Sigurdsson heads list of players Everton would sell this summer

I also think he would at least listen to reasonable offers for Gomes if Carlo is willing.

Iwobi, Davies and Gordon are perfectly adequate reserves and their combined salaries are less than £100,000/week.

As yet, it is all wishful thinking without approaches from interested buyers or (is loanees a word?) others.

Everton have a new youth development policy, but they will still have to offload those that are not making it, such is their finances. .

I would put Pickford (hopefully the rumours are true regarding a targeted goalkeeper) and Mina in the list as well.

Good luck, Michel Brands.

But look at this from Marcel's perspective. Gomes is on a whopping £112,212/week, for which he has produced one goal and three assists in 49 games.

He has also produced approximately 187 stupid fouls around his own penalty area, at least three of which have cost us points.

None of this is new -- I watched the guy play probably 40 or 50 times for Barca. All he's got is great first touches and elegant crossfield passes, both of which James does much, much better. Don't get me wrong, I think Gomes is a wonderful guy, but if you think he can't be sold, I think you're dreaming.

Iwobi is three years younger, costs less than half as much per week, and has about the same dismal level of production -- 2 goals, one assist in 29 games -- while also being played out of position.

Obviously it's ultimately Carlo's call, and again I think probably both will stay, but if it comes down to shipping one and keeping one, it'll be no contest.

Definitely put Gomes on the list. Mina changed his agent in June.

Good luck, Mr Brands. Keep up the good work!

It could be that they are loaned out with us still picking up 30-50% of their wages which is what happened to Sandro and Bolasie last year.

Much easier to buy than sell in this window so Brands will have to be creative.

I'm not convinced that Calvert-Lewin is up to the task, nor Iwobi or Kean. However, it would be really interesting to see how they play now. Also these new signings (barring last-minute up-fucks) should hopefully settle our defence & Pickford.

Unless there is a really great opportunity to sign a top-class striker or centre-back, I wouldn't be surprised if our incoming business is pretty much done now. It would make sense to bed these 3 in and then re-evaluate who is going to step up with a better midfield and who is still not up to the task.

I wouldn't sell Gomes; back in his proper position, he would fit in with our new signing. But the deadwood have to go.

Because Bernard was brought in on a free transfer, his sale would help the bottom line. Everton have to sell players.

It doesn't matter who we sell, in terms of bottom line. We have a set of assets, some of which are more valuable than others and each of those assets has a cost – wages and any ongoing transfer payments.

If we sell Bernard for £10M or Kean for £10M, apart from wages, the net result is the same – £10M in and ongoing payments out for Kean to Juventus.

I still have doubts about the goalscoring aspect of our game unless Carlo has a new striker up his sleeve. I think huge pressure will fall on Gomes now to become more productive in terms of goals and assists. I can see Sigurdsson, Bernard and Walcott getting some game time, it's up to them to shine if picked.

Getting rid of players on long contracts will and has become a nightmare; signing these new players has only added to the problem. Let's see if Brands can earn his corn and shift the deadwood.

I agree with the list the sooner they are gone the better and also good news that we are rebuilding with Ancelotti's targets, aside from the three we know about, I would like to see two more in midfield and a striker.

In terms of who is surplus to requirements the below are all shoo-ins:

Sandro
Besic
Tosun
Bolasie

Which leaves us with a number of players who could be useful squad players but whose wages are too exorbitant to justify keeping as just squad players:

Bernard – I don't think he ever has adapted to the Premier League, a shame because I think there is a decent player in there. He can go for me and shed his wages.

Walcott – occasional flash of what he can do still and a hard worker. A victim of being bought by Allardyce and a panic buy. Contract expires next year, could we try and offer him an extension on reduced wages, or offload him to a lower Prem club?

Iwobi –- see Walcott, but replace Allardyce with Silva. A useful option on the right-hand side but I wouldn't be averse to one of him or Walcott leaving.

Sigurdsson – the enigma that is Sigurdsson. Last season was a strange one (does he fit Ancelotti's system?) but useful as an option in midfield, a number 10 or the left wing.

Gomes – again, had a down year last year (not helped by his horror injury), I still think we have a player there and would keep him as an option backing up Doucouré and Allan.

That leaves us with the kids – Davies, Kean and Gordon – who I would keep for the fact they are still developing, talented though they are.

If Ancelotti was unhappy with Gylfi, he would have left him out... which he never did (except games when Gylfi had minor injuries as Ancelotti stated him self). Buying three midfielders means Ancelotti will use Gylfi out left and probably James out right with the two strikers.

It is also seems very obvious from team selection last season that Ancelotti seems to trust Walcott (and even Gordon) better than Bernard and Iwobi? I would like to see some proper analysis of this as we can learn lot from how a manager acts in a real situation and we happen to know already a lot about that here?

That player, strong as an ox, driving us forward, cutting out opposition players with passes between the lines, has a prominent role to play at Everton. Surely if he can be left largely without defensive responsibilities (Doucouré's and Allan's jobs) he can rediscover that verve...?!

In the case of Bernard nothing is owed, so the transfer fee is a bonus and there is a saving in wages.

I would not agree the selling of Kean is a good idea. . . but amortIsation cost and wages costs deductions would have a positive effect on the bottom line if he were sold.

