Hitch in Belfodil move blamed on agent

I suspect someone wants a big cut, a la Funes Mori.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it were true, though. Even in today's inflated market, 㾶.4m seems like a lot of money to pay for a player as untried as Belfodil.

Like Will (#1), I don't have the same desire to see this one get over the line, not like I did with Schneiderlin. But I suppose that's understandable because one is a known quantity with Premier League experience coming from Manchester United and the other's had more clubs than I've had hot dinners.

This guy... meh.

Belfodil doesn't strike me as someone who can take us forward or rise to big game moments.

I would like to see Lookman get a few chances playing off or behind Lukaku... and where is Tarasaj?

There are suggestions Standard are trying to drag things out for a couple of reasons: (1) they're reluctant to lose Belfodil (who has been a big player for them thus far this season) and would prefer to see him stay if at all possible; and (2) if he's going to go, they would rather it be at the end of the transfer window so he is still available to play in a couple of big games coming up against rivals Club Brugge and Anderlecht.

Why Christophe Henrotay would be getting involved and trying to grease the wheels is open to speculation. Maybe he believes if he can help Belfodil get his move over the line, whilst bigging up his 'relationship' with Everton (having represented Fellaini, Mirallas and Lukaku) then he can bag himself a new client? Hence his current agent getting in a huff?

Whatever the reason, Standard probably won't be pleased with Henrotay poking his nose in, seeing as though they felt driven to complain to FIFA about the same agents conduct when he went round touting Michy Batshuayi to every club going and tried to convince the player to break his contract with them a couple of months after extending it.

Complimentary panto tickets all round and promises of a FaceTime call from Michael Crawford could be in order here, Bill.

Good footballers can play in shit leagues, but it's a lot harder for shit footballers to play at the top level. I don't know much about this player but do find him intriguing because he's played for some decent clubs and just looks like he could have quite a bit of ability.

He probably won't score again for five years to ruin my theory, but unless this Belfodil is better than his career to date shows, I wouldn't worry if we didn't get him.

Valencia may also be a better Premier League player than Belfodil. Calvert-Lewin is another prospect for next season .

Everton should not waste money on Belfodil, especially if the agent is just wanting to line his pockets.

Concerning Christophe Henrotay, the club have a very close relationship with him and he's been involved in many of the deals involving the Belgians. He was the guy who concocted the Henen deal, as the Belgium club wanted a ridiculous amount from us for him. He did the deal that got him to Greece for 6 months and then to us for a fraction of what we were originally quoted.

I would hazard a guess that there is a deal in place, for any future deals from Belgium go through him as a part of the Henen deal.

Algerians are always technically very good, but I doubt very much they play the type of game that would suit a 6ft 4inch centre-forward and playing in the Belgium League might be the first time this kid, has ever played a style of football which might just suit his style.

By the looks of him, he's a classic old-style English No 9. They were all the rage back in the 80's in Italy, but probably not so much now. The only player close to that now here is sicknote Carroll, and you would probably have to go back to Big Dunc's playing days to find one who was truly effective.

Michael (#28), sadly these days there's an agent for the player and sometimes one for the selling club and one for the buying club. Lots of fingers in a pie.

Deal Off?

One of these so-called flaws was him snatching the ball off a team mate at a penalty, taking it himself and missing it. At least he scored from the rebound.

Sound familiar?

In any case, who cares? Believe it when it happens.

How many times over the past few windows have we been heavily involved then lost interest. Fer failed a medical according to us but hardly missed a game once signed. How on earth did the likes of Gibson pass a medical?

Brahimi was too expensive at 㿊 million yet we got 㿛½ million for Stones. Brahimi is a proven top class play maker with a proper pedigree whilst Stones is still a promising novice by comparison. This boardroom of ours have enough spin doctors to become Prime ministers.

I just hope these tactics do not sway Moshiri. I just do not blindly believe whatever is spouted in our media.

At the end, he also has to put the team out and needs to believe in those players.

What Everton/ Walsh see in this player is beyond me. No pace – just a lumbering clod of a player (just the sort we like, I hear some say).

If we do acquire him, I would love to hear from Walsh as to what hidden qualities this man possesses because they sure as hell are not football related.

I hope he has got some good ones lined up to surprise us with in the future.