Reports: Everton preparing new deals for Barkley and Stones

If they want to go then I would let them have their wish and move on.
However I believe we have a very determined man in place now who won't want to take no for an answer.

The next 12 weeks are going to be very interesting. COYB.

Ferdinand was acquired more than 10 years ago for a then British record for a defender. With age and potential future resale value Stones is a safe bet for any Club willing to pay the asking price.

Barkley stays, his development has stalled and the position that he plays is not a specialist one.

The two mentioned players signing new deals, without any get out clauses would be a huge statement to the whole league.

Get them signed up, try and get Rom to do the same then start buying some quality to go with them.

Same as last season really, we should be looking to keep our better younger players - and offload the obvious. I think our squad is very underrated in the media, we can surprise a lot of people this season with 2 or 3 class additions. Interesting weeks ahead.

Furthermore, for him to join a manager with a level of distrust of young players akin to DM's aversion to silverware would take him backwards at a rate of knots.

But, as we have recently proven, money talks loud !

Barkley is a true enigma. Great on the local park on a kick about but put him in a real game he just doesn't seem to be able to consistently produce. Too many flaws to his game. Spatial awareness, decision making etc... I know he lost his way and confidence in a horrific season but I fear the poor traits are uncoachable. In that position you either see it like Silva or Ozil or you don't.

Barkley currently has 22 England caps by 22 years old. My bold prediction is he'll not make 50 and I doubt even 40 in total. I really hope I'm wrong but the next wave of young players will eclipse him.

As for the thread. A new deal this summer. I'd leave it a while see if we see some improvement.

I really hope I eat humble pie over this but it's my honest opinion of the enigma that Barkley is becoming.

22 caps in under three years. At least another ten years to go in his career (touch wood).

I'll take that bet right now. Any amount you like.

Every player went backwards or was hampered under Martinez and his useless crew. Hopefully something gets salvaged because there is plenty of raw material there.

I would like to see John Stones pushed up into a Koemanesque role as a defensive midfielder as he has all the attributes to play that role.

Defensively we need a goalkeeper of the highest order and a tall commanding centre-half to deal with crosses.

I wonder if he can coax Lukaku into one more season?

So Mr Koeman its over to you, its going to be a tough job at Goodison Park but it looks like the new owner only wants the best and is not going to compromise his ownership by accepting anything less than the best.

In Barkley's case (and I do hope I am wrong) I can't see him getting a game in a Koeman team. Despite some blaming Martinez and the crowd, Ross is an inconsistent slacker.

If Stones, stays, I will be delighted. Agree with Paul, that he should stay and learn, off one of football's ultimate central defenders. A man who could play but also really defend.

Must secure Barkley first for me; as above Stones is a United supporter and as much as I'd like to keep him, I fear in his head, he's already gone.

Barkley hasn't had the right support since he broke into the first team: Moyes didn't trust him, Woy doesn't trust him and Martinez trusted him so much, he didn't bother coaching him.

We have gotten Koeman in at the right time, before the start of preseason. This means that he will have a proper chance and the proper time to see what the whole squad is like. If he is the strict approach manager he is made out to be, then Barkley will need to show a lot from the start of preseason to show that he has the attitude as a professional footballer to go with his talent. Like with Koeman, Barkley will have the proper time and the proper chance to prove himself.

With Stones, neither Chelsea nor Man Utd showed themselves last season to be anything special. With neither team having CL football to offer him next season, the only thing Stones will gain for now by moving is a wage increase. His reputation still has the hangover attached of being involved in a Martinez team and he has shown that he is far from being the perfect defender. A season under Koeman might be what his reputation and skill set requires. Staying with Everton for another season and then moving with an improved reputation to a club offering CL football would be the sensible option. It would also be a better bargaining chip when negotiating a contract.

That's not the way I would like to see Everton in coming years.

Both of these players have, in my opinion, the ability to be at the top of their game but they need some great coaching and support from players coaches and the fans. Without that we may as well look to move them on!

I would sell Lukaku, Stones and Barkley and make a clean start.
Lukaku and Stones want to leave, there's little point in keeping dissatisfied players.
Barkley's a different case, I tend to believe what Charlie 9 says about him, mid field has to be up there with the most important position in a team and Barkley has been playing like a luxury the team cant afford.