Bernard has proven to be just too lightweight, too ineffectual. Not quick enough, not enough vision. He'll be back to Russia, Brazil, or off to China.

Sigurdsson, while not the worst, but he'll want first team football I'd assume and won't be happy at being benched, despite being deserved. As well as his huge wage. I'd imagine a few Premier League teams would be interested, if he reduces his wages.

Delph I feel would be decent backup to Allen, but again will want to play, is probably on big wages, and hasn't really fit in here and won't be missed.

Gomes could well flourish alongside Allan and Doucouré (with Rodriguez more of an attacker than midfielder). If he can regain his form.

Iwobi again, in the middle, could flourish in this new look midfield. He's still young so worth persisting with for another season and see if he improves.

Davies could do well with a loan, maybe to Watford. First team football, week.in week out in his position. Either he flourishes and comes back a top player, or we know he never will.

Gbamin we just need to wait. We really have no idea.

Walcott – no place in the team if we do play 3 in midfield. His days as a forward are well behind him, his only use is as a winger. He's on a big wage. Problem is: Who will take him?

Where I lose sympathy for Gylfi is the hiding during open play, he isn't alone here but it does my head in!

Ancelotti was having to pick the best of a bad bunch and make do. If he will now have some new players to choose from – players he actually wants, no less – I think there will be a different approach to selections with (I very much hope) less of Sigurdsson, Walcott, Bernard and Iwobi – who were astoundingly ineffective last season – and more of these new names (if they ever actually sign).

But unfortunately, there's no guarantee that any of them are going to be any good. I think that's what watching Everton under Ancelotti so far has taught me, sadly.

Watch this space...

The problem is for the most part the wages they are on. Some of them will have to be sold without a fee as long as the buying club pays the remainder of their wages.

Delph: sell, Leeds £5M
Sigurdsson: sell, Newcastle, or similar, £10M+
Walcott: sell, Crystal Palace, or similar, £5m;
Tosun: sell, Fernabace or similar £5-10M
Bernard: keep for squad unless acceptable fee
Gomes: keep for this season see how he gets on
Iwobi: sell, mid-table club £10-15M
Davies: keep for squad unless acceptable fee
Kean: definitely keep unless Juve or Roma pay acceptable fee
Bolasie: sell, free to anyone who will pay his wages
Besic: sell, ditto
Sandro: sell, ditto
Kenny: overlooked by Carlo, sell to Shalke £8M
Gbamin n/a

Maybe one or two could be used for player swap or plus cash deals that favour both clubs. I would like Brands to investigate getting one or two younger dynamic players in to supplement the squad and really push the senior boys for starting places. There is still a month to go in this window and now we are in a much stronger position now to explore one or two creative deals without conducting them under duress.

I guarantee you that he either bought a house a car or both on the back of that deal.

Bernard is arriving at the point in his contract where any value he holds will sink each window. We took him on a free and can perhaps get £8 - £15 million for him. He should be sold whilst we can get something decent.

As for Gomes, off the back of the injury and without a chance to get properly up and running to demonstrate what he's got left, I'm not sure who'd take him right now. What's he worth? Impossible to tell. My first impression is that the injury seems to have robbed him of that little half a yard he possessed and that he's now very (even more?) static. If that remains the case long term then getting his wages off the books could prove difficult. I can see it ending up as a £5 - £10 million back to Spain or Portugal in a or year or two.

We will definitely keep Iwobi. He's 24 years old and a year into a 5-year contract. He has talent and at his age still has scope to improve. Yes, we have obviously overpaid. But he's quick and can play. However, he needs to mature fast and improve his consistency, decision making and productivity. Nailing a position or a defined role would be beneficial. I think there's a player in there and that, under this manager and in the right set-up, the bandwagon jumpers could be proved wrong under.

I'd get rid of Davies at the first opportunity. The only attribute he has is that he is Alan Whittle's nephew. Agree with Adam above about Iwobi: awful player.

Firstly, André will still be our highest quality midfielder by some distance as we saw last spring when he plays, we play. Neither Allan or Doucouré could ever play for Barca or star for Portugal as they aren't of the same level.

Secondly both Brands and Ancelotti love the player with both waxing lyrical and Carlo overplaying him after his terrible injury and whether matchfit or not when able he started and finished.

Thirdly his recent form. It would have been difficult enough to get up to match speed considering he was supposed to be out til next January, such was the serious nature of the injury, but allied to this he was clearly mismanaged by expecting him to play in a two for ninety minutes with either the equally laborious Sigurdsson or young Tom. It would have made much more sense that when he played it should have been in a three with Holgate and either Gordon or Iwobi in front of him and more sparingly to build his confidence.

Fourthly, and most importantly, Brands signed Gomes AFTER his loan spell meaning that the Dutchman was happy with his overall contribution in that first season. Therefore it is illogical that he would abandon ship purely because of that horrendous misfortune where this season's form is largely immaterial and understandable.

Comparisons with forward players or his goal or assists returns will have no bearing on whether we would sell or not.

But Colette... Holgate played there "admirably"?? It was one game! And it wasn't under Carlo, who has never played him anywhere but centre-back.

That's an inane comment, as the Tosun deal, was driven by Moshiri all day long,as Moshiri loved him since Tosun dragged Besiktas back against AS Monaco; scoring all three Besiktas goals against ASM in their Champions League games.

