Leipzig not giving up on pursuit of Lookman

Lookman should have been given the game time that “barn door girls shooting power” Calvert-Lewin had last season and maybe he wouldn't be thinking his future is better away from Everton.

I hope Lookman stays, he has the potential to be a very good player, needs the chance to prove it.

I see us holding onto Lookman and integrating him into the set new Silva set up.

It’s not enough money in today’s game to let him go. A rising star is worth twice what they are offering in today’s market.

If he has his heart set on a move, then it's all about getting the right money for him – but this club has lost so much of its "pull" during recent years, it saddens me.

I didn't see enough consistency from him to warrant regular game time and that may become an issue if we insist on keeping him.

I would much sooner get Tierney and have the left-back doubling up as a left-sided midfield player.

Lookman is a kid on a long contract. If we want him to stay then he'll be going nowhere. He isn't anything other than potential at the moment. He will fall in line if that's what Brands and Silva want.

No way we should be selling him, just flat out refuse. He has a long contract we hold the cards.

The club had given Allardyce the job and they had to back him, just like if you or I were a manager somewhere, we would expect backing. I never wanted Allardyceby the way but Lookman needs to have a chat with Silva and then leave the past where it is, grow up and play ball.

Also, Everton let him go to Germany where he wanted to go. I hope he stays and I never thought he should have been loaned out. Silva will hopefully get the best from him.

If Brands says he stays, he stays.

The fact is, despite showing great potential, our club wouldn't 'risk' playing him and thus gave more time to players like Bolasie, Rooney despite poor performances.

Leipzig have a great record in developing youth, far better than us, and play in Europe. It makes sense that the lad would be interested in returning there.

I just hope that Silva can convince him that Everton is the right club for him, offer a new 5-year contract with a wage increase that shows he is a first team player, with performance-related bonuses.

There were one or two things that really tested my belief in Everton during the Koeman era; let's hope all is not lost with keeping Lookman. Everton are to blame if he goes, and on the cheap.

But, but... West Ham got The Boy Jack for £50k, 200 malboro and a crate of Stella per week.

He has a long contract and hasn't put in a transfer request. For them to actually bother merely adding £2m for a second bid is a little worrying; it suggests they've been given encouragement by EFC. Either that or sheer incompetence by Leipzig!

Allardyce wasn't the only manager to leave Lookman on the bench, both Koeman and Unsworth did the same. He was hardly getting any game time for England too and for all his lauded displays for Leipzig he wasn't even in the the squad for the Toulon Tournament.

So that's four managers who are wrong then?

He'll go simply because he knows he'll get an easier ride, not have to work as hard and be more successful in a two team league.

I want him to stay and fight like a man for his place.

If not it’s double what we paid with a 50% sell on clause or we are selling ourself short again.

If he had the attitude of DCL he would still be here fighting for his place.

Seems seeing that the vision set out by Brands and Silva is to encourage the younger players in the squad, then I think this would completely send out the wrong message.

As for bad influence on training ground. Cannot see it after any initial sulk ends.

Club needs to show some backbone if management team wants him.

If they don't want him, play Leipzig for best fee.

The difference between Calvert-Lewin and Lookman was that Calvert-Lewin wasn't loaned out and Lookman was. Also, he didn't take the soft option of joining Derby as Allardyce wanted, but chose a much stronger league than the Championship to show his qualities, which he did. So I don't think Lookman lacks attitude – in fact, digging his heels in and going to Leipzig shows he has bags of ambition.

The frightening thing is that RB are saying that they are still in talks with us. Why? After an insulting £12 million offer, they should simply have been told to bugger off and don't ever come back.

The loan and the subsequent permanent transfer for a knock down fee have all been carefully planned by RB, the player and his agent. This after our being battered by Swansea for over twice a player's value and being completely outmaneuvered by Barkley and Chelsea. Does anyone think Levy at Spurs would allow them to be made to look so weak and incompetent?

Lookman is a rough diamond with bags of potential who should have been getting more game time last season ahead of that turkey Bolasie. Remember his impact at Anfield in the FA Cup?

And Leipzig can fuck off with that pathetic offer for him.