Now I'm well aware that's a minority view probably on all 3 players but I believe Stones and Barkley are too unreliable of a risk at this stage if we really want to push for top 4 this season.

Unlike our other 'wantaway' players, there are offers on the table for Stones, which tells me he's the priority. Sit him down with Moshiri and Koeman, sell the new dream. He will learn plenty from Big Ron, methinks. If he doesn't buy it, ship him out to the highest bidder.

I want him to stay, but only if his heart and soul are with us right now.

Ross just needs direction and his confidence back and I still believe he will become the player we all want him to be.

The one thing I would say on a comment above - please not Forster - he is not as good as people make out. He is indecisive although I accept he is a good shot stopper when the ball is close to him. I will get hammered for this but in truth I prefer Robles, he made some progress last year and with a good defence in front of him, he could improve to be a genuine number 1.

We have an excellent squad of promising young players and it's really important that we keep all of them. I find it really frustrating that fans want rid of a player as soon as he shows any kind of flaw, that's not how you build a winning team. These fans seem to think that there are perfect, ready made replacements out there desperate to come to Everton and commit for the next ten years playing flawless football. There aren't, you support the team you've got, otherwise what's the point?

Maybe Mr.Koeman can find a younger version of himself somewhere!

I have every confidence that Koeman will either be persuasive and keep our higher profile players or find excellent replacements.

Barkley is certainly an enigma. Was at the cup semi and sat quite close to the pitch. Could not believe how much bigger he was compared to the past. Seems to be carrying at least an extra stone or two of muscle which can't do his stamina and speed any good. There is still a decent player in there somewhere and I think he got something like 9 goals and 8 assists last season (haven't looked it up sorry), which are still very decent numbers for a midfielder. I think he just needs some decent coaching to get better. I'm still hopefull he'll come good.

As for Stones, personally I'd cash out and move on. No defender in the world is worth 40m+ imo and I think it's easier to sign a decent CB than a decent striker or AM so spend the cash on the latter. Leicester showed last season how to defend as a team - you don't need supposedly brilliant individuals, you need a unit that works hard as a unit and is well organised.

I also hope Koeman gives someone else the captains armband - Jags just simply doesnt cut it as a skipper.

If one or both of them want to go, then go. I only want players who are proud to be here and fight hard for the cause. Stones should be £45m+ and Barkley not alot less. Neither of them should be that hard to replace with that money in terms of their contribution to the team over the last 2 seasons.

Money wont buy the sort of development Koeman should be able to offer Stones and I think he'd keep things simple enough for Ross to get back to basics.

Hopefully Koeman has a clear vision of the player Ross can be and can help him realise it. As far as Stones is concerned I would buy a world class, no nonsense centre half (with Jags as back up for that position) and let Stones and Funes Mori compete for the other berth.

I think Ross will stay, no problem, partly due to his affinity to the club. I think Stones will have been gone had it not been for this appointment but will ultimately stay now.

Which leaves Lukaku. Show him the vision, give him a few home truths, if he doesn't buy into it and isn't prepared to get his head down let the bidding war begin.

Which to be honest applies to the whole squad - I'm pretty sure Koeman will be looking to build a team again and deflate the hype that the press and our former manager has pumped into these lads over the past three years. They need discipline and direction.

Out of the existing players, I'd give it to Barry like a shot.

Sell McCarthy too. If Koeman plays two defensive midfielders I won't be happy. I also hope Koemam actually pkays a left middielder, bizarre how that Spanish clown didn't.

My comment was somewhat in jest; but the point is that RM didn't get the best out of him either. If he's to play as an attacking midfielder then 'my opinion' is that he needs to be more disciplined and be far better without the ball.

If Lukaku wants to go to Chelsea, or Stones to City then let them. Better replacements will be lining up for once.

As for stones my lasting memory of him was sulking around Anfield......ball at his feet not under any pressure and he inexplicably finds a Liverpool player they score and he goes off crying with stomach ache.

The player we will miss is the one who scores the goals Lukaku. That will be the most difficult replacement to get right.