Anyone still denigrating Brands needs their heads testing.

Everyone, of course, is entitled to their opinion. Personally, with the constantly changing landscape, vis-a-vis board interference, and finding himself in a near 'mission impossible' with the substandard squad he took over, the manager situation, and the lack of a clear strategy; just goes to show that all elements need to be in place.

The only thing thus far that Brands has failed on the acquisition element of his job, is missing out on Gabriel; which, might have been a blessing in disguise, since after that Carletto became more involved.

His next role is getting the academy up to U18 and below in line to what is required for the first team. He's also brought in Branthwaite and Nkounkou, who though are not the finished articles at 18 and 19 years old, look nearly as good as their first-team counterparts.

Then hopefully next season, the Unsworth roadblock can be dealt with, on the back of a better season.

If you look at TalkSport;

Premier League done deals: Every completed transfer in the 2020 summer window

This shows you who has been let go by Brands so far.

As for the rest; using Tony's [36] list from above, and using speculation from media sources;

Delph: keep, utility player (Best stats of all our centre-midfielders last season)

Sigurdsson: sell, MLS DC United, £16M

Walcott: keep, until we get a right-winger

Tosun: sell, WBA (£9M?) and three sides in Turkey are interested... unfortunately injured.

Bernard: keep for squad or sell with an acceptable fee

Gomes: keep for this season see how he gets on (tout him around for next summer)

Iwobi: keep and play him in the centre top of the park; his best position

Davies: loan out, or sell (Newcastle £12M)

Kean: definitely keep, and develop

Bolasie: sell, free to anyone who will pay his wages (as stated in the media, Brands will let him go)

Besic: sell, "According to the Liverpool Echo, the Bosnia international is a wanted man and has offers from Spain, Italy, Germany and Turkey."

Sandro: sell, Eibar want him, and 5 other Iberian clubs as well, and Everton are willing to let him go on a free. Unfortunately, there's that word again, his wages are the problem.

Kenny: overlooked by Carlo, Schalke loan or best offer £5-8M... but not this summer, Schalke are broke.

Gbamin n/a (Won't be fit until after New Year at the earliest, may be best to leave him till 2021-22 season)

It looks like Gibson will be going to Huddersfield on loan too; whilst Branthwaite stays with the U23/1st XI setup like Nkounkou.

Away from Everton...

Sangare is still on the market for circa £9M, and if believed, Everton are still monitoring him. Shouldn't we have bought him at 22, and at that price, that Doucouré? Any responses welcome.

Some interesting news is that Thomas Lemar (right-winger) has rejected a move to FC Porto and favours a move to the Premier league (with Everton in mind). Mind you, Wolves also want him.

Barca have set a price of €16M for Rafinha.

We're also being linked with Spurs' Juan Foyth (right-back, centre-back) and PSG's Dagba (dependant on Arsenal selling Bellerin) (right-back)

We also might still go after Barca/Betis defender Emerson too. (right-back)

Lots to talk about, let's hope Brands and Caretto continue their excellent work thus far this summer.

Simon, good post... just remember that keeping Bernard, Delph and Walcott means keeping £300,000/week in salaries. That's a pretty heavy hit for subs.

My 3 first team players to sell would be: Bolasie, Sigurdsson, Bernard only... because...

Tougher calls will be Bolasie or Walcott. One has to stay so that Brands has time to find a 2nd right winger within the next year.

Sigurdsson goes. Gomes stays. Gomes cross for Walcott for the headed goal a few months ago shows he does have moments of mobility and class in the opposition half, and can even play in front of Digne.

Bernard, I'd like to sell if Gordon is the main man for left midfield today and onwards, plus knowing Iwobi played his best football there for Arsenal as an option, and Gomes can cross a ball out on the left – left foot or come inside and on right foot.

I wouldn't sell Iwobi as in a defensive set up, he's very disciplined, and we'll need this as we take on big teams in Europe from next season, even more in away games this year as we try for an old fashioned Italian 1-0.

Davies stays, it's a squad game and he's going to get plenty of game time if Sigurdsson leaves: FA Cup, Europe next season.

Gomes has been used by his two Everton managers and his Barcelona manager in a very deep position. He's usually the deepest of the Everton midfielders and is used primarily to get the ball off the defence and initiate attacks.

Okay, when we complete these imminent signings, you'll see that Doucouré in particular can initiate an attack and keep going up the pitch in a way Gomes can't. Neither Allan nor Doucouré have Gomes's long passing ability. They'll be higher up the pitch than him, with maybe one or both only deep alongside him against higher quality opposition.

Forget the stats when it comes to Gomes. The only stat that can measure his output is the xG and xA chain ones, and I think they are misleading as it just counts touches of the ball in a move leading to a chance, not the quality of the touch.

With higher quality of teammate, we should see more quality from Gomes. He won't need to take the pace off the ball because the recipient cannot control it. He'll be able to hit those full force passes into feet that currently only the likes of Digne can take in his stride. These passes don't just look good, they are very effective and can put the wide players in a real position to create a chance. Because that's Gomes's role. Not to provide assists, but to open up the pitch and put players into positions whereby they can play someone else in because Gomes did all the hard work for them.

Walcott and Iwobi would be next because they both constantly shit out of tackles and 50/50's and cowardice is one thing I just can't stand from a player.

