Koeman eyeing more signings

Now, with the protracted Sigurdsson saga and all this talk of another three, it's frustrating not knowing who is (might) be coming in.

There are so many rumours on the news links...

Koeman: "That's three positions we're looking for and one is not more important than the other to give some fuel for all these high expectations.

"I heard every time that 'Everton is spending £100m, £100m, £100m' but I saw the list and I think we're 16th in the League for spending and we got £95m for Lukaku.

"We've only spent £7m. It's a different picture then the media is talking.

"Three positions we need."

So that's the rest of the quotes. We've spent £7m NET.

If we want to get into the top 4/6 we will have to stump up real cash and not just the money we get from selling Lukaku, Cleverley, Barkley and Niasse.

As for a left back, why let Galloway go out on loan again. If he's not good enough sell him. There must be an experienced left back somewhere in the UK /Europe who wants a last pay cheque, is cheap and can cover Baines.

It's all very simple: Invest or Die, something Mr Moshiri understands as a businessman.

People bemoan a lack of pace but Mirallas, Bolasie, Sandro, Lookman and another pacy winger would see us with plenty of pace to choose from.

The obvious position we are crying out to be filled is up top. We need to make our move asap, we can't go in to that tough run after Stoke with only Sandro and Calvert Lewin as our strike force.

Calvert-Lewin, Lookman, Mirallas, Sandro.

Kenny & Davies too plus Onyekuru & Bolasie when they're back.

I think we could do with 5 more signings actually.

CB - Tah / Romagnoli / Hoedt
LB - Chilwell
CAM - Sigurdsson
Winger - Keita Balde
ST - Giroud / Dembele / Slimani

If we want a LCB that plays LB too, then I'd go for Blind.. good age, leader & very good defender, a little slow, but silimar to Baines speed anyway.

As for Blind, Jags and Williams in the same team... no thanks! We need full backs who can get up and down the pitch (like Coleman). Why do you think Man City paid £50 million for a racehorse at right back from Spurs?

I'd like a pacy winger. A reliable goalscorer at striker. A ball playing monster centre-back. If I was picking potentially available Premier League players it would be something like Mahrez, Giroud and Van Dijk. Those 3 would add real balance to our team. I'm not sure that Sigurdsson will. His primary asset? Intelligence. And set-pieces (with a small team!).

Sam, the 3 players you mention plus Sigurdsson could transform us into potential title contenders. Sadly, Van Dijk and Mahrez will be going elsewhere. Giroud also looks unlikely.

I think we'll certainly get players in before the deadline but that unfortunately means they miss 2 or 3 of our difficult opening games.

Sigurdsson will probably not be ready for Stoke as his pre-season has been ruined. One half of football in Swansea's first friendly is surely not going to be enough even for the fittest of players.

There you go, Walsh, I've spent £120m and got you a proper serious team. Thank me Later.

Robles, Seamus, Jags, Leighton, Gazza, Mo, McCarthy, Aaron, Ross and Mirallas are all still here indicating to me that there's still a lot of change to come before next season, never mind this one, kicks off with whoever the manager will be.

We signed a number of players within days then... nothing.

Whatever happens we need a big striker urgently; no point spending weeks trying to sign Sigurdsson if he has no one to create for!

Money talks and we have it apparently so let's get a move on.

Centre half was also muted with Vermaelen. Slightly more concerned with that on as he's a bit of a crock, albeit at a prime age of 31 for a defender.

Likewise Lookman added bags of pace and trickery. Surely adding these two players to our starting line up would change the dynamic of the team straight off.

Match Newcastle's £13.5m for Perez.

I'd then go for Aaron Cresswell & Demarai Gray.

I, like everyone else, I'm sure, would love Aguero but I don't see it happening. If it did, however, it would be an unbelievable piece of business and would let the rest of the league know what our intentions are.

Gabbiadini would be a more realistic target, and although he hasn't been in the Premier League that long, he has proven he can score and he has a knack to be in the right place at the right time, a real poacher.

Slimani could be worth a throw of the dice, he didn't exactly set the Premier League on fire, but he was part of a disappointing Leicester side and a fresh start might be what he needs. I think I'd take a chance on him before Welbeck.

Just please get someone in soon, we have too hard a start and judging by today's performance, we already look like we are a few weeks behind. COYB

Tall but a clever player who reads the game well and brings others into play.

I liked that we spent early on and got some good players in; Pickford and Keane look like they'll be good players for us for a long time but I'm not sure if our team this season is any better than the team we started with last season.

I'm just really worried about where the goals will come from.

Llorente would be a shout IMO but I doubt Swansea would do any business with us?

Another I'd like to see us bid for is Roberts from Man City, 20 and top-drawer at Celtic, unlikely to feature much, bid £25 million and see what they say.

As striker, someone not mentioned is Bas Dost. The lad has consistently scored goals in the 'secondary' European leagues. His goal-to-game ratio is immense. Maybe he'd not make it, but at 28, if he was ever ready for the Premier League now is the time.

Two alternatives, that would probably take almost Lukaku level fee, but would make a real statement would be going for either Belotti (23) from Torino or Icardi (24) from Inter. Both hugely talented, already proven, young goalscoring strikers. But if we're gonna bid £50 mil for Sigurdsson, why not offer for one of these two?

As for a forward who can also play wide, that must mean Dzeko and Giroud are not even in the mix as they couldn't operate as wide men if there lives depended on it.

That aside, did anyone else think Martina did a pretty good job at left-back when he came on for Bainesy?

Best game he's played for us though, but should only be used as cover against low quality teams to give Baines or Kenny (if only) a rest.

Midfield Schneiderlin, Klaassen, Davies coming through and Gibson, Cleverley shipped out: must surely be an improvement but we've not clicked yet.

In attack we've lost Lukaku, Deulofeu and losing Barkley for Sandro, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin and Rooney, a very different type of attacking unit to say the least.

The squad as a whole is stronger but I'm glad the message from the manager is that we can improve. Hope Barkley, McCarthy and Niasse can be moved on as they are not contributing and we sign some players that will improve the first team.

Peter Laing (#23), we've been in for Banega a half-dozen times. Back in '09 we even tried to get him a work permit. He has never stepped up to come here.

Fran (#40). Ghezzal's going to Monaco.

Gavin (#43), Fenerbahçe has reportedly bagged Lucas Perez. Agree he would have been good business.

This one in particular caught my eye: "We are like Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ."

I'd like a pacy winger. A reliable goalscorer at striker. A ball playing monster CB. If I was picking potentially available PL players it would be something like Mahrez, Giroud and Van Dijk. Those 3 would add real balance to our team.

We'll end up falling into a vat of hot, bubbling chocolate if we aren't careful!! Haha, Sam Hoare, nice one mate.

2) Also concerned that Sigurdsson is an expensive square peg. You don't spend that sort of money for a player who doesn't fit your main tactic, surely? Bonkers.

3) I think that game shows us Ronnie sees Martina as back up to Baines. Interesting...