Tough one but I agree we could do with buying in a captain, preferably at CB.

We really don't know Moshiri's spending plans, you never know, if the are ambitious enough all three could be persuaded to stay.

I doubt it though I think Lukaku and Stones will be off.

Personally I would love to see Barkley stay as I see potential for him to be a top player – if he can regain his confidence and get in shape – hopefully the new fitness coach will sort this out.

It's not like we need to sell him for the revenue now is it? The long term financial gain is potentially far more than the £40 m-£50m we'd get now (I base that on Bailly at £30m)

God only knows what was going on under the surface last year and I think the full extent of RM's damage to Everton is not fully known or realised by us – tactics, fitness, moral – fucking everything really except PR bullshit.

It would be really nice to see what we could do if we could manage to keep hold of these lads because last season painted a damn bleak backdrop. Even gobby Rom if he could respond correctly to RK's size 10 planted firmly up his arse.

Just fucking imagine if it all came off...

Sad fact of life now is that the media and agents can turn players heads. He is a lad who dreams of titles and stardom and even though he is young and could be argued needs more experience before going to an 'elite' club (i hate that term!), he is likely to believe the hype that he is too good for Everton.

Besides, what if he performs badly for Belgium in the Euros? if we hold on he may be worth a lot less very soon.

We need a top class keeper. We need a centre half that can head it. A Vidic or Terry type that goes, "That's mine." when a cross comes in.

I also think we badly need some legs in midfield, or some variety, a player with 8 - 10 goals a season in them. And no I don't mean Ross Barkley. The Dutch lad at Newcastle went through my head before we were linked with him but I think we may be shopping in a higher bracket now. Someone who can get on the ball but also has the legs get about, make runs into the box and get beyond the striker in general play. We have nobody like that.

Lukaku will need replacing and we also needs a back up striker as Niasse is going to be a waste of space and a £10 million loss.

Also, a combination midfielder to fill the narrow left mid slot to replace Pienaar is long overdue.

Finally, Ross doesn't need a new deal, he is quite safe.

For all the flack that Martinez gets I don't think his more expensive buys have disappointed.

All the top players have it in abundance.

We do not seem to have the willpower to stay the course even over 90 minutes.

Whether the tactics and fitness had a lot to do with it I don't know but when you're talking about 40-50m standard of player it is a given that they are a winner.

Gareth Barry has it but unfortunately his legs are going and he is giving too many free kicks away.

Bobby #64 what makes you say Barkley is safe. He turned down a contract renewal a few months ago. He may be sick of the boo boys and feels he is better plying his trade elsewhere especially when the "Engerland" pricks get into his ears.

As for Barclay its now or never. I don't expect him to play too much for England at the Euros, however if we buy the quality we can now afford and Barclay doesn't benefit from having better players around him, creating space, making the runs etc then next season may be his last in a blue shirt. The talent is in their he just needs to display it and I really hope he does.

Would love Butland to come to Goodison and we should try and get Mahrez from Leicester - just what Lukaku needs and change his mind into staying put.

As you were.

Koeman will know our squads strengths and weaknesses and he will have a good idea how he wants to get the best out of them. His fitness trainer is supposed to be a bit of a RSM and that's just what our lads need. They won't know what's hit them.

Barry will be given a key executive role role as a conduit of experience onto the pitch, available when necessary.

A new support striker may be sourced but not until Niasse and Tarashaj have been given the opportunity in pre-season to see what they can do, and if deemed necessary then before the transfer window shuts.

There will also be a closer link up between the Finch Farm with Unsy's role being appreciated more and more.

A surprise package (there always is one) could be the emergence of one of Galloway, Funes Mori, Garbutt or McAleney breaking into the first team on a regular basis, Mori being the most likely.
The key to all the above wa the right manager to be appointed. That is why Koeman was selected. Also to rich pool of talent, if managed correctly can win anywhere at any time, and that is what has attracted Koemen, as well as the money and I don't begrudge him that at all.

NSNO COYB

I think Big Rom is in for a shock when he gets back to Goodison. I think he will want to stay once he sees the direction the club is going

Stones will go right to the top with or without Koeman.

