Hopes that Dobbin will stay with Everton

That's the first good news we have had for months. Congratulations, Les, hope you have a great career at Everton.

Amazing that this should happen right in the eye of this current storm. Let's hope it all gets signed.

Pleased if this finally happens. I really like the lad's style of football.

They will probably forget to give him the contract to sign, like they did with Gosling.

Let's hope he does sign, one of the brighter prospects that we've had for a while.

I am pleased that they've found a compromise. Dobbin is a live wire, full of energy and direct. He's a handful for defenders. I'm looking now to see if he can continue to develop and eventually get into the first team as a possible starter like Gordon has done. He's a player with pace and determination that will be useful on our bench as an option later in games.

Will be really glad if he signs a new contract he has the potential to be a very good player for the Blues and his signing might give a nudge to any other young player having doubts about signing a new deal with our club.

I hope this happens. From what I've seen, he can be a good player for us. Energetic and lively, he particularly looked good when he came on against Chelsea.

I've seen him play wide in the cameo against Norwich and more central / up front, but as I've said before, I can see a potential number 10 in him. That's purely going off instinct; I'd have to watch him a bit more to make a solid judgement.

Now let's get Warrington closer to the first team.

Let's hope the lad signs, a genuine prospect with heart, desire and skill.

The vultures from other clubs will be using the prevailing turmoil to try and lure away all Everton's best players.

Great news if true. He is a fantastic talent.

Some good news finally. This crop in the U23s and U18s looks to have a bit of talent. Let's hope some of them go on to make an impression in the first team.

Anthony Gordon has been much improved recently and seeing young lads like that make a positive impression on a game gives the crowd a big boost.

Everton academy product Lewis Dobbin has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract at the club, The Athletic understands.

There had been fears that 19-year-old striker Dobbin would follow the lead of other promising youth players, like Thierry Small and Mohamed-Ali Cho, in leaving Goodison Park.

The Athletic understands that Everton chairman Bill Kenwright led talks in recent weeks in the absence of a footballing structure.

This would be a glimmer of hope in what is currently a total car crash of a club. I hope that he gets to work with a decent young manager.

We can but hope.

Brands's legacy? The restructuring of the academy and pushing younger players higher up the food chain?

Barry (12),

Who writes for the Athletic? If they think Kenwright has been involved in the talks to keep Dobbin here, they must be listening to Billy Boy or one of his nodding dogs. As you know Dobbin and his advisors have been holding on signing since last summer. Benitez couldn't believe that the lad hadn't yet signed for the club, this was only a couple of months ago. He was the one who started the ball rolling to get the lad to sign along with Emilio Lawrence another young lad.

Kenwright is in London most of the week so although I don't know who has made the breakthrough in these talks I can only surmise that Kenwright has come in at the very end to put the finishing touch, hopefully, to Dobbin signing.

I would think that Benitez was the man who started the initial talks to get the lad to sign – and also Lawrence, if he eventually signs for The Blues. Kenwright will always accept the plaudits, even if they are not true but will never admit to the many lies he has told.