4) Gabbiadini – goals dried up a bit. Would avoid for now. Wasn't good enough before, after all.

5) Aguero, Icardi, Belloti... Not going to happen. Belloti is a possibility if he went nowhere by 31st Aug maybe.

As for the strikers mentioned some of you just don't get it, Ron wants a big target man so the mention of Perez in some quarters or a player of that physical stature is just not going to happen.

The two from Arsenal, Wellbeck sadly a crock and the badge-kisser yesterday, Giroud – I can't see that happening. Benteke? Maybe but cant see Palace letting him go.

Dzeko is a possibility but he is getting on a bit at 31, for me I would take a punt on Chris Wood from Leeds he is the nearest centre-forward I have ever seen that resembles big Bobby Latchford. He bullies defenders, great with his head and his penalties shows this lad is definitely no stiff. This lad can finish.

No doubt the usual "he has found his level in the Championship" will be rolled out by some posters, yeh like Tim Cahill from Millwall? Someone will get an absolute bargain here and I hope it is us.

Just cause a player has a release clause, it doesn't mean we can't bid less. It is not obligatory to pay a release clause. If the club accepts a lower bid, the release clause means nothing.

Anyway, does that mean three more players as well as Sigurdsson?

It will be all about replacing Lukaku's goals, I am shocked and disappointed that we have not prepared better to replace him. We cannot do it on the cheap, we have to reinvest the Lukaku money in a Lukaku replacement.

Failure to do so will see us struggle to hurt well organised defensive minded teams , who may well punish us on the break and from set pieces.

We have made some great signings and Sigurdsson will be another. They add important strength and depth to the squad. However, the No 1 priority has to be the striker. Replace what we have lost with equal or better.

It's not straightforward I know, and it's a very expensive problem! To me it is a black and white issue. Do or die.

He's obviously very quick and skillful but looked hard working too. He's 6ft-2in so not easy to shove off the ball.

No idea if he'd have any interest in leaving Sevilla to double his wages with us but that's exactly the sort of player we are lacking! I guess Bolasie fulfills a similar role but who knows if he will come back the same and he has never scored many goals unlike Correa.

Worth a £20m bid? Or find someone else who is strong, quick, can play on either side and bring goals and assists from open play. Or maybe give Lookman a run...

Now the Lukaku money has gone, or should I say was wasted, we are back to being the penny-pinching club we are all used to. Do we have a Billionaire owner or not? This is Bullshit Everton FC all over again.

As for the new stadium ,if that happens in my life time, I would be very surprised. Why has no work begun while the loose ends of the planning and stadium size and shape are being discussed? Surely if we own the Bramley-Moore Dock site, we can drain it and fill it and lay the footprint – yet not a shovel has hit the ground. Why not? It all stinks to me and I think it is more wrapped up with the Commonwealth Games than we are being told.

The buzz around the Blue half of the city has evaporated in the past few weeks. The lack of real spending, the cheap off-load of Lukaku, the awful football being played, and the non-event which is the new stadium has killed the feelgood factor. If the deal for Sigurdsson is stalling over 5 large then we really are falling behind the big boys.

I would still like a pacy, skillful striker that we can develop further like King from Bournemouth or Dembele of Celtic.

Gotta find a striker soon as we still look toothless & shot-shy up front.

Leeds United.

A very good, cut price Lukaku replacement.

Batshuayi might be a good foil if we can get him.

Giroud won't come and Wellbeck is too much like Sandro for me – he's not really a target man – same with Perez.

Perhaps we can make do with somebody a bit less glamorous like Troy Deeney – just somebody to pester defenses.

However, I would have Koeman every day of the week and twice on Sunday compared to previous managers, Martinez being no exception. Koeman attracts players, Sandro was likely attracted by Koeman 's superb player status notwithstanding other players in the door: Schneiderlin et al. Koeman has a proven managerial record too – the man takes no prisoners.

Barkley would be in England still if Martinez were the manager and still treated with kid gloves if Martinez were still Everton's manager. There are so many positives concerning Koeman, too many to do him justice. In short, there are far more positives than his relative negatives. Koeman means what he says and says what he means. You know where you stand with him, as ruthless as he is; he is what Everton needs to progress!

Looking at what happened to Spurs at RB at the weekend (Trippier getting hurt) you can bet your bottom dollar Baines goes down in one of the first games; or worse yet the first game after 1st September

The "Sigurdsson affair" is turning into a joke – and why haven't we got a Rom replacement yet? Another joke.

Iheanacho has gone and we don't know if he told his agent that he wanted to go to Leicester so discount him. So, only available players.

Lukaku is not Aguero or no Suarez; Lukaku is just a bully-boy who forces his competition out of the way that all that stands between him and his goal threat is goalie who knows of his reputation to score. It did work for us clearly but now he's gone, we need someone who scores goals, at least 16 and Everton can make up the other 8/ 9 between them, ie Sandro; Rooney; Sigurdsson.

Look at all the goals we concede too – it's about keeping clean sheets as it is about winning games.

It just makes you think that Everton need to think outside the box and looking for unconventional options. Instead, look for one or two cheaper strikers than one really expensive one.

This is why there will never be a Lukaku problem, ie, player wants to leave when he thinks he's too good for the club. At Man Utd, Lukaku will not get the playing time he had at Everton.

However, he has had peaks of 18 and more recently, 15, where in the latter role was in Sunderland so the service was not great and he still netted 15. A humble guy, I heard him on TalkSport radio. He would have worked so hard for Everton.

As I said previously, Wood is a perfect fit for Everton.

I live in the city and Leeds fans Iove him.

The statistical method was successful to a certain extent, didn't win them the title but made them competitive while spending little money. I would say made them, in Premier League analogy, a team challenging for a Champions League place without spending a penny. But I think baseball is a very different sport compare to football.

I thought the guy we hired from the US Olympic council was supposed to develop something statistical but apparently failed miserably?

"It's great to be back and I'm really looking forward to this challenge," Defoe told afcb.co.uk. "It was an easy decision, joining a top team with a top manager. It's a great place to be.

"The Bournemouth fans know that every time I pull the shirt on I will give 100 per cent, and the one thing I can guarantee is goals."

The Premier League's seventh-highest all-time top scorer with 158 goals, Defoe rejoins the club for whom he played for on loan in 2000-01, scoring in 10 successive matches in the second division."

"I thought the guy we hired from the US Olympic council was supposed to develop something statistical but apparently failed miserably?"

That figures.

In football the interaction is much more complex. Multiple players at once, variable pitch and weather conditions. Fluid situations, speed of game and much more.

Whilst there is a parallel, it just is fundamentally a different animal.

They happened to have a youth system at the time with some amazing pitching talent. That's why they had a few decent seasons. They then refused to pay those star players in favor of accumulating a ton of young prospect and "moneyball" talent. Any time one of those prospects turned good they traded him for more prospects. And the cycle continued.