And yes I am serious regarding winning the league. if you look at the quality and depth of out squad, together with select additions, it has championship quality all the way through it. Martinez was very close to achieving what he set out to do with the quality playing staff, but he just could not deal with all the attendant crap called realities of life, such as fitness, injury prone training methods, corner kicks, discipline etc. All the stuff that good managers take in their stride.

I think Ross, is vastly overated. Get shut if any takers.

As for Stones, sell him to the highest bidder. With the money we get from his sale, we could could buy a fully acomplished defender. Without going in to the 100mil.

As for Rom, we must keep him. He's a top notch striker. As his lazy moments but we've got to persuade him to stay. Even if it means keeping him to his contract.

Maybe if Rom, stays another season and the team plays to it's full potential, with a few additions and he sees how the manager performs, Rom might see his future lies with Everton.

I must admit I wasn't a fan of Rom's, when he first arrived. I would have liked Bony. And I think we should still go in for him. But Rom's, a real must keep for me. And Bony, would be a great addition also.

Merson said Everton, have got as good as chance as any team next season, who knows?

That said, I hope AND expect Mr Moshiri will show a very different approach to what we've long had to endure from the boardroom. I hope and expect RK to be required by Mr Moshiri to get us into the CL within three years max, on pain of receiving his P45. Providing RK is provided with meaningful spends I expect that to be realistic even before the current squad is assessed.

........Ah yes, the current squad.

I hope that enough of them now reveal an inner steel that has faded (and in some cases never yet appeared) in the last three years of decline. If not I expect them to be quickly moved on because I hope and expect the manager and owner to make demands of them all as adults, not as the phenomenal whatever-they-ares some of them, exemplified by Lukaku, now seem to consider themselves to be. In a dressing room it only takes one bad apple for team cohesion to perish.

I trust RK tells them that if they don't leave their over-inflated egos in the glove box of their top notch cars EVERY day they're at Finch Farm they need to use the space there for an AA route-finder to another club instead, immediately.

I look at leicester and in their team photo after winning the league, they all seemd to be "Winners" Sounds a bit daft, seeing as they had won; but they just oozed a spirit of, "you'll have to fight every one of us to beat us"

So Mr Moshiri will, I think, be demanding everyone at Everton, have one aim in mind. A relentless determination to be the best and to do their best and I think Koeman is just the man to implement that style on the playing staff.

"For all the flack that Martinez gets I don't think his more expensive buys have disappointed."

Niasse, McCarthy to name just two. Martinez record of buying players was poor; McGeady, Alcaraz, Kone et al. Stop praising the Spanish clown!

William, win the league? Have you been hanging around with red mates? Seriously???? Others have mentioned we may win the league - deluded nonsense

Mick, what does McCarthy do apart from pass it sideways? How many assists & goals? He's poor. Do people honestly think he should start?

As for Ross - he's been dreadful beyond belief for eight months. A passenger. Yes he has talent. Who would buy him then and for how much? If he doesn't get his lazy arse together he's the next Rodwell. People may be after Tom and JS, can't see any takers for Ross.

Because Ross Barkley spent virtually all season playing off Lukaku. Not in midfield. The mix of midfielders is way off. We have no options and neither Ossie or Pienaar have been replaced. Or Arteta. Or Fellaini, who we got mad money for considering his limitations.

We need at least 2 midfielders in, ball playing types with a goal that are happy playing all across mid.

I say Ross is safe as I don't think there will be any interest in him from the Champions League bunch at the inflated fee we would ask and English players seem to get placed on them. Plus, he's not worth it.

And theres no way he is Mourinho 's type.

The betting has us to finish 9th in the league this season even with Koeman in charge and Moshiri's money, they also had Southampton in front of us before Koeman became our manager.

Niasse has not been given a real chance yet, McCarthy can hardly be called a poor signing, what about Lukaku he's doubled in value,
Mori good enough to be a Argentine regular, Lennon, Barry, Cleverley, Galloway hardly poor signings!

You can dress it up as many ways as you like. Martinez sides were/are fundamentally disorganised and lack commonly accepted, requisite traits to get results in this division. It quite possibly would have been the end of the world if he had been allowed to continue his philosophy into a 4th season.

