has carried Liverpool to Top , yet Gylfi has far more goals/assists than Coutnho, particularly against other top 6 teams.

You might be right. However, thinking that a player that makes things happen, added to the other quality additions, will help move us up the table, does not make us deluded.

Who would you bring in that would get us top 4?

It's been said many times that no-one goes for a song anymore (ignoring clause meeting low prices)

The going rate is there, pay it and move on to the next target.

(Why can't we go for more than one target at a time?)

Can I ask why please.

There must be far better options out there, we need pace and a target man rather than someone who can take corners and free kicks! He plays for a poor Swansea side so of course he looks good, let's be honest I am sure Adam Johnson will look good in prison side!

Go out and get Sanchez to replace one of our defensive midfielders and add some real box to box urgency.

You either have principles or you do not. My feeling is that Swansea are playing us along. £50 million, why not £60M, why not £70M? Who knows what the player's true worth is.

Our club seems to have had an idea of £40M, maybe up to £45M. In my view, we should stick to our opinions, not just pay up whatever is asked. I do understand the view on here which is Manchester City or Manchester United based.. just pay up, do the deal, we have loads a money.

This is the eventual ruination of the beautiful game. Sorry to be so "deep" but the figures asked are just a joke. £50 million for Barkley. Yeeeessss.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40716317

We'll be fine but feel free to tell us all what you think about 'he who shall not be named'.

Onto Sigurdsson himself, he is a player who I'd have loved to sign when he left Tottenham but I do question do we really, really need him now when we are, as noted, quite highly stocked on midfielders.

Surely Rooney and Klaassen will play in that role and as nice as it would be to have a great set-piece taker I think we are okay on that front already, not least with Rooney in the side.

£50 million on a striker who can nod them in, that would be money well spent.

I think we'll get Sigurdsson for £45million plus extras and then we have him, Klaassen, Rooney, Sandro and Martina all brought in for the sum total of Lukaku's starting fee. Del and Cleverley paid for most of Keane too. Sell Barkley for £35million and we'd be quits up to this point.

Hmmm.... I'm with Tony (#128), there's also a lot of horses heads in Wales!

There's not exactly an abundance of proven scorers that are available, in a competitive market, therefore goals from midfield are a must – step forward Gylfi (who will also put them on a plate for guys like Giroud).

Diego Costa on loan until January, anyone? Very unlikely, but he's frozen out at Chelsea, can't go to Atletico til then, and it's a World Cup year.

He wants to replace Lukaku, Funes Mori and one other, hopefully.

He expects Barkley to leave.

He was very laid back and wouldn't talk about Sigurdsson.

Kudos on finally buying a goalkeeper to succeed an aging Howard.

Keane's arrival is exciting but he simply fills the gap left by Jagielka.

However we need another centre-back as Jagielka is aging, Funes Mori is injured and Williams is unfit.

We need a left-back as Baines is getting on and may get injured.

We brought in Martina to fill the very large shoes of Coleman... Good luck with that.

We had to release Deulofeu with so far no decent replacement options. Some of the shit we have been linked to had me switch off my computer as it clearly is media rubbish!

We have Barkley who is as good as Sigurdsson but yet could lose him for a minimal sum or free next year.

Bolasie is injured and has been replaced by Lookman, who in my opinion can play the Sigurdsson role upon Bolasie's return.

Lukaku has gone and we have no replacement. Yet we throw around the £45 Million for a midfielder who will have little impact over Barkley's performances.

Prior to Klaassen's arrival, we all thought that he would be the play maker Number 10 that would open up defences and score goals. His role now is to play in Tom Davies's position, relegating an exciting talent to the bench. Do you really believe that Klaassen will have a bigger impact than Davies? I would say they would be about the same.

Managers make mistakes, ask Moyes's unemployment advisor. The problem is unlike a forum where we can have raging debates with 100s of opinions, managers have the unquestionable final say and then live and die by it.

We all know that £50 Million is too much for Sigurdsson but people are finding DC and Marvel ways to hype up a player who may not live up to it. Spurs anyone?

The money can be invested in key areas and yet re-signing Barkley, promote youth and bring in a play-maker who has the ability but not the games for a top side. Even if it is on loan.

There are many players around the world who want games. Lukaku was one of them. Deulofeu another, and on average wages as well.

They came to us, as did Ramirez. If you want to spend big though then Martial, Dembele, Javier Hernandez (too late) etc would come. We aren't as shit as some make out.

My point is, we are making side moves. Nothing has really changed that much. Apart from the absence of Lukaku, Deulofeu and soon to be Barkley. We are staying 7th... if we can score enough goals.

The pursuit of Sigurdsson makes us look like New Money idiots desperate to pay a made up valuation by a Swansea chairman who must be flabbergasted at how desperate we must be to hang with the big boys.

Time to find another way.

Gylfi was played deeper at Spurs. The fact that Pochettino has lamented his subsequent sale to Swansea speaks volumes.

I would've liked Javier. He has scored 35 in league over last 3 years – Gylfi has 27 goals, and 27 assists from midfield.

Martial is not the type of personality I want at the club, and his form is erratic, to say the least. Man Utd would not sell cheap either.

Dembele looks good, and could be the striker we need, yet we'd surely still need a playmaker?