They then might have a few decent seasons but would again opt to not spend the money required to keep their best players or more importantly add top talent to their core, and would drop down to being irrelevant again.

Moneyball was a nice little movie that doesn't actually hold true to the reality of the situation. The teams that win are the ones with the talent and who are willing to pay to accumulate and keep that talent. LA Dodgers, highest payroll, best record.

Okay, stop being so literal; my point, we need a solution, is that thinking outside of the box? Or should we make use of Sandro and Lookman. If we get this pacey striker.. the works, how much playing time will Sandro or Lookman get?

Technically, it works, just not for the ones who touted it. For NFL, can you say that Patriots are not a Moneyball-like system? Building through youth centered around their QB? They have the lowest cap and actual lowest salary.

Sure, Oakland failed but Red Sox won and many clubhouses are trying it. The problem for its original authors is that many brilliant minds are coming in and crowding them out.

Lastly, how does this work for us? I would argue they already did. Had we not have the awesome academy that we have now, we probably have to overhaul the entire team. Now, our youth team members might not all make it to senior team but we have Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies coming through. That's 2 positions we are in no hurry to buy for. Add Sandro, Lookman, two names I'm very excited about, why is there so much worry?

As for Koeman's comments on left sided players, I'm of the opinion it would be more for experienced cover. Sure, if we can buy players that walk right into our first team, it will help us, but I fail to see how a good cover will be bad as long as they provide experience and competition for the position.

We're not blowing teams out of the water and we won't. We aren't spending a billion dollars on the team without repercussions. I temper my forever optimism with realism. It would be great if we get into the Champions League this year but with all the teams above us spending as much or more than us, I would be very happy if we better our position from last year. And then better this year's position next year.

Then again, I'm a forever optimist. Even as NK wants to nuke my area. LOL

The Stoke game will be tough as they have brought in some extra beef at the back with Zouma so one would hope that Rooney and Co. will be ready.

Actually Calvert-Lewin is quite decent and maturing quickly so an extended run may be just the thing.

Given the choice I'd probably plump for a 4312 formation.

Pickford
RB, Keane, CB, Baines
Davies, Gueye, MF
Rooney
Mirallas, Sandro

Not a lot of width in the above as we don't have two FBs who can bomb up and down. Could maybe go old school 4-44-2 with Mirallas at RM and Lookman on the left and Rooney and Sandro up top.

Don't have much confidence with any of the above and would presume Koeman will get Schneiderlin and Klaassen in... for who no idea.

At least Stoke don't have too much pace. Really hard to call. Calvert-Lewin will get battered by Stoke if he starts.

John Wilson, even conceptually and not literally Moneyball or models divined close to it are not applicable. The are simply too many moving parts to pigeon hole players in that kind of way.

Modern footballers are often asked to perform more than one role in a team, in most American sports were the model has any element of credibility and acceptance the players are mostly, not always, one-dimensional. Hitter, pitcher, QB, Kicker etc.

Everton's recruiting over the same period has been defined by price and pushing through academy players who would never get a kick in the first team at clubs above us. Because we didn't have a club run well enough to give us better options.

That's a 'needs must' – not a targeted approach. Everton at the moment simply are not shopping in that league. Moneyball is for the skint and desperate.

Not convinced by Mirallas in starting line-up but unless we get someone who can do a 100 metres in less than half an hour, you may have a point.

No disrespect to either your comment or the Europa League...

...but when a £60m-rated player says he's "incredibly ambitious" and wants to play European football, he's not talking about trips to Ružomberok and Split. He's talking about the Champions League.

And he's not coming to us. Was never coming to us. Was never even going to consider us. No chance.

I'd like to think we're chipping away at this one, but I think that, unfortunately, Mike is right here. I'd love to be wrong.

Joking apart though, you are right. i can't see Van Dijk coming to us. I think Chelsea will be his destination.

Dembele up at Celtic looks like he is on fire I know he SPL is a poor standard but he looks big and strong and relatively quick, to hit over a goal per game as well means he knows where the onion bag is for sure. £15m and McCarthy could get him.

I'd go for the ox at arsenal was a beast for England a few years ago or even try Townsend for a bit of pace down the wings.

Probably need to spend another £120m then you got the £50m for Sigurdsson £170m.

We've made some good signings and it's been exciting but I just think we are serious lacking up front, we ain't lost anyone with pace so I don't know why people talking about the tram being slow no slower than it was last season.

We are just messing Coleman and Bolasie to injury – the sooner they are back the better.

Can t help feeling tho that we got a massive whole upfront and Sandro Rooney and Calvert-Lewin just don't look up to the challenge for me no focal point up there.

Not convinced by Giroud either to be fair not for the price being mentioned. Happy with Pickford and Keane tho. If we spent that money on players I mentioned above, we could have a real push for the title.

With the current players, I can't see us finishing any higher than last season. All the top 6 would destroy us with the current group.

Add to that losing Coleman (who was a huge outlet for us before his injury) and Bolasie, with no idea if either will return with their pace intact. And also question marks over Lennon's availability.

We have added Sandro (who looks quick-ish but certainly not rapid) and fairly slow players in the likes of Rooney and Klaassen. Sigurdsson will not help in this regard.

The team is slower than last year and a hell of a lot slower than most of our rivals.

In -
Martina: Free
Rooney: Free
Onyekuru: £7m
Klaassen: £23.6m
Sandro: £5.2m
Pickford: £25m plus add ons
Keane: £30m inc. add ons

Can't find the initial fee for Keane so high end total is £90.8m

Out -
Deulofeu: £10.6m
Cleverley: £8m
Lukaku: £75m plus add ons
(Various chaps released)

Total: £93.6m

Go ahead and correct if these prices seem off but I reckon we've spent nothing in real terms, so we should still have a fair wedge for striker, LCB and winger that we need.

So what might have happened?

Moshiri – "I'll take care of Rooney, Klaassen, Keane, Pickford and Sandro before July. Bill can you take care of Sigurdsson?"

Kenwright – "Yep. Gotcha."

Imagine PSG saying £192m for Neymar and then spending the next 6 weeks negotiating.

Failure to spend then personally I'm with the notion that we are still a sell-to-buy Club given the outgoings to date.

Just read a very interesting stat that in the last 9 years only once has the club spending the most money in the summer window won the title.

Humiliation? Come on, lads.

Sounds like a Bill special.

Wales Online saying it took forever to get there and we agreed then reneged. Still not dead they say and they've been pretty accurate so far, with apparently some inside contacts.

I'd thought (hoped) this shit was in the past.

Bored with it now. Sure he will come and we will have very mixed views about him after 45 mins!

And now it appears we are that again. In the eyes of the world we are still little Everton not quite serious enough to get what we want. If we don't want Sigurdsson then fine but there is more dignified ways to go about this than this apparent shambles.