Also, has Lookman really said he wants to leave? Could it not just be a polite “I'd love to come back”? As in the very English thing of not actually meaning what you say. Topically, how many of you have made friends on your hols and said, “We'll keep in touch and definitely drive all the way to Land's End / John O'groats to see you” which means, we'll send you one Christmas card and never bother ringing you... maybe we'll add you on Facebook if we remember!

Also, RB Leipzig are the MK Dons of Germany and the rest of the country hates them. Why play for a tin pot “new club” like that?

It's up to Silva. Keep the lad and give him a few games, he'll soon be loyal to our cause and forget all about Leipshit.

32 days until transfer deadline day...

Look at the Premier League teams performances in Europe, especially the Europa League, and the reality can be seen, the Premier League just ain't that strong.

To compare the Bundesliga with the Scottish Premier League is quite astounding ignorance.

At the same token, Everton FC aren't going to allow players to leave for peanuts, much as they won't get burned again by paying inflated prices for average players.

Patience, fellow Evertonians... it's not as if we haven't grown used to the fluctuations of the transfer merry-go-round is it?

I expect Lookman to go for about £15M so Kenwright can show a profit, rather than be hanging about in Unsy's squad as he would be.

It's a young, talented club with the likes of Werner and Forsberg and young Augustin, although losing Keita to the RS will hurt. Since promotion, they've finished second and sixth with wins over Bayern both seasons.

They played in the Champions League and the Europa League last season, which we didn't, and showed an exciting brand of footy, which we don't. They've got a lovely stadium and great fan support. They're hated because of the arrogance of Red Bull, not because of the team itself. And Hasenhüttl actually had them feeding off that hatred with an us-versus-them mentality (unknown if Ragnick will do the same).

I can understand why Lookman's popularity at a club like that would turn his head – if it has been turned.

It appears to me, and by all means correct me if I'm wrong, that they are just another MK Dons. If that is the correct position, then I have nothing but contempt for them.

And It's not because of Red Bull, it's because of what RB are doing, just as what MK Dons did to what was Wimbledon.

They then proceeded to change everything about the club. They kept the Dons part of Wimbledon in a nod to them, but did change the name, the kit and had a fancy new stadium. The Wimbledon fans decided this new club was not their club and formed AFC Wimbledon who are now above MK Dons in the football pyramid. Everyone old enough to remember Wimbledon hates MK Dons, but that'll change as they start to make their own history, and it was a good step by them letting AFC Wimbledon have claim to the MK Don's past, as they are effectively a new club.

RB Leipzig haven't take over a club with history, not that Wimbledon had that much of it, but it is still big business taking over a club, sticking two fingers up to tradition, changing the name, changing the kit, building a new stadium and effectively creating a club and killing another. They also contravene the German rules on ownership, charging over €1,000 for membership when others charge €50-€100. This means that RB can do what they want and fuck the fans.

I just don't like it, Mike.

I can't think Ademola would want to move permanently if the new regime tells him he'll be a vital part of our new-look team in the Premier League...

"Silence is golden", the rest is very much falsetto... ;D

Obviously Red Bull has outraged just about everybody with their corporate tactics and, as I mentioned, skirting of the rules. I read many Dortmund fans won't go to Leipzig for away fixtures because they don't want to put money in Red Bull's pockets, right? But RB Leipzig still seems like a temptingly attractive place for a young footballer.

Lookman going to Leipzig is very probable. In all honesty, I don't think the lad is as good as he and we think he is.

He was given several chances (by two shit managers) but he did indeed fail to shine or impress.

If he doesn't want to play for Everton, as the rumour suggests, let him go as he is average at best, in my opinion.

The club sprouted from Mercedes Benz football team. The transport manager in Mercs (Bob Flight, a lovely man) was the secretary of the football club. He had a dream that he could build a team from the community in Milton Keynes, it was a huge catchment area and he thought a "local" team coming up the right way would draw massive support.

He gained possession of the old Wolverton Park ground (home of the oldest wooden stand in the world), built a fantastic club house, resurrected the pitch, repaired the floodlights, and cleared the viewing area. He also changed their name to Milton Keynes. Everything depended on local backing and lottery grants.