Besic and Sandro? I'd try for a BOGOF deal with anyone who's interested in either.

As I stated above, I'd move Walcott and Iwobi on before anybody else but the squad does need an injection of pace too.

I agree that he is (or was) our most talented midfield player but the issue is that he has just not showed it enough. Hopefully he can show it more if we bring in some better players and he can get fit but if Carlo plans to play 4-4-2 then I suspect he may find himself on the bench a fair bit, especially if Gbamin ever returns to full fitness. Gomes is not the right fit for 2 men in the middle, especially post injury.

Supposedly he is our 3rd highest-paid player on £112k per week. He needs to start earning that every week rather than with one sumptuous game per month. I suspect that a great deal of this squad would be sold if the right offer came in and I think the likes of Gomes, Bernard, Pickford and Sigurdsson who are the highest earners along with Mina could all be up for grabs in an effort to reduce the wage bill; but I'm not too sure who would pay their asking prices.

What was the excuse then at Barcelona? Messi has better control then Digne but I didn't see Gomes looking any better than he has at Barce.

So we look back to Valencia when evidently everything was set up perfectly to make Gomes look good. Well on that basis we should keep Sigurdsson until we recreate the exact set up from Swansea. Or get Schneid back and recreate the exact dynamic he had at Southampton.

The reality is that you're rarely going to have the perfect teammates and tactics to suit a player. Even if we did have that for Gomes then how do we eliminate his bumbling performances like the one early last season at Wolves where he seemed like Bambi on ice?

I agree that Gomes has been inconsistent, and there is a debate to be had about why, and the extent to which the quality of those around him might affect his performances... but Iwobi HAS been consistent. Consistently shite. Okay, he may get better, but what have people seen to make them believe that?

To my eyes, he has been marginally less shite when played centrally, but so many of our moves break down when he gets involved that I'd rather not risk waiting for him to improve. He has driven me completely nuts.

Gomes shows regular flashes of class, and alongside Gueye put in some impressive performances. I know who I'd rather gamble on.

My point is that Gylfi is not just used now as holding midfielder as coach Ancelotti also seems to prefer him in team selection out left when available for that or restoring him in No 10 hole. Ancelotti obviously chooses Gylfi in those attacking positions rather than Bernard, Iwobi and Gordon if he is not needing him for midfield, right?

So, due to this, it makes no sense he is now going to sell the player he trusts best for three roles on the pitch! The coach would rather offload those players he does not use much or am I misunderstanding?

An interesting discussion should be had about the big increase in chances that will be created for Calvert-Lewin next season. He has real talent around him to deliver quality balls and crosses into him. He has to bury the numerous good chances that will be inevitable; it's a big season coming up for Dom.

However, in the cold light of day, don't forget he was a key figure of that squad in that first season which narrowly missed out on the title and only Busquets and Rakitic of the midfielders got slightly more game time and indeed he was often a preferred starter over Rakitic, Iniesta and Turan. He played more than Milner for example did this season.

How many of our current squad would play over 50 games for Barca? Digne was an irrelevance there, he barely played even in the cups and when he did he was atrocious defensively so much that they didn't even replace him when he left. Mina likewise couldn't get a kick.

Just because Gomes failed at Barca is no discredit to him as, even if Richarlison did move there, he hasn't yet achieved as much in his career say as Dembele did and yet the latter is also struggling to cut the mustard.

Personally I thought his first season at Goodison mirrored the team with a decent start, terrible first winter in the Premier League and a sparking finish. I would put a line through last season and judge him from now to see whether he is another terrible signing or a quality player who had valid excuses.

The real worry for me is Calvert-Lewin. How many times has Calvert-Lewin missed sitters from headers? In Digne we have a player that can put the ball onto your head and now we are buying another winger who can create chances from nothing but we need forwards to put them in.

After the lockdown when EFC were on the TV, Calvert-Lewin managed to hit the post with a header when the commentator said it was harder to hit the post than to score. I watched that attempted again and noticed that Calvert-Lewin closed his eyes before the ball touched his head. He seems scared of the ball. He scored 4 headed goals last season which put him in the top 5 goal scorers but we have a team that is set up to produce crosses. Contrast that with big Dunc's 9 headed goals in one season. Enough said of Mina's total dominance in the air for corners but failure to put them in the net.

To qualify for Europe next season we need to score more headers from open play and from corners. With that aerial dominance it will allow our fleet-footed players to score more goals.

I often wonder why Everton is not putting Mina right up front as he could probably do even better if this is the main requirement for Everton No 9? Calvert-Lewin has his advantage while he does not assimilate to a top Premier League striker in any way.

Also, you are right about Iwobi as he has showed almost no quality in his game and Ancelotti seemed to lean more on Walcott and Gordon out right last term.

Kieran #58 and Conor #62, great debate points on Gomes. Steve's point at 52 that you can't judge him just one goals and assists is a valid one, yet the fact that he produces virtually none of either cannot be simply dismissed. Would he originate more moves that resulted in goals if he were farther up the pitch or his teammates were more talented? That's a hypothetical we've never been able to answer, but might with the new midfield talent around him this season.

My take is that for all his skills, he's never, ever the best player on the pitch for an entire game. He is a complementary piece. Now he has something to complement, so let's see if he does. Personally I am not expecting him to improve much, but I would love to be surprised.