I can't decide which is the biggest deception so far this close season:

Spending an already agreed Lukaku fee before he was sold and Evertonians falling for the fact we were big-hitters all of a sudden, or

the powers-that-be knowing that ridiculous sentimentality would override the equally ridiculous illogicality of re-signing Rooney (already close to being found out after his stumbling showings so far), or

trying to maintain the deception that we didn't need to sell Barkley (and McCarthy) to fund the acquisition of Sigurdsson?

So many Everton fans still believe we have £50m to lash on him and more on a striker and the other signing(s) Koeman has stated we wish to make. It's time they realised that, encouraging as our new signings have been, we are funding them by selling others.

The fact the Sigurdsson deal has stalled, is because any deals for Barkley or McCarthy have stalled.

Nothing wrong with that – it's good, sensible business – but why else would we still be haggling over a few million pounds after three or four weeks of being on the brink of signing him?

We're a pretty intelligent bunch, but there are still some who need to take a reality check and accept the fact that there'll probably be no more incoming deals until we raise sufficient cash to pay for them.

And who the hell is going to replace Lukaku?

In a contradictory nutshell!

In a contradictory nutshell !,,BlueKfrog,1,20:01:06,,66.249.93.91,ok,19546,08/08/2017 20:01:06,debyrne,reader,, 837926,35294,toffeeweb,08/08/2017,Tony Everan,ianjones66@yahoo.co.uk,"Maybe they have been incubating an alternative, and are cooling on Siggy as a result. They think the alternative is better business?

Who knows what is going on, but it is possible?

Who knows what is going on, but it is possible?

The last 3 weeks have been a little odd, that's for sure...

I can't recall Everton telling us that, as we'd spent before we sold Lukaku, then we were now big-hitters. If anybody believed that we were now big-hitters, then it was down not to deception on Everton's part but to assumption on a fan's part.

This is all about fan perception and those who think we have suddenly joined the ranks of the moneyed elite.

They are racing ahead of themselves – helped by the club's lop-sided dealings so far, with just three days to go until our first game!

So for those ToffeeWebbers banging on about pace a fluid front three of Rooney/ Sandro and Sigurdsson (if we ever get him), and with Klaassen & Davies pulling the strings behind, is on paper a very good attack but they need time to ge; it's not going to happen overnight.

Whilst I'm becoming concerned at the lack of attacking reinforcements, I struggle with the theory that we have only spent "agreed Lukaku sale money".

We signed Pickford, Keane, Sandro and Klaassen approx. £81m if quoted fees are accurate. Plus Onyekuru for £5m and Rooney for goodness alone knows how much in signing on fees and wages. So, in total, a fair bit more that the Lukaku money.

All this happened before Lukaku had left and for most of the time these transfers were being completed we didn't even know where Rom was going, or even that he necessarily would. Man Utd might never have been interested had they persuaded Morata to come to them. Chelsea seemed to be determined to sell Costa before any Lukaku purchase.

I reckon that we are, not surprisingly, finding it harder to persuade the sort of big attacking names we all want to see replacing Lukaku to come to us.

That doesn't excuse the faffing about over Sigurdsson, though I'm with Sam Hoare that this team desperately needs pace from somewhere and he doesn't bring that. Nor does it excuse the inability so far to sign a backup LB or LCB – there's plenty of them throughout Europe!

I'm still waiting to see what Steve Walsh does. Yes we bought Sandro as that looks a steal, but Walsh should be able to bring his supposed scouting abilities to bear to fill the LB/LCB, AMC and striking roles pronto. Otherwise what's the point of him...?

I think it is simply a matter of Everton having fixed what they are prepared to pay and they are waiting for Swansea to accept it or not sell.

Sigurdsson isn't going to solve the structural problems we have in the side and is unlikely to change how the coach wants the team to play. This may be a far deeper problem than the players we have in the squad.

Real Madrid should of been well out of sight, boys v men in the end!

Just think some people on here want players like Gray or Josh King! Please give me a break, nothing more than sprinters that can play a bit of footy!!

Moshiri, for me, has stabilised the finances by sorting the issue of the renewable Loan facilities, good. At the end of last season we sold Mr Stones and invested the balancing proceeds. The Summer is dominated by the sale of Lukaku, and the balancing proceeds (or anticipated proceeds bankrolled by Mr Moshiri) look to have been invested. The issue of the "Investment" in the younger players (The ones going to Mr Unsworth) is a separate issue.

But let us not forget that the turnover of the Club/Business has been hugely inflated by the new TV deal, and it has crossed my mind as to where these proceeds are going to?

Back to David Booth's valid question, what investment is being made over and beyond sale proceeds? (I appreciate that Moshiri maybe facilitating purchases before sales, thank you.)

Last for me for now, why on earth are people banging on about Bill? Fact is, now Moshiri is the Fat controller, if he does not sanction a sale or a purchase it does not happen. If, a big if, Kenwright is negotiating the transfer deals, then it is only because Moshiri has sanctioned it.

David Booth, I drove past your old house the other day, seeing my folks, reckon it is 45 years since I last saw you and Si. Best.

Ian

Petty cash then in a game awash with TV and sponsorship money – and nothing at all to a billionaire?

So if you are convinced Moshiri is going to bankroll us, or indeed already has, why are we haggling about a few million for Sigurdsson with the new season days away and our next Europa League tie days later?

Because we have to sell to buy. That's why!

And that's before we even consider what is our biggest, most urgent and increasingly concerning priority right now: a quality centre-forward.

One step forward, one step back for me so far I'm afraid. Smoke and mirrors.

*****

Ian (#175): passed the old place myself a month or so ago. We must catch up over a pint at Goodison... or Hajduk?

I thought Madrid counter attacked very quickly with the ball when there was space and won many 50-50s by being that half a yard quicker. I think United are relatively ponderous compared to most of the better teams in the Premier League and in Europe, only having straight-line speed merchants.

Not only does our first choice team look to be light in terms of outright speed, most of our midfield are not particularly nippy for the repetitive, short bursts you need to keep pressure on the opposition when they have the ball.

Now who does that sound like?

Sorry, but I don't buy this notion that we're awkwardly stalling at the negotiating table because some deal for Barkley that's never been remotely imminent hasn't gone through yet. If that was really the state of affairs, we would have just said Swansea's asking price was too high and walked away.

Or, at the very least, shown some urgency in trying to move McCarthy, which we haven't.

Last season we had a net spend of £22 million. So far this season we have a net income of almost £8 million, only counting Lukaku's fee as £75M and not the price of rising to £95M.

So in the bank from last summer to now we have a net spend of a whopping £14 million. But banking on Lukaku's price rising to what is agreed to and very possible, we would have a projected net gain of £6 million. Add the expected Barkley sale to that, which the club had valued at £50 million but apparently nobody wants. Hence, sell to buy.

As stated before, you're only looking at pure transfer fees. Which is a very blinkered view. There is a whole load more to it than that. Plus your figures seem a bit out to me (likely £90m not 95m for example). And we were never in a million years going to get £50m for Barkley so no clue how we could have factored that in.