Over the other side of the City, Pete Winkleman had other ideas; he knew Wimbledon were desperately seeking a home. This guy was razor sharp and found the backing and funding to build a ridiculously modern stadium. He believed that, if he built it, they would come.

The ground is empty for most MK Dons games, they struggle to get 5,000 into the ground, most locals find it difficult to relate to what is essentially a franchise and the rest of the Football League clubs (not just Wimbledon) despise them.... Oh, and Bob Flight's dream went sadly unrecognised.

Mr Mitchell (#36). I'm more than happy to be classed as astoundingly ignorant by an expert such as yourself when it comes to the the paucity of quality within the Bundesliga.

Again, I'd be more than happy to read your list of German-based players you'd love to see in Royal Blue who would undoubtedly give us the much-needed quality to help us break into to the top 5.

Bob Flight's Mercedes club was the one which changed their name to Milton Keynes and moved to Wolverton Park. At the time, they were just below the recognised pyramid in the South Midlands.

I have a feeling the name was patented and that was the reason Winkleman's Wimbledon were called MK Dons as opposed to Milton Keynes Dons. dont quote me on that though.

It was all a bit of a pipe dream to be honest, Steve; everyone had a few bob, but without serious sustainable financial backing, nobody (with the exception of Bob Flight) really had a chance.

The Bundesliga has always been one of the top 3-4 leagues in the world, on a par with – and in Europe far more accomplished than – the Premier League.

The non-competitive Scottish Premier League has never cracked the top 20.

None of us know if Lookman wants to go or not.

None of us, or the so-called experts like Lineker & Shearer, know which is the best league in the World (how much of the German, Spanish, French, Brazilian leagues to do of us/them see? Very little, I suggest.

Reality, IMO:-
Lookman is a young player who has shown us some very good ability and potential, and that he has a lot to learn. A truly meaningful assessment of his capability to make a significant contribution to our team's progress in the next couple of seasons cannot be assessed on the training ground, so Brands & Silva need to see him in action in real games.

Wilshere? Evidence (a woeful injury/appearance record in recent seasons) appears to suggest we did well to steer clear of him.

The main appeal of Leipzig is regular playing time, coupled with a lack of faith in the Everton hierarchy (based on how the past season went). If Brands and Silva can show him that it is, in fact, a new era here and that he's central to their plans, there's really no reason to agitate for a move.

Personally I do believe, subjectively, that the Premier League is the strongest in the world when taken as a whole. This may even harm the English UEFA coefficient, as English clubs competing in Europe have to put far more energy, physical and mental, into picking up points domestically. This may be part of the appeal of Germany for someone like Lookman. It’ll be easier to get in the team, easier to qualify for Europe and easier to compete for honours on multiple fronts.

The club kow-towed to him and now it seems we are reaping what we sowed.

We all know the SPL isn't the most competitive but I don't see the need for aimless and pointless repetition of the fact.

I think I'm right in saying you are from the States, hardly the strongest of domestic leagues there either???

The concerning thing is (I may be wrong and, if I am, please feel free to correct me), but I remember reading an article that said Lookman had the best U21 player stats in Europe this season!

Even at that, I'd rather we keep him.

In terms of Germany vs England in quality, while Germany is obviously monopilised by Bayern, I would argue from what I have seen (not that much, tbh) that the league as a whole is of similar quality to the Premier League.

When you see just how awful Everton were last season but finished 8th, and even worse teams like Southampton, West Ham, Newcastle etc surviving despite miserable football.

The Premier League also pays substantially more in wages, charges more for tickets, yet success in Europe is almost non-existent (both Champions League and Europa League).

Germany seems an excellent place for a young player to go and develop their style, as well as the bonus of being away from the tabloids.

Of course money doesn't translate into footballing excellence... but, other things being equal, it does. Southampton and Stoke and their ilk can and do sign top players from around the world and can out-bid all but the top Spanish, German, French and Italian clubs.

So the Premier League should be by far the strongest league. English clubs generally under-perform in the Europa because they rest players... which they have to do because every week is a very tough game and they can't afford (and outside the top 6 have a legitimate fear of) relegation. This is not the case in the other "top" leagues. (and Man Utd won it the year before last anyway so not sure how much they really under-perform).