Stuart, I didn't see anybody "advocating" for keeping Iwobi over Gomes, just pointing out the financial circumstances that might make it something Brands would consider.

I think Calvert-Lewin will mainly be a sub, as a striker used for appropriate assignments (when Everton needs someone up front winning areal duels/ marking). Everton also needs a top defender as Mina is so injury-prone.

Sure Doucoure could play a much more disciplined role then I ever saw him play for Watford. Admittedly, I don't watch Watford every week. Doucoure scores a lot of goals because he gets forwards as well. He also has mobility that we've been lacking.

So it makes sense to me that if this is your midfield trio in a 4-3-3, then you have your slowest player play the position that doesn't require as much mobility. If you look at stats for holding midfielders like Matic, you'll see that they don't set records for winning the ball. They are often guarding space and making the ball go down the flanks.

I can envisage a scenario that Gomes plays in a holding role in the way that Jorginho played it. He's another defensive midfielder with little defensive talent and all his skills in a more attacking sense. But both can take the ball off the defenders and move it quickly and sensibly around the pitch to catch the opposition with their pants down and do real damage.

I agree that Gomes isn't suited to a midfield 2 in a rigid 4-4-2 (straight lines). But he's suited to a midfield 3.

Playing against top sides, I doubt he'd sit behind Doucouré and Allan, but against bottom-half sides, where we have more of the ball or at least want to, then this is how I expect us to play. Against a top side, I'd expect all three to sit deep.

Very interesting points you state here and I can agree on most of it as far as my knowledge can reach for now as I know less of Allan than you seem to do. My idea was that he was more like Kante.

As for Gomes, he is a top player while his flaw is that he can only function as a No 8 distributor of the ball while he has neither mentality nor capacity as the No 6 or No 10 as it seems. So all ideas of using Gomes in a more defensive or attacking role make no sense to me after watching him for a whole season.

When attacking Gylfi for example is much more dangerous than Gomes can ever be. To me, a classic No 8 is the only useful role for Gomes so if Allan and Doucouré are such players as well something has to give in?

My thoughts are that I totally understand where the likes of yourself and Sam are coming from in that he will never be a truly elite player because he will never have the stats to back that claim and I wouldn't think he will ever change Sam's mind as I doubt he will dramatically improve them.

Where I slightly differ from yourself is that I believe if we can keep him relatively fit he won't be the liability he has been both last winter and this season. As we all know when he's bad he's bloody awful and so this is why I say his condition is the key.

I believe if Andre is healthy we could expect a similar season to last year without the winter meltdown where half would be decent and half would be electric. I believe more than any other player he makes us tick and we need endeavour around him so that he can dictate the play and boss the game. The amount of opposition fans that praised Gomes and Gana to me because they controlled the play was quite unusual for me to hear especially as most support the better sides.

I don't totally disagree with your theory that he has been a complementary player but my feeling is that he can also be an effective player as long as he maintains sharpness as he hasn't got the attributes to coast hence why so far results-wise we have been more effective without him.

The one area where I criticize Andre most sharply is where he commits his fouls. There have been times the last two seasons where if he gave up one more free kick inside 30 yards from our goal, I was gonna fly over and slash his tires.

Now we have got Doucouré and Allan – 2 players who get around the park. I think you will see Gomes with Allan and Doucouré on either side, and I think Ancelotti will then have Sigurdsson to come in when Gomes needs a blow.

I don't think Carlo is very excited by Iwobi or Walcott or Bernard out wide, and maybe Gordon is too young to expect him to play wide for many games on the trot. So it will be interesting to see how he fills the opposite wing to Richarlison.

It should be written into contracts that a minimum goal return is expected of all outfield players. Most of ours should be ashamed at their disgraceful failure to trouble the scoreboard over a long period. We've had centre-halves that have scored more in a season than our entire midfield put together.

Having Rodríguez in the side highlights for me Carlo's intention to control games and play higher up the pitch. I think that might mean Gomes spends more time on the bench or plays when we set up to counter-attack given his long-range passing is extremely good.

Perhaps Carlo will go with a high pressing side with a high line to allow Allan to shine and Rodríguez to prosper, and as an alternative sit deep and counter against sides better than us? That would be my guess. If that's the case I'm still worried about the lack of pace in our back line, because sitting deep doesn't suit Allan or Rodríguez. Fingers crossed we get a pacy centre back. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Personally, I feel Iwobi and Tosun could be used in a player(s) plus cash for Zaha. The rumours about Branislav Ivanovic have gone quiet, but he has a history with Ancelotti and would be a free transfer. Sergio Romero could be an option (as Pickford needs competition) and probably wouldn't command a high fee, maybe even a loan. I also like Josh King since he's flexible enough to play on the wing.

Then it's a case a trying to offload quite a few players who won't get a game at all this season - Lössl, Pennington, Besic, Delph, Bolasie and Sandro. Davies loan move is a good idea. I'd like to keep Bernard, but understand his salary is high and I'd like to keep Walcott.

I get it's exasperating when he fluffs a 10-yard pass a la Barkley or kicks the ball like a 5-year-old! However, he's constantly up there as the most threatening player for us. Sadly when he's bad, he stinks, eclipsing even Sigurdsson sometimes.