I could see from winter 2014 that deep shit beckoned as things were happening on the pitch that lead only one way. He isn't even a manager imo. He's a coach or youth development man. He'd be a good one.

I cannot believe there is a club in the Premiership who would now re-employ the "The Incredible One" as a manager.

In our league he is toast, courtesy of his explicit ineptitude.

Maybe he'll surface in League 1 or, maybe after his ginormous BK inspired pay-off, he'll just settle for being the sort of media-friendly "man-in-the-know" dickhead that Warnock has long been. After all he's already a millionaire a-propos of nothing for us. Martinez was always a "pants" appointment by a fundamentally impotent "Green" "owner".

And, beyond us lot, who today gives a shit for our history?

Raymond I, and many others on this site, do not consider semi-final defeats acceptable. That is why I say, again with genuine respect, that you and many other fans, have inadvertently accepted our supposed status as also-rans in the Premier League.

After decades long inertia I expect Mr Moshiri to galvanise things big-time.

I'm 61. I don't expect (but I do hope) to be alive when we win the CL for the very first time, but it's a tribute to me and countless others that after decades watching other clubs, and in our case our neighbours, win the European Cup over and over again, I STILL bleed blue.

Success in that competition is now our aim. Mr Moshiri, I hope, shares that ambition.

I am fully with him, and I do not look forward to lambasting him in the future if events go pear-shaped in that regard, but his stated plans on a new ground/manager/player (or three/four) lead me to hope that this guy has the means of making us a genuine top contender in Europe.

...............And yes, I'd even accept him making a ginormous wedge providing he doesn't extort it all from fans like me/you.

That's a bit of a BS thing to say, "those of us do". Actually a hell of a lot of people who have watched and posted on here all season have pointed out that McCarthy doesn't offer much. And in fact, Barry was the one covering for him, not the other way around.

"Damian, it may be fashionable to call Martinez a clown, but he got us to two cup semi finals, the Utd one we could have won if Lukaku had been on song.
Oh, the shame of it two 11th places in the league! Not the end of the world was it."

The football was not only ineffective, but highly boring. Terrible manager, end of.

"Niasse has not been given a real chance yet, McCarthy can hardly be called a poor signing, what about Lukaku he's doubled in value,
Mori good enough to be a Argentine regular, Lennon, Barry, Cleverley, Galloway hardly poor signings!"

Niasse is rubbish. Lennon & Cleverley - average. The others, very good. What about Kone et al?

Dan (93) & (95):

"Damian@88, deluded nonsense. Another negative quote. Yet again. Are you RS in disguise?"

So you actually think we'll win the league? I have plenty of positive posts thank you, but as things have been rubbish for two years, there have naturally been more negative (mainly about Martinez). Am I a RS in disguise? Are you a dickhead in disguise? No, because you are one naturally. And you're probably a telly clapper.

"Damian I'm wondering if you have red mates? I bet you do."

Yes I do, (gold star!!) DD (sounds like a woman's name), as I have friends (something which you prob. don't have).

Mick (96):

"Damian, I don't know if you actually watch Everton, but those of us who do..."

There's always one isn't there. ST holder most of my life (even though I have lived away a lot), often go to away games (including many in Europe). Is that enough for you? Apologoes, but I don't get to pre-season friendlies, maybe you make 100% of games, Mick? Don't be insulting just because I don't like your darling McCarthy.

"Really believe there's a shade of Bally in there, with his perpetual motion and the aggression."

Speechless. Maybe someone else can help me with the above...

Box to box midfielder? He looks anything but. His only hope is that RM mismanaged him and he may improve. I see as well how you dress him up (FA Cup Winner), but leave out other things e.g. he was part of a relegated side. And it isn't difficult to get in the Ireland side is it? The England side is pants and he would not get near that in a million years. Does anyone know his assist and goal stats for Everton?

Cheers David, seems like 'those of us who do' you 'watch Everton'.

Personally I'm not going to reduce myself to schoolboy insults and jibes unlike you a ( self confessed ) Clinical Psychologist. Very mature.