The Championship generates more income than any other league in Europe after the Premier League and the top flights in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. More than the Dutch league. Think about the implications of that.

If he's not happy I'd reluctantly sell him for £25m and not a penny less. Anything less than £25m needs to have a large sell on clause.

As for the US domestic league, I've said before that I find it unwatchable in terms of quality, but it does have the (sole) virtue of being one of the most competitive leagues in the world. The last ten MLS Cups have been divided among eight different teams.

Recently in Munich talking to Bayern fans. They described the Bundesliga as "boring". Whilst retaining their loyalty to Bayern, they explained that there was no genuine competition and that they much preferred to watch the Premier League. "You have six teams who can win the league, and all the others work hard to fuck them up" was one comment, which others agreed with.

European rankings aren't particularly relevant as pointed out. In Spain, France and Germany the dominant teams are just that. They can prioritise European comps without worrying about coming home to face another of the six chasing the title or second rank teams chasing sixth/seventh determined to give them a game. All of the above applies in spades, but on a different level, to the Scottish Premier League.

The reason that Leipzig are keeping on at Everton is that they are very encouraged in their talks with Lookman and his representatives. The other thing is that Lookman can't lose, since competition for his signature is likely to come in.

I hope Lookman stays, he has great potential and I would much prefer to see us build our team from youth, with a few experienced players being brought in to help them.

Not easy of course, because the top young talents want to play for the teams who win things, which is why I think we will be able to hold on to Lookman, unless the powers that be decide he's better moving on...

I don't believe for one minute we're after Zaha and I'm surprised so many Blues have been taken in by yet another example of "join the dots" journalism.

'Has anyone else heard that this lad is a bit of a beaut?'

Let's hope someone does know now.

The Hammers have already signed Jack Wilshere and Ryan Fredericks on free transfers this summer, plus spent £29m on Issa Diop and Lukasz Fabianski. They are also close to completing the £17m transfer of Ukraine forward Andriy Yarmolenko from Borussia Dortmund. Anderson, 25, is also on the wish list of new manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Where are we with transfers? Not even put our running shoes on yet!

I wonder if we had Pellegrino as manager would we still have no players in? What would that tell us?

Their Euro coefficient is also lacking, they have 2 clubs in the top 24, the same as France, Ukraine and Portugal; we have 6. It's why we get more places.

I wasn't comparing the Bundesliga to the Scottish Premier League, I was highlighting how half decent players from less demanding leagues stand out more giving them a false market value... Lookman is a star at Leipzig but a Premier League also-ran and Tierney would just dilute an already large amount of quality Premier League left full-backs who would cost less than £25M but stands head and shoulders above any other over the border.

And if we were shrewder in the transfer market, Maguire instead of Keane, we would certainly have the nucleus of a top six side. Oh for a little bit of ambition!

Moral is, if we believe Lookman is that good and has the ambition, let's not have similar regrets.

I am not sure. I remember he was about to sign a new contract but cited lack of ambition during the January transfer window (when he said there were specific players available) as his reason for changing his mind. He went that summer.

He looked upon us as a stepping stone to a "big" club.

Maybe Benitez was right because the others were also on our books and went to “bigger” clubs.

If this is where we are, then all we can aspire to is being the best of the rest.

I tend to agree with you. We need to keep Lookman, but not at the expense of the dressing room. If he defied Allardyce, what else is he capable of?

I want him to stay and be part of the future, however, something tells me: caution. Hope I'm wrong!!!

Are you serious? Because he had the audacity to say no to languishing in the Championship and insisted on working in the Bundesliga for one of the top sides, you think that's a negative?

I'll tell you what he's capable of, knowing a hell of a lot more about his capabilities as a footballer than the dinosaur Allardyce, and so does the manager in Germany.

If he is still of that persuasion, then let him go with no bad feeling (except for the Fat Controller who it turns out was not really in control of anything or anyone).

Koemardyce – remember the name of the hybrid manager who did more damage to Everton FC than any other in their illustrious history...

We are a joke and next season will be worse than last! Nothing has happened apart from appointing a manager with one of the worst track records in European football!!! 😐

Give Brands and Silva a chance, they are trying to get the right players in for the club. Spunking it early can lead to mistakes too.

