Everton express interest in Brereton Diaz

Can someone please explain to me why in buggery we are not in for Brereton Diaz? He is similar to Calvert-Lewin, scoring goals on the International stage and has started the season well.

Nice just about to be rebuffed with their 㾶M offer, Brereton-Diaz plus a loan (Guirassy or the unit from Strasbourg) would represent solid target men options from the bench.

I'm surprised this one hasn't been mentioned long before now.

Far better option than some of the non-entity players we've been linked with like Guirassy, Batshuayi etc.

I've been watching Brereton Diaz over the past year and he looks like a player I think that could make the step up quite comfortably.

Would have made more sense to get this done when his contract expired in June.

Yeah baby, now you are talking. This would be a very astute signing, our best option by far from all the names mentioned (bar perhaps Ramos at Benfica). Good price, international player, pace, goals, hunger to step up.

I'm going to have my Steve Ferns Silva moment and say, if he came, he wouldn't just be back up to Calvert-Lewin, I suspect he would eventually put Calvert-Lewin to the bench.

The problem for me is that this entire squad minus Calvert-Lewin is capable of maybe 10 goals a season between them, with Calvert-Lewin adding 10-15 goals himself.

The strikers we seem to be getting linked with are not exactly prolific or are unknown. If we are looking at our strikers to score the vast majority of our goals, we need to be signing someone who will score at least 20 goals a season. This will never happen because we a) can't afford one and b) a 20-goal-a-season striker wouldn't come to Everton.

For me, we still need at least two attacking players, a ''Brereton Diaz'' who may get us 10 goals a season, and either an inside forward or an attacking midfielder who will get another 10 goals.

I'm not against this signing at all, but it still won't be enough firepower on its own in my opinion.

Steve

I actually think this is Calvert-Lewin's last season at Everton, I reckon he knows it and I reckon the club know it too.

If he hadn't been injured the past 12 months, then we'd have probably been looking at taking a good offer this summer for him.

Brereton Diaz is the type of striker we should be going after, not ones that are on a downward trajectory in their career.

Years ago, it was quite common for top clubs to pluck hidden gems from the lower leagues and know there are 1- 2 examples of successful transitions today, but so many fail. Such is the scouting network these days, players of top drawer quality are recognised long before their 23rd birthday.

If we keep rescuing players like this and McNeil from the Championship whilst selling proven Premier League class (Richarlison and Gordon), we will inevitably end up there ourselves.

I realise beggars can't be choosers and that we have to roll the dice, but every time I watch this guy, I can't help thinking of Jermaine Beckford.

Sean

Very few clubs apart from the Premier League elite have strikers that score 20 goals a season now.

Unlike the 1990s, when it was a common theme to see most top half clubs have a striker bag 25 goals, these days clubs have five or six players that score about 10 goals each.

Our trouble started when we failed to replace midfielders and wingers that could chip in with about 7/10 goals.

Still never replaced the likes of Cahill, Osman, Naismith or dare I say Sigurdsson.

You won't get more than about 10 between the entirity of our current midfield.

Sean @4, I think Brereton Diaz could score more