Having now thought about the £7m comment from Koeman a bit more I think it served a two-thronged purpose. First to get the board to get a hurry up with Sig plus other's and second to reassure us that we haven't spent much so there is more to come.

That's my positive view on it anyway. Fingers crossed I'm right and you're wrong as if it's the other way round the club are going to make every fan look like mugs. Again.

And as stated before our team salary has not been rising in any significant manner. We're in the bracket with West Ham and Stoke, nowhere near any of the six clubs above us. Our wage bill just like every other club has increased slightly year over year along with the massive TV revenue. Last season we were much closer to Sunderland in wages than Spurs, the next closest team above us in wages.

Does that include this coming season as we stand? If so you certainly have a valid point and can see a lot of merit in what you're saying. If not, then you don't in my view because of the increase in wages so far.

I know our commercial revenues previously have been feeble but it's not like there was nothing. What we made before, plus hefty prize and tv money, plus all these new sources of income, ought to equate to a sizeable net transfer fund.

Unless every last penny of it is being put towards Bramley-Moore of course.

I am now resigned to nobody being in by Saturday. Hopefully another week will be enough to fill the key positions before the really tough games plus the Europa League playoff...

Surely the starting eleven for saturday is more important.So far we have no play maker or striker.Please do not say Sandro who cost £5 million and Rooney who we took as man Utd surplus stock.We are well weaker up front than we were last season.We are not only down Lukaku, we have no Valencia or Kone.

It seems we have strengthened our defence at the expence of the attack unless we do some business quickly.It is becoming farcical (again).

It's too easy to suggest throwing money endlessly at a transfer. We are at a different level now to pre-Moshiri but there's still extent/degree at play. Perhaps there are other deals in the pipeline as yet unknown to us fans, the total budget being say, £100 million, irrespective of sales. £5 million could then be significant.

There will be a limit imposed at some level. Has the club got a total cost limit per player budgeted over the term, comprising transfer fee and wages, perhaps £70 mil. Maybe this means max. available for Sigurdsson (or anyone else) of £45 mil. fee, or cancel another signing?

Whatever the answer, there's been some faffing around for sure in comparison to our slick earlier dealings, which might suggest we are getting near a financial limitation. Or, maybe there is disagreement within our club at the fee/valuation of the player.

The rumours of us reneging on an earlier provisional deal and wanting to restructure to stage payments or similar, are strange, possibly false.

Something may be amiss though, and we could be hearing more...

I'm beginning to look at West Ham's purchase of Arnautovic and Hernandez with more jealousy. At the time I hoped we would go one better but all looking quiet now...

I'd be happy to let Sigrdsson go and switch to Mahrez whose ability to beat his man is much more useful from open play. Think he will go for £35-40m. Then I'd grab Tierney from Celtic to give us some forward energy on left flank and Dembele too or Giroud (though that's looking unlikely)

I'm beginning to look at West Ham's purchase of Arnautovic and Hernandez with more jealousy.

Ah, come on, Sam. I know things have gone quiet and we need a few more players but I wouldn't want either of those two. Hernandez might score a few goals but offers very little else and Arnautovic? Pretty average player who thinks he's better than he is. Things aren't that desperate in my eyes. Not yet at least.

I honestly don't think we can attract Mahrez as he wants champions league (or arsenal), hence the reason we haven't gone for him. Either that or Walsh doesn't think he's worth it. Maybe a cheeky bid on August 31st if he hasn't moved?

The team is badly missing the Lukaku replacement, only when he has signed will we get a true picture of the team.

I find it amazing that we are playing Stoke on Saturday without a proper striker at the club.

The Sigurdsson transfer needs completing or forgetting about, it's taken way too long and diverted away much needed time from getting other players in.

Time to start cracking the wip Mr M.

On Sigurdsson, I am not too bothered.

1) I don't buy into this idea that he is a massive upgrade on Barkley

2) I don't see how he actually fits Koeman's 4-3-3 system

3) even at £40m in today's market, he is overpriced.

The club are totally right to put a limit on how much they are prepared to pay. It's business. The guy has no resale value and we aren't Man City, Man Utd or Chelsea.

All this sell-to-buy stuff is pure speculation. Had Lukaku turned round 4 weeks ago and said he wanted to stay, does anyone think we wouldn't have kept him? Even after buying Pickford, Keane and Sandro?

And (#198), don't forget he may not want to come anyway so could be a very risky strategy.

This is something that's puzzling me too, can't our acquisitions dept. (Bill?) multi-task?

Okay, I'm a bit over the top but mark my words – we have only spent what we have made and still have the TV money, the Finch Farm sponsor money, the SportPesa money, and we still have the £60 mil loan facility from the Chinese bank and we are now quibbling over £5 million for a player who scored 15 odd goals and had loads of assists, when a full back went for £50 million.

We are still short of a consistent goalscoring striker and reliable,direct winger who brings goals and end product. They would not have been my top picks and I still hope we'll do better but Hernandez and Arnautovic are of the right ilk.

According to one article at the time he was sold, the extra money in add-ons is made up of two payments of £7.5M, one if United. the Premier League and another if they win the Champions League, both payments if this happens over the next five years, the length of the contract Lukaku signed.

I can see United winning the league during that period not so much the other one.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-set-pieces-blog/2016/aug/24/transfer-window-market-myths

https://twitter.com/rodgerarmstrong/status/894171533735841796

Since you seem to focus on net spend in fees, how do you factor in the fact that Sandro, Rooney and Martina came for a total fee of £5m. Is that clever buying and are they perhaps worth a bit more collectively, say £25m?

I'm just trying to demonstrate that to focus on such a narrow definition can give a skewed perspective.

Despite what you may have heard, “net spend” is completely irrelevant to how big clubs do business and is not something they consider when calculating player costs. Consider the following: Manchester United signed Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund for £35m. Mkhitaryan will likely be earning the equivalent of at least £180,000 per week over the length of his four-year deal.

In practice, clubs such as United, for whom cash flow is never an issue, often pay the entire transfer fee up front or in a few instalments over a short period of time (less than 12 months). This helps reduce the overall cost of the transfer, and most selling clubs will much prefer to see the entire fee paid quickly, as opposed to several instalments over two or three years.

However, on the books – and this is how clubs actually calculate player costs – United, like every single other football club in Europe's top eight leagues, will record the transfer fee as £8.75m in each of the next four years, not £35m now.

This is a universal accounting practice called player amortisation, and it is fundamental to how clubs calculate player costs. Rather than recording the entire purchase when it was made, the club will spread the transfer fee over the length of the player's contract.

Naturally, wages must also be included in the calculation of player costs. Ideally, agent fees and image rights payments will be included as well, but to keep things simple, we'll focus on the two big expenditures: amortisation and wages.

With Mkhitaryan costing Manchester United £8.75m per year in amortisation and £9.36m in wages (£180,000 per week multiplied by 52 weeks), his overall cost to the club is just over £18.1m per year. That £18.1m per year is what clubs look at with regards to player costs, not just the transfer fees coming in and out.