Sometimes talented young players never quite make it to the top and Everton have had their fair share of those but it would be a shame if they lost Lookman.

I am optimistic before the commencement of each season — and particularly so this summer, given the changes in the management structure and the boardroom. I am content that Everton is being turned around and that our revival starts here.

I also feel that there is no need to rush out and hoover up players to fill the positions we all seem to agree need to be reinforced. I like the considered approach that it seems is being followed.

I will keep the faith that this time Mr Moshiri has got his backroom team in order and the benefits will be seen on the pitch and in our league position.

COYB.

We need to remember we were 11th when Koeman took over, he got us to 7th first season then we went mental and tried to break the top 6 by making expensive signings the top 6 did not want, and Pickford aside, we can now see why.

Our approach now is slow progression. Break the top 6 not just for a season but for good. So slowly developing the side, not chasing quick fixes.

Maybe West Ham have done their homework, maybe Old Pellegrini does have something left in the tank and can assemble the signings and what he has into a team and maybe they do pip us into 7th. That doesn't affect us too much, as the goal is not getting 7th, its closing in on the top 6, and doing so for the long term.

Signing players in their late 20s and early 30s gives you all the problems we now have. That they are overpaid, they can lose form and ability, and they can't be sold easily. Instead, we will sign younger players, who have sell on value, have comparatively lower wages, can get better, are open to new ideas, are hungrier, and are easy to move on to a new club if it does not work.

But look at who west ham have signed:
- Jack Wilshere - a major risk of being another Rooney, blighted by injury problems, questions that injury has lessened his ability, but most importantly, he does not fit into our high energy pressing system
- Ryan Fredericks - been in the Championship for a few years, no one else was after him, we certainly wouldn't drop Coleman for him
- Issa Diop - not seen too much of him, but he would have fitted the Silva profile as a giant athletic centre back - could be a very good signing, but who else wanted him, he's also a big gamble and could be another Mangala
- Andrey Yarmolekno - sounds a lot like Sigurdsson, approaching 29th birthday, expensive, he's very slow, especially for a winger, he drifts out of games, he's very injury prone, rarely playing over 25 games a season, flopped badly in germany raising questions over his ability to step up a level. I would also ask the question, does he have to have the team built around him to bring out the best in him, or can he fit in with other players? This is highlighted by his time in Dortmund where he did not do well at all and I think he does have to have the team completely built around him.

I strongly suspect West Ham are doing "an Everton" and that this will backfire like it did for us and they'll be hamstrung for the next few seasons. I am also sceptical about how they will pay for all of this. Gold and Sullivan are very much in it to make money. Perhaps the fan criticism has gone to their heads and they are rolling the dice.

It is a very risky strategy and I much prefer ours, taking it slowly, getting things right, working with what we have, and only bringing in the right player who can slot perfectly into the team, the tactics, and the style of play.

Our targets appear to be:
- left back - Tierney and now Digne - both pacy and energetic
- centre-back - I expect a giant like Mina
- midfielder - a passing midfielder to move the ball quickly, Joao Mario (of Inter but at West Ham last season on loan, and previously at Sporting with Silva) seems to fit the bill, but he is an excellent short passer, rather than the deep lying playmaker
- winger - This seems dependant on Bolasie and Lookman, but varying names are linked. I'd rather we keep Lookman.

Patience blues, we don't need to fit all the pieces of the jigsaw together this summer, we can slowly build and add one or two pieces a year, and if we buy young, and develop from within, this is the perfect strategy. Let's get it right, not get it fast.

Lookman hasn't publicly said he wants to leave, nor has his agent and in this day and age it would be odds-on his agent doing or saying something to engineer a move if his client had told him that's what he wanted.

He is tied to us by a long-term contract so we are under no obligation to either listen to offers from Leipzig or anyone else and we have even less reason to agree to a move if Lookman did request one.

Everton should grow a pair for once, tell Leipzig to do one, he's not for sale, and tell Lookman he's part of the first team squad and if he hopes to one day play for England, or one of the 'big' teams in Europe or elsewhere, he needs to buckle down and let his football do his talking for him. Time to stand up for ourselves and not be a rubbing rag for every team that comes sniffing round our players.