Mix in his age, the cost to the club, I'd be very surprised to see him leave. For me with some comfort stays in the squad next season.

As many clubs will be tightening the purse strings, we may end up sending a lot of players out on subsidised loans just to reduce the wage bill a tad.

In fact, we are mainly in consensus on this as I also think highly of Gomes for his vision and distribution. Yet I still find he is only comfortable as a Pirlo player in the midfield.

Gomes does not like to tackle any more than Gylfi – and he cannot shoot the deadly balls Gylfi constantly does... and in fact, Gomes hardly scores goals, right?

Like Conor, I do not agree with everything you say and I think we have had differing opinions in the past on both Sigurdsson and Pickford but I do think you are spot on with what you say about Gomes and where he concedes free-kicks.

André Gomes is (for me) a defensive liability and should not be anywhere near the team in a 4-4-2 formation or a 4-3-3 formation because of it. A 4-1-4-1 possibly, a 4-2-3-1 in the central position of the '3' is more apt, a 4-3-2-1 in one of the '2' positions also but ultimately nowhere near the defence!

If we could defend, my thoughts maybe a little more accommodating and inclusive regarding Gomes.

The 3 coming soon are just the start and a good reason why a lot of the players downed tools after the restart. Obviously their parasites – sorry, agents – were informed their clients' services would no longer be required come September.

As long as Allan is more Ball than Biley and James is more Bond then Sid we should be fine.

Even when he gets into a central attacking position around the top of the area, he rarely looks to shoot. He is capable of ripping one, as he showed with the one goal he scored for us, but not one of his 16 career top-level goals has come from distance. He's likewise quite passive with his passing from there -- he looks first to spray the ball wide rather than play one through for the strikers or attack off the dribble.

I have absolutely no idea where Carlo will play him in our new alignment.

Nothing personnel, but I'm guessing you're Icelandic, because, in your opinion, Sigurdsson can do no wrong, but you'll have to go to SpecSavers: this season, he's been an embarrassment.

And trying to say he's better than Gomes... utter nonsense.

The reason Carlo wants James is to replace him, not to play with him.

Iwobi played his best game (in my opinion) against West Ham at home with Davies playing behind him and playing quick balls forward. Our midfield all last season was just not quick or athletic enough.

However, the problem is up front because, if Richarlison gets injured, then there isn't a proven prolific goalscorer to pick up the slack.

Sure there are players who can step in but can they produce what is needed?

Calvert-Lewin has a lot of heart, Tosun? Walcott? Bolasie? Kean? Sandro... I cannot really see these guys getting more the odd goal even if they get a few games. We need another Tony Cottee or Peter Beardsley.

For what it's worth, I think we should hold onto him and see where (or if) Carlo plays him, assuming we land all three targets. He does give a lot of daft free-kicks away in dangerous positions but he has a terrific range of passes and was (IMO) the best of a bad bunch last season.

Maybe he moves to the left of a four-man midfield in a more attacking position rather than playing deep. Only time will tell but I think we have many other, higher priorities to get off the books before Gomes. (Sandro, Besic, Bolasie for a start!)

Yes, I am Icelandic and as opinionated as most Evertonians as such – I mean, you guys celebrate if Holgate, Calvert-Lewin, Gordon or Davies have a decent game... After all, this is football – not rocket science.

Yet I try my best to be objective and especially I try to watch carefully what the manager says and does. My conclusion is that Ancelotti will probably not sell Gylfi since he uses him in various positions for almost every game. Still Gylfi will probably have a less playing time next season being good as the guy seemed exhausted since he is almost never out due to injuries etc.

I'm just so surprised how many of you evaluate the player that was your top scorer and assister in 2018-19 just because he had an odd season now. Instead, you want to put all your trust on a player that has done almost nothing special since 2015 and has mainly been injured with high salaries.

This just does not make any sense to me but hopefully it will turn out okay, right? Gylfi is not better than Gomes and Gomes not better than Gylfi – they're different players – while James used to be better than both of them... but today? I am afraid not!

I like Gomes myself. But in every way measurable offensively, Sigurdsson is light years ahead of Gomes.

Comparing Gomes, who again I like, to Sigurdsson as an impact player is like comparing McCarthy to Fellaini. There's no comparison.

You have no idea about Carlo's intent to use Sigurdsson, James, or anybody else.

And perhaps the next time you go out of your way for 7-8 lines of drivel personally offending another poster, don't open with "No offense".

You're correct.

In the end, we don't know what Carlo's intentions are regarding Sigurdsson, Gomes, James or anyone else. No-one else in here knows either. Ring in particular.

No harm in having a slight bias consciously or otherwise. I was rooting for Daniel Kinsella myself. At least Sigurdsson and McCarthy did better than him.

Do you even recall the game which Colin @ 89 is talking about?

Doucouré was head and shoulders above Gana and anyone else in our midfield. Gana was hauled off for Cenk with 20 minutes to play. Doucouré was Man of the Match. Have a look at the BBC match report for a reminder. Digne got a late free-kick and we absolutely mugged Watford of a point.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46422266

Oh and James, blurting out “bullshit” to what was a perfectly valid post, exactly two minutes after you take the moral high ground to have a pop at another poster, just makes you look like a bit of a tit.