Let's compare the Mkhitaryan deal to that of another recent Premier League signing from the Bundesliga: Arsenal's £30m purchase of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Mönchengladbach. Xhaka signed a five-year deal and will reportedly earn around £125,000 per week at Arsenal. The transfer fee will be spread out over Xhaka's contract at £6m per year (£30m divided evenly over five years). So including Xhaka's wages, the overall cost to Arsenal is £12m per year.

While the transfer fees for Mkhitaryan and Xhaka are similar, Mkhitaryan is costing Manchester United 50% more than Xhaka is costing Arsenal on an annual basis.

To further illustrate why net spend doesn't tell you anything about how clubs do business, consider United's signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer. While the “net spend” on that deal is zero, he adds well over £10m to Manchester United's player costs this year.

If those were the only transactions United and Arsenal made this summer, their “net spend” figures would be similar (£35m and £30m, respectively). However, after applying the business and accounting principles that the clubs themselves use, we see that Arsenal added £12m to its total player costs for the coming season, while United added over £28m. Rather than a difference of less than 20% in actual spending (which is what net spend would show), the actual difference is over 200%.

As I said in #199, the ignorant like to whinge and you've just proven the point. Go and listen to the cast yourself (or just read Adam's post above if you can't be bothered) then come back with an educated rationale. If your view doesn't change then fair enough but just saying "It's only about net spend because I say it is" won't win over anyone, except those equally as ignorant.

Sam (#204).

Agreed they are better than what we have, only because we don't really have anyone of note ourselves, like you say. If come Sept 1st we are in the same boat, then i'd certainly agree something is better than nothing! Although I could never bring myself to look at West Ham in a jealous way – no matter the situation!

He fits just behind the striker in a front 3 as a Number 10. Bobby Mallon

A system we can't really play for my money, with or without Sigurdsson, as we don't have wingers or wide strikers to occupy the role either side of him in this 'attacking 3'

Listened to a Spanish Journalist who likened Sandro to Vardy. Said he has to be played through the centre. I would agree, it is where he played for Malaga.

Calvert Lewin – Looks lost out wide

Rooney – Hasn't the pace to do it any more.

Bolasie – Yes. But chalk him off for most of this season I would imagine.

Koeman seems to prefer a 4-3-3 or a version of 3-5-2. In both cases, Sigurdsson can fit, but not in his best position. Seems a strange rationale for spending on a £50m player for me....

What on earth is happening?

The Daily Telegraph has reported that a fee of £45m was agreed and acceptable to both clubs then allegedly Everton asked to renegotiate followed by Swansea returning to their demand for a £50m deal.

Given that our net spend is not considerable, why haggle over minor insignificant numbers?

I'm not ignorant I have a different point of view that's all. So it's not about net spend I have read the link and accept it.

Well that makes the transfer even more sad on Everton's part. Swansea want and won't budge on £50 m that was their starting point over 3 weeks ago, why are we still trying to get him for less? A bloody waste of time on our part.

We do have players who can play wide of him – Lookman, Mirallas, Bolasie when he's fit.

When we sell and if we receive a lump sum I presume that goes straight into turnover?

A question – FFP refers to the debt over 3 years and wages. I assume annual debt (or it might be rolling debt over 3 years for FFP) is calculated using amortisation and refers to absolute losses rather than actual debt?

I'm glad you have read and understand there is more to it than simply taking figure x comparing against figure y and coming up with the incorrect conclusion.

I would have no worries debating with you now no matter your point of view. Certainly shows we've spent heaps, no matter what Koeman and many posters on here claim. Perhaps we should educate him too, link on his twitter account? What do you think? ;)

There is more to spend, I have no doubt. How much that is, I have no clue. Whether that stretches to Sigurdsson and two others, we have 3 or so weeks to find out!

Bobby – Lookman does fit that role, he is raw though. Bolasie, as has been discussed on here before, I would write off for most of the season. Then there are questions as to how a player with a game based on raw pace will come back. Mirallas is another that performs his best when playing the shadow striker role rather than on the wing. Whilst I take your point, I think we are missing way more than just a number ten to make a 4-2-3-1 a viable lineup for us.

#219 – It isn't a fact, Bobby. That is an opinion mate. No way of proving it.

Ibrahimovich is an excellent example of a player that apparently "costs nothing" because there was no transfer fee involved.

Just as you start to seem better, you post that. Oh dear. What Adam said.

Ray (#221).

I agree, Ray. Some people like to be ignorant to the facts and would rather whinge based on said ignorance. You can lead a horse to water, and all that!

A clubs transfer budget is wholly separate from the wage budget, they are not mutually exclusive. If they were, a club with zero funds wouldn't be able to sign loan players or free transfers... The lower league clubs wouldn't be able to sign players such as Henen or Garbutt for the season.

Transfer fee's are about a player's registration documents, that's what costs the money not the man himself as that would be an act of slavery.

The document transfer fee is illustrated in that years accounts as a whole sum, not over the years of the contract...

Amortisation... This is the good bit...

Let's take Lukaku... He signed a 5-year deal in 2014; his paperwork cost £28m. This figure is drawn down over the contract term at £5.6m a year... In July, on the anniversary of his signature (and the reason he didn't sign for Man Utd until then) the value to Everton was £11.2m rather than £16.8m the day before or the £28m put on the accounts in 2014.

Selling his registration for £90m which is what will be recorded mean Everton will post a profit on the transfer of £78.8m.

Have we bought well so far? Yes as far as it goes.

Do we still need more players in? Yes, and the manager has said another three, or was it four, and it should include a striker, attacking midfielder and left-sided defender.

Is there time yet to get them? Yes,22 days.

Where do we stand? Stronger in defence. Solid in midfield. Lacking in attack, short of pace, width and cohesion.

There is too much effort and emotion being expended on unnecessary detail, baseless rumours and stuff we can do nothing about.

We have embarked on something unique for Evertonians with an unprecedented reshaping of the squad over the last 12 months, both in and out, far greater than even under John Moores in such a short time span. And there is more to come.

And all some can do is whinge about net spend or FFP instead of relishing something that should be enjoyable and exciting.

I don't want to be negative here, but how often have you heard an Everton manager talk about needing '3 or 4 more signings' at this point in the window? How often have we actually signed that many players?

Sigurdsson is a good player and if we hadn't bought Rooney and Klaassen then I'd be very keen but he's just not what we need now which is some genuine wide quality and pace.

Having at least one or two players who can beat their man or out-pace a defender into space behind if they push up gives you a vital weapon and sows an important seed of doubt in the defence's mind.

Lookman could become this. Mirallas can be this on 1 match in 3 or 4. Bolasie was bought to be this. Mahrez (or similar) could be this.

Our attack urgently needs another dimension or two.

We have swooped on Gueye and Sandro for £12m, having exploited their release clauses – that would distort the "net spend" calculation. We have sold Lukaku and Stones for almost £130m – very good business by the club considering both wanted to leave and we could have been cornered into a lower price by the threat of having unhappy players on our books (which may be the case with Barkley).