There are more signings to come (thanks for update CW).

Will Liverpool be any better, particularly if Coutinho goes?

Spurs have signed nobody, and may be forced into panic-buys at some stage...

Will Morata have the same impact as Diego Costa. Is Hazard over his injury?

Mourinho sees Lukaku as a target man, who is most effective with back to goal – be interesting to see how that plays out. Or when Jose inevitably falls out with Pogba or Rom, and has £180m worth of sulk warming the bench and disrupting the changing room.

Arsenal have been in decline for years, and could very well lose their best player in Sanchez.

To say that we are deluded to think that there is a possibility of leapfrogging one or two of these teams is a bit ridiculous.

Point being, that Pochettino cannot be blamed for not playing him, or playing him out of position, but also that he does not really know the player inside out as he never really managed him.

I think his comments come from the fact that, like Koeman, he thinks Sigurdsson would have fitted into his hard running game.

All due respect to you and thank you for posting but this is what I'm talking about. We are so naive at times.

Unlike Everton, the teams you mentioned don't live and die on one player. They don't have to break the glass ceiling... They are the ceiling!

Spurs don't need to make panic buys, their team as a whole is excellent. They could have won the Premier League two years in a row. They will have a go again this year.

Liverpool are currently strengthening their defence. With or without Coutinho they will be mean next year, and I bet they will buy well with the Coutinho money.

Arsenal have been in decline for years but always end up higher than us. They have Lacazette and are targeting a solid midfielder and defender.

Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United... stop, my friend, stop.

If any of the aforementioned had old, injured, unfit players in key positions with no top striker and no quality replacements your point would be valid; however, unfortunately we do and that is the reality.

Be honest – do you honestly believe that Sigurdsson is worth £50 Million?

Apologies if it's already been shared, but The Guardian has a very succinct article on Sigurdsson:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2017/jul/26/gylfi-sigurdsson-everton-swansea-transfer-window

Difficult to disagree with it. If you take set pieces out of his game then Sigurdson's stats are very average and as this article points out, so is the rest of his game.

It's too much money, it's become divisive, there are cheaper options, we desperately need a tall, mobile centre-forward and the blue flag to me is that no other teams are chasing him.

I suggest that we stop this chase right now and re-visit (if necessary) next July when Swansea are either relegated or had yet another demoralising relegation battle.

He is the best set-piece taker in the league – why would you take this out of his game when assessing his ability?

Only divisive amongst us fans, but what isn't?! Moshiri, Koeman and Walsh are working on a project, and clearly see him as an integral part.

I think his impact on average Swansea and Iceland teams over the last few years have been extraordinary.

Jason – I'm not saying those clubs are in trouble, just that relatively small things can have a big impact, eg, Chelsea winning league, then finishing bottom half, then strolling the league. Did anyone think that Victor Moses, Mikel Alonso and David Luiz would have such an impact on their fortunes? Conte Did.

I really appreciate you and Jason providing the reasons behind your opinions – not enough of that on here tbh.

Owners are fretting big time.

Right now... yes, but only in this window of opportunity, as in, this phase of the plan, which is becoming increasingly clearer.

Buy the best, consistent players from the lesser teams or quality bench-warmers from the bigger clubs with Premier League experience: Bolasie, Williams, Schneiderlin, Rooney, Keane... go for the now, whilst grabbing the best young talent out there: Pickford, Sandro, Lookman, Clavert-Lewin, Onyekuru, Klaassen and a host of U23s.

The older experienced players can go straight in whilst helping the newbies settle with minimal pressure. For this reason, I understand Koeman wanting this done now, and now only, as he slots perfectly into the first category.

That being said, it has to be this window and with a younger, faster striker like Dembele, not Giroud, much as I rate him, but one for each category, age and youth.

Perhaps the reality is that Sigurdsson might've augmented the team with Barkley – which we will never know. He is not a replacement for him. The passes stat is the most telling.

The price though, is lunacy.

They also know the situation with regard to Ross, so maybe Sigurdsson is a much needed replacement for Barkley.

It looks a sure thing to me that he will be an Everton player this season, and we will pay £50m or close to it.

So you don't think Sigurdsson would be a replacement for Barkley. air enough, I cant say I looked at the stats. so it was just an assumption I made.

Koeman will stick with Sigurdsson and go for Giroud or Slimani because he's got 2 years on his contract and probably isn't thinking about the future in the long term. That's Steve Walsh's brief.

Sheedy was 22 years old when he joined us for £100k he was brilliant for us and exceptional value. Sigurdsson will never be that quite simply because the asking price is far too high.

I believe that the point you're trying to make is re: set pieces.

Firstly there will be a queue, Rooney will probably call dibs, Baines will be sniffing about and best part redundant as others will be taking free kicks and corners. Mirallas will probably walk off in a sulk (with the ball) and the remaining midgets will be getting bullied in the box.

Secondly, Sheedy had Sharpe, Gray, Inchie, Mountfield etc to feed as the Guardian points out, who would Sigurdsson have now that Lukaku has gone ? Do we have anyone over 6 feet?

Sigurdsson is decent; IMO the current prices being quoted are far too high, I feel that there are better, cheaper, younger alternatives and would rather see the money spent on a big striker.

Come on, Everton, if you really want him, pay up. Simple.