You time and again have called people on TW out as being deluded. Is that your personal or professional opinion?

As for DD I wonder what Dixie Dean would have thought about having a woman's name? By the way you can't take the piss out of anyones name pal.

Damian Wilde is that honestly your real name?

Bailey is at 23 years old of a similar age to Stones. He is a top class defender already, give him a season to adjust to the pace of the Premier League and you will see what a player this lad will be.

That is one of the hordes of top class clubs supposedly chasing John Stones out of the picture. Shortly followed by Barca and Real (if they were ever in the picture, of course).

I would be amazed if an Italian manager would sign John, given he likes his defenders in the style of Bonucci and Chiellini (out-and-out defenders, masters of the defensive arts) that is the Chelsea manager ruled out.

It may be that only one club is in for John in the summer. Not the queue around the block some would have us believe. Time will tell.

Calling a passionate and loyal Evertonian a 'red shite' is bang out of order. But you then try and hide behind it as banter, cowardly.

I love my name. Named after a saint. And the surname is great! It did Oscar well! Were you named after desperate Dan?

Any season ticket holders out there in the world of ToffeeWebbers who go to away games and when we are lucky enough to be in Europe, them too, actually know this ' Damian Wilde '?

If somebody could step forward and vouch for this joker so I could at least take him seriously it would be appreciated. As somebody with such a personality amongst the fans must be well known, surely?

To be fair I don't think the others are bothered to be quite honest. Let's cut out your vacuous waffle and get back to discussing Everton.

Will we win the league next year? No chance.

Congratulations, comparing James McCarthy to Alan Ball is one of the funniest comments I've read on here in a while.

Also, McCarthy isn't 22. He's 26 in November. I keenly await a sudden blitzkrieg of box to box running, assists and 15 league goals, from a defensive midfield holding player with no vision.

I've said this on many threads now, but it seems I have to keep repeating it as so many people seem to have forgotten; we played some unbelievably good football last season, better than anything else I saw in the league. The problem was that we did it for 20 mins at a time and failed to win the games we did it in.

He is a good player, but I don't think he's worth the money. At best, why not a year?

Spot on Bobby, McCarthy has no vision. He can pick out a three yard sideways pass though.

Mike, for the past two seasons, I have been very 'bored' going to the match and I think it was 'rubbish' with that Spanish clown whose limit is League 1. Why are you defending him? He's gone. Onwards and upwards, exciting times ahead (possibly).

Do you not remember the way we played against Crystal Palace? We were like a better Barcelona, it was magnificent, Kone was good, but we didn't score. We then went 1-0 down from a simple set piece header. We then got a nice equaliser. In a way that game encapsulates Martinez, plenty of good, but hardly any of it where it really matters.

You seem determined to talk as if the whole season was the same as the last 3-4 months. It wasn't.

I don't understand why you're discussing it? The Martinez stuff has been very much done. It's all Koeman & Moshiri now

Never mind.

Damian, I'd love you to make an attempt at explaining what that 'insult' is even supposed to mean.

Although, to be fair, any answer other than "I was doing my best Derek Zoolander impression" is definitely going to be dismissed as making zero fucking sense.

My point is - how did we get to this ? Calm down lads - I feel its getting personal.

(Damian becomes an art critic and takes us on a tour of renaissance paintings in The Louvre).

John, he called me a 'red shite' so it was justified.

Mike, I prob. don't. I was so bored at matches, I barely remember anything. The man would have relegated us. But thankfully he's gone.

Koeman...

Reasoned but impassioned debate - nil; playground foot stamping - three.

Time to blow for full time I think.

But thanks for your usual helpful contribution.

Gibson? Good player, but injury prone. I was surprised he was given a contract.

However we were undone by a trademark weakness from a corner and if I remember rightly could quite easily have lost as Palace were looking very dangerous on the break. That was another feature of Martinez sides, way to easy to break on. The easiest side to counter in the division.

People who were wanking themselves daft after the Sunderland 6 -2 home game basically just don't understand the game. We were awful and that brand of kamikaze football will get you nowhere. It was exactly the same as the Wolfsburg match at home. A result that masked deep flaws.