We have made excellent acquisitions so far, and Koeman's comments to me are of a man who knows he is under pressure in the coming season. Yes, if we fail to sign a proper replacement for Lukaku (i.e. someone in the Giroud mould) he may have a justifiable excuse, although everything I am seeing on Sandro suggests he could play down the middle himself.

Koeman has been sounding off as he knows another 7th place finish will not be acceptable. Just as Pocchettino knows that a –£76m net spend at Spurs will not let him off the hook with Levy, who will demand a title tilt, and will not throw money away for the sake of it.

We have demanding and Savvy owners. Perhaps their pockets are not as deep as we would like, but for the resources at their disposal they will expect Koeman to extract the maximum results.

Makes a big change from the Kenwright -Moyes and Kenwright - Martinez love-ins which may have held the club back.

Also, as many have pointed out, let us see what the situation with the squad is at the end of the transfer window before calling out Moshiri and his team.

Finally, there is no tangible evidence we are a sell to buy club – only circumstantial. I think the truth lies closer to the fact that Moshiri & Co are hard nosed individuals who will run Everton like Levy is running Spurs. I do not see any lack of ambition at Spurs despite the cunning modus operandi of their Chairman.

1. Why the bloody hell can't we give Lennon a game...a pacy winger with a great attitude.

2. Why can't you see that Jonjoe Kenny is the only person who should be considered to start at right back till Coleman is fit?

3. We don't need Gana and Schneiderlin to start. It's too defensive with both of them. If he is playing a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1, use Lookman or Mirallas to get you some pace our wide. Davies can partner Gana or Schneiderlin. Klaassen, Sandro, Rooney must all start for me.

All the experts are predicting we will finish in the same place as last season. Let's prove them wrong. Let's win a cup and try and get into the top 4 this season. COYB

Also I hate how they think Rooney is a waste of space and go on about that fact. Let's prove them wrong a second time.

"We have made excellent acquisitions so far." Who? Keane will turn out to be a great buy, of that I'm sure. As for the rest of his signings, I'm afraid in my view the jury is well and truly out and is likely to be deliberating for a while.

As great a player as Koeman was, he wouldn't know a footballer if he turned round and smacked him in the face. And of that I'm sure.

Whether that stretches to Sigurdsson and two others, we have 3 or so weeks to find out!

James (#218), sorry but no-one (including your good self) will be able to draw any accurate conclusions until the transfer window closes and the wage bill is published. Shouldn't that be Sig (what's wrong with Gylfi?) and three others?

These recent posts around that one by Adam and I have been an education piece for Bobby and others who still think net spend is as simple as in vs out as there are many ignorant posts along those lines.

I thought it was three new players including Gylfi. Be delighted if it's 3 new players plus Gylfi! Sig is quicker to type... 😂

Having said that, our opinions are based on the pre-season games and the Euro games but maybe we just haven't seen what Koeman still has up his sleeve, if anything.

On the plus side I think they will be more assured defensively given the new centre back and goalkeeper which most people cried out for.

Sandro has replaced Rom. it would seem, being a different type of player that the system of approach play has to change which Koeman does seem to be trying to introduce albeit a little boring and lacking in incisiveness so far.

Still, Rome wasn't built in a day and it is evident that at this stage another class striker is needed as Rooney will not fit the bill, nor Mirallas and Calvert-Lewin is yet to fully convince me.

I agree with that. Anyone who has seen Sandro's finishing ability will know he should be playing down the middle not out wide. He is similar to Vardy in many ways but Vardy thrived as part of a 2 when they played 4-4-2 and not so much as a lone striker. This was of course facilitated by two direct wingers with pace. Mahrez, Gray and Albrighton.

We don't have that option, the only winger we have is Bolasie and he's out for most of the season. So 4-4-2 won't work and neither does 4-2-3-1. So I think we can expect to see 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 a lot, at least until Coleman and Bolasie are back.

It certainly "appears" that we're back to our old ways of doing business and we ARE unarguably without a number of very important positions that need to be filled.

Whether Koeman was right or wrong in his assessment of how much we've spent the point he was trying to make (IMO) is certainly correct and that is that we are somewhat unprepared for the start of the season on Saturday.

Hat's off to those who've "worked out" the figures and poo pooed those who've said we've only spent £7m but it still doesn't change the fact that we can't get a deal over the line that we've wanted to for a number of weeks, and we haven't got a very good main striker signed.

Taking those two facts, and they are facts, into consideration then it's fair to say that something isn't quite right, otherwise we wouldn't find ourselves three or four players short of what the manager wants.

If we got Sigurdson and Giroud (or similar calibre) we would have a team capable of challenging the establishment. I have no doubt that we are severely lacking height and bulk up front and with ever tightening defences headers and set pieces will be a major source of goals.

For all I have criticized Lukaku (rightly so IMO), Sandro will not replace his goalscoring and Rooney is close to the knackers yard,

Also, as I understand it the impasse with Swansea is not over an extra £5m it is because we offered £45m upfront at one point and are now going back on that and saying it should be in installments.

For those arguing about the semantics of accounting principles you are ignoring cash flow. With the record amounts being paid out now for players, agents' fees etc this is a significant factor in the overall budget for players. You cannot spend what you haven't got or cant borrow no matter how you account for it.

Seventh place beckons again at this rate...

What hopes then of signing a top striker for any less? Zero. Also, Koeman's reaction to being lied to will be interesting.

I wonder if the whole saga was a tactic to waste time and edge closer to the deadline? Of course we've made some signings but not enough to finish 7th again, more like 10th or 12th or worse.

Without the extra class, creativity and fire power, it will be soul destroying stuff, starting with an easy opener against Stoke.

We really have looked poor in pre-season though, including the Europa League games.

I honestly thought that with the sale of Lukaku we would create an attack which was varied, well we have: slow, slower and snail-slow.

Sigurdsson may not be quick, but he makes the ball move and he works really hard. However, he's the type of player to have with quick players.

It certainly feels like a return to counting the pennies at Goodison, it feels like we have spent our pocket money on Mars and Snickers bars and forgot the Wagon-Wheels...

The bits of football I have seen so far this season have been awful. I actually fell asleep during last Thursday's game. I am ashamed to admit it, but it was a family celebration pregame and booze was involved. Even so, the team performance was disjointed and slow and we looked second-best.

We have had players in but now, with Rom gone, we need signings. So, if Moshri et al sort this out, I would be grateful

I have high hopes as ever for the coming season and right now I am beginning to think, "Same old, same old."

Access to tens of millions in loans and overdraft facilities from Chinese banks does not mean that the money will come without fee and interest payments and good housekeeping may mean that the Club chooses not to take that route.

Also, money must be being put aside to fund the Dockland ground planning application. I think we must be patient.