Be prepared for a big meal of that ugly bird when you see James play. I happen to like Sigurdsson too, more than most here, but he isn't half the player James is, and it won't take long to see that. James is an elite talent. (And he is two years younger than Sigurdsson, who turns 31 next week.)

You seem to want to emphasize Siggy's numbers from 2 years ago, so okay, let's talk numbers. Courtesy of Transfermarkt.

Over the past three seasons, even with all the injuries and uncertainty and being in and out of lineups, Rodriguez has appeared in 81 games for Madrid and Bayern, playing 5055 minutes. He has 16 goals and 22 assists. That means he has been involved in a goal, either scoring or creating, every 133 minutes.

Over the same three seasons with Everton, Sigurdsson has appeared in 112 games, playing 8845 minutes, producing 23 goals and 15 assists. He has been involved in a goal, scoring or assisting, every 233 minutes.

But even that number is deceptive because Sigurdsson has scored five goals off penalties (earned by others), so either from open play or free-kicks, he has scored only 18 goals. That takes his goal involvement down to one every 268 minutes -- more than double James' number of 133. (James hasn't taken a penalty in the past 3 years.)

So assuming they're both healthy, based on 3 years of past performance, we should expect that even this off-form version of James will produce twice the offense that Sigurdsson will in equivalent minutes.

And if Carlo can get him back anywhere close to his former best... oh, my.

I don't disagree with your general opinion but there's a lot less goals to be involved in at Everton than there is at Real Madrid and Barcelona.

There's also the problem that your projection is ‘assuming both are healthy'. Sigurdsson has James beaten all ends up when it comes to actually being fit enough to get on a football pitch.

I've been a big fan of Sigurdsson all his career and I'm pretty gutted the way it's turned out at Everton. My one last hope is that he can finally get some form for us with better players around him.

I'd take him every day of the week over headless chickens like Walcott and Iwobi, that's for sure.

I know Calvert-Lewin has his share of doubters on here, but the fact is, the guy scored 13 goals this past season. With better, more consistent service from our midfield, I would expect 15 goals to be a realistic expectation. Are we really going to go out and splash £50 million on a guy who *might* score 3 or 4 more for us?

And that's best case scenario, incidentally. West Ham spent £45 million on Haller last year and most people thought they'd pulled off a major coup. He scored 7 goals for them.

What if Arsenal offered to sell us Lacazette? A very good striker, but he's basically averaged 12 goals a season for them over the last 3 years. £30 million could just as easily net us another Cenk Tosun, because that's the sort of pond you're fishing in for £30 million.

Calvert-Lewin certainly has his issues and needs to keep improving, but having someone young and cheap, who can hit double figures, is an asset. We shouldn't be so quick to take him for granted.

That said, we're both gonna look pretty dumb if Richarlison picks up a long-term injury. So I wouldn't mind if we added an older guy like a Costa, Cavani or Higuain at a lower cost just to convert some of what Rodriguez will create.

Phil #101, you're certainly not wrong about the comparison between those clubs and Everton, but I don't recall a whole lot of really great Sigurdsson passes that weren't converted. Like you, I hope he stays and rejuvenates, but I don't think he'll be amenable to the bench, and I don't think Marcel will want to pay £100,000/week to a reserve. So, if he can't maintain a place in the starting 11, I'm pretty sure he'll go.

How about Suarez? That would send the RS fans wild.

Sorry Mike, I meant Real Madrid and Bayern Munich... not Barcelona.

Yeah, he definitely didn't create enough. That's been a massive problem for us for way too long. I'm staying optimistic because I've seen Sigurdsson has quality. We just don't see it nearly enough. I can't help but like the guy for some reason. I just want him to come good.

Over that 3-year period, the teams James played for averaged a goal every 38 minutes. We averaged a goal every 72 minutes.

So, using logic similar to yours, if Gylfi had been playing in those teams which scored almost twice as many goals as us, he would probably have been involved in twice as many goals.

So, considering your stats show he was involved in half the amount of goals as James, I believe – once you double his output to account for the respective teams they were playing for – the only logical conclusion is that they are almost exactly equal!

I think.

Note: I am not a fully qualified statistician.

You could argue the opposite though. Maybe James's team had twice as many goals because of James specifically. Maybe if he hadn't played then their goal ratio would have been only half as good. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with you or Mike but just playing Devil's Advocate with the stats...

Delph can go from the midfield, doesn't contribute anything. Wouldn't mind giving Davies a good loan but he's also an adequate back-up squad player.

Sigurdsson, I'm in the minority but I think he's worth keeping unless a good offer comes in. Fantastic option from the bench if we're ever 2-0 up with 20 mins left. He's more than capable of coming on and bagging a few late goals or shoring up things. James's injury record is a bit of a worry too.

Still worried there's not enough pace in the side though so being totally greedy, Zouma, Arias and Zaha would top things off just nicely for me.

And it's not like I have any extras to spare. Thanks, boys.

I wasn't the one who compared Gomes and Sigurdsson, and I never said McCarthy was the great player 'guy'.

As I say, we are all entitled to our opinion on this site; as for being offensive, try having a bit of decency, and call me by my first name, #97 Ring.

It's funny that you should use the expression that you would like to slash his tyres as the analogy that I think about Gomes when he's not up to speed is that he's like a Saturday Night Taxi Driver that gets there long after the girl you are hoping to meet has been and gone.

That's why I keep harping back to him needing to be close to peak fitness. When he was at Valencia and last Spring under Silva I don't remember him being this defensive liability we all perceive him to be. I know the stats boys may say I'm talking utter shite but it's just something I've always thought.

When André is super fit he gets about the pitch brilliantly almost in second gear and seems to read the game wonderfully well, positionally excellent and finds the game so easy to him as he is always in control both defensively and offensively. He is not the speediest over 5 yards but covers the ground at that one pace which he seems able to maintain.

When he is missing that 10% it's almost like he knows he's a good player and can't make the adjustments to stop him from becoming destructive to the team. When the likes of Schneiderlin or Delph play they don't get in more advanced positions to seek the ball as they know they can't get back so they offer nothing progressive or destructive hence a neutral effect.

When André is good he seems to be a real positive offensively while defensively really sound. When he struggles for fitness he offers nothing going forward and becomes a nightmare defensively because he still takes up those positions where he is too slow to get back.

Personally I don't feel he is the terrible tackler he is made out. When he is in his box or goal side he very rarely gets done or gives cheap fouls in that scenario like a headless chicken. These constant stupid fouls seem to be about recovery where he is wrong side and has to barge into the back of his opponent or attempt to stick out a leg because he knows he can't let him go unchallenged either. The issue seems more positional to me and having the speed to recover than being a dodgy tackler.

I think with the options Carlo will have he should not be playing Gomes unless fit and sharp. I just hope he shows the ruthlessness that someone like Arteta clearly displays.

Besides, I would like to add that most of last season, Sigurdsson had to step in to solve the role of holding midfielder as Carlo seemed to trust him better for that than Tom Davies while the others are out due to injuries. This gap will now hopefully be met with Allan and Doucouré.

So, as for the comparison, I really doubt that you can use James for solving such problems in a team as Gylfi can, despite it not being his prime situation of course. Also this affects the stats of Gylfi playing so much out of position.

Finally we must also consider that Gylfi has a unique physique as he is almost never injured and can play more minutes for the team than most players can – James is no match with Gylfi in that regard!

Delph may be kept as he can play left-back which is cover we need if Digne gets injured.

I can see us trying to sell Bernard. I love watching him play but the lad just hasn't got the end product.

Bolasie, Besic and Sandro will be the main ones trying to be sold in my opinion. The huge issue is their wages. No team will be risking a transfer fee on players who haven't produced in years and also pay large wages. It comes down to these players being okay taking a huge pay cut.

FFP is a weird one – especially with the money we've lost due to coronavirus. With the three players being brought in, I believe we're massively unbalanced and need to sell to balance the books unless all the payments are being paid over numerous years and then there's still the wages issue.

We still need another winger and right-back depending on where James fits in but, until we get rid of 4-5 players, I don't think we'll see any incomings bar a loan.

It's true to say Gomes has been inconsistent but he has had flashes now and again. Whereas Sigurdsson has just been non-existent, full stop.

Personally I hope Sigurdsson is gone sooner rather than later but that, of course, will be the manager's decision to make.

Sigurdsson was poor last season and I see no reason he will improve this coming season. Unless you count hiding on the pitch and waving your arms around as a quality.

"He creates nothing and his so-called dead-ball expertise has been non-existent."

Didn't Sigurdsson get an assist from a corner, then score from two set-pieces in the recent draw against Blackpool?

Yes Mike, it is a long-held opinion because it's true, despite your hero-worship of the player.

Sigurdsson was crap last season though and was poor so often and is poor in open play due to his 'hiding' and relative lack of pace.

Whilst I have some sympathy for Gylfi for being asked to play out of position as he often has, that does not make him a £40M player either. Annika may not like the player but that does not make your opinion any more correct, we are all entitled to our opinions because they are exactly that, just opinions.

Gylfi did do relatively well in the season prior to last but nothing alters the fact that he is clearly a signing that we should not have made.

And yes, Gomes has been crippled of not having good enough players around him in midfield. We seriously have not had a single other midfielder with good passing ability except for Gomes since he came to the club.

Gana Gueye could not pass the ball, Davis not good enough, Sigurdsson not a midfielder etc. The only forward diestributor has been Gomes and that had made it easy for opponents to target him to cripple our game. And that has happened a lot. Hopefully he is now almost fully recovered after the horrible injury.

With better offensive possibilities in the midfield Gomes will have more space, which will most likely we be very good for both him and our team. I don't care about his wages. We need to keep him.

About the rest of the midfield lot, I am not sure of who to keep. Gordon of course, but the rest? I don't think we can let Walcott leave until we have another quick winger in the door. I think Walcott provides a glimpse of football quality. Bad days, yes... but, when his self-esteem is good, he can play well.

Davies and Iwobi have not been good enough. They are still relatively young but need to improve quickly if to keep.

Sigurdsson, even though he can pass the ball and take set pieces, it is difficult to play football when you don't run fast anymore.

Delph, is only a backup, and thats it.

Bolasie – I am not sure if he is as bad as many think. He looked good at Blackpool. But I guess we sell him. He is not top class but I don't know if Bernard is a better player.

Bernard – I don't know why he is underperforming. He must suffer from bad self-esteem or something since he can play football. He is just stuck somewhere, needs to improve.

Blackpool apart of course!!