On the whole, the transfers so far have been good . I am still optimistic that the powers that be are going to invest in Sigurdsson and Giroud [or quality variations thereof].

Swansea are playing hardball, but let them win this fight and pay up, move on. It will be a Pyrrhic victory for them and we need to mark their card.

However, if we don't sign the necessary reinforcements, get beat 1-0 by Stoke and lose to Split over two legs, the panic button can be wheeled out and jumped upon. The board and manager will be at odds, the players will be downbeat and the natives will be baying for blood.

In fact I'm ordering 40,000 panic buttons from China right now, sticking them on eBay in September.

This manager doesn't have a clue on tactics and seems to think buying experienced players means he has less to do as a coach. I would imagine the board might be just a little bit concerned with the performances so far after the influx of players with Lukaku really the only one of note leaving.

Mike, I'm sure you're a great guy but I'm selling nothing to buy that.

The club are hanging it out for these next three signings at the behest of Sky for transfer deadline day!

Jim White has to have something to raise his voice doesn't he?

How's that for a conspiracy! Haha..

A lot of change was needed this Summer and not everything runs smooth in the crazy transfer market. It's frustrating but sometimes if you want the best players you have to be patient. Half the top teams in Europe are still hoping to snaffle Mbappe...

If we still need players when the window shuts then I'll be more concerned.

"Has that lad Sigurdsson signed for Everton yet?"

We have no out and out first pick striker. That's a huge problem in my book. Buying players towards the end of the window is fine, but not players who are, or will be, the mainstay of the team.

Err, what do you mean, there are more than three weeks left in the transfer window?

Tony (#266) – you'd find a bit of pace if you had Erin Gray to chase.

Since Koeman wants more buys, we should move on to other targets and fill other shortfalls we have. I would agree with Colin that we might as well try to buy Coutinho if we really want to show our financial might. Better price based on overall benefits.

Will, call me optimistic but I truly think we can win 4-0 with our current squad. Perhaps we need to tweak the formation a bit. It may not be possible to keep a clean sheet to get the 4 goals.

If we hammer Stoke 4-0, I'll take you on a tour of Liverpool pubs and bars and buy your drinks all night!

Brent, just had a quick shufty and can't find anything about that £60 mil figure. It's not even in NewsNow!

If it's five or six, do I get food as well?

You'll be wearing a Stoke scarf at this rate.

If we could get a striker as well, we'd have a team, with power, pace and shape.

Something is going on behind the scenes, take your guess...

Will, yea, I am excited too, perhaps too excited and foreboding disappointment, LOL. I think the concerns of pace and guile is legit but also mildly exaggerated. We have youth coming through and that's always good. I don't think we need first team buys but definitely need to buy players with proper experience to blend with the youth.

What makes people think Blue Bill will pay that haha ? Even if we are actually interested, it's all bullshit if you believe we will cough up.

Oh for god's sake!

Let's see what Swansea's attitude is if with 8 hours to go before the window closes. With all the talk and time this saga is taking surely both parties must be aware of what they both want and if neither side is willing to alter their offers, it is better to walk away instead of wasting time.

With the league starting in a couple of days time, and leaving only 22 days left in the transfer window, it must be a priority to bring in extra players who the club has targeted, and they have a realistic chance of signing them.

Our manager has to give Lookman some serious game time as he, at least, seems to have something out of the ordinary to contribute.

There's another three or four players in the midfield who can take up the slack of not having Sigurdsson if you like, but an out and out goal scorer is an absolute necessity.

I am hoping there's a rabbit in the hat for us to announce a top class goalscorer but the realist in me says we will be lucky to get Sigurdsson over the line – especially if Boys Pen Bill is involved...

Not that we would want him but just seeing that Watford have bought A Gray and now have him and Troy Deeney. Not saying we'd want either of them actually, but it is Deeney and Gray more than we've got up front besides Dom?

Brian, I am secretly hoping that (striker) is our announcement tomorrow.

David, totally believable as a Phil wind-up, LOL.

It's the hope that kills you, Jay!

Speaks volumes for this manager and his eye for a player. I rest my case.

We have plenty of options in midfield but without the target man, the effectiveness of Lookman, Sandro, Mirallas, and Rooney will be severely reduced.

No Giroud by the looks of things. I think Rondon is exactly the type of centre-forward this group needs. Put him leading the line and the whole team develops shape – and he will always put a shift in.

Apparently there were strange lights seen in the sky over Goodison and Barcelona at the same time. A portly being in wizard garb was seen with what appeared to be some sort of magic wand, waving it madly and chanting Vermaelen to Everton, over and over again!

People wearing rose-tinted glasses nodded knowingly saying, "It's wizard Walsh casting his spells and waving his magic wand to once again bring in hidden treasures and forgotten gems to Everton."

He will add this new find to Walsh's other discoveries: Pickford, £30M; Keane, £25M; Klaassen £25M;. Rooney, £150k a week. "Mr Walsh, Micky Mouse in wizards cloak, that's you that is!"

And no, Walsh didn't discover Idrissa Gueye; Koeman tried to sign him for Southampton.

Exactly what we need in our team. Creative, combative, skillful. A proper No 10. A Brazilian Cahill If you will.

He's been out injured for a while, and went off injured at end of this game (but still took, and scored, a penalty despite hobbling).

He was a inspirational player in the league last season, helping Palmeiras win the league.

Worth a punt, I'd say.

Let's hope Walsh and co have got some attacking irons in the fire that are being kept completely secret...

But as I'm bored at work, I'll comment. How come there is no mention of the young lads he's brought in for the U23s? And Lookman, Sandro? Course not. And so what we paid decent money for other players, most improve the team. So whats the issue? Or is it easier to attempt some humour (?!) In trying to bash Walsh?

Some fans are just embarrassing.

If Swansea are hoping he will stay and we will go away, they are sadly mistaken.

However, why did Leicester back out? Perhaps they know something we don't.

Make a final offer or walk away. Who else will pay silly money for him?

Classic tall centre forward – good in the air, can hold up the ball, and not slow.

a) Given them the extra few million and done the deal?

b) Withdrawn our offer and walked away?

Answer: because we're holding on to see what happens with Barkley.

The fee we get from him, and possibly McCarthy, will dictate how much we have – or more pertinently, have not – got to spend.

For centre-back, what about Davinson Silva of Ajax. Apparently Tottenham interested at about £30m. We could do far worse and we must be able to stump up that fee.

Davinson Sanchez in right footed, Koeman wants a left footed defender.

I can't help thinking that it was Martinez's digging his heels in over Stones & Pulis doing the same over Berahino which now sees teams flatly refusing to sell even when the player hands in a transfer request. Yes, I know it's the clubs prerogative but what advantage did it give us Premier League wise and WBA ended up with 50% of what Spurs offered.

Neither Soton, Swansea, The RS or Arsenal are using their unsettled players due to "injury" or general malaise plus the fans begin to turn on them too, so really what is the point, It's not as if they're being sold on the cheap either is it, these four add up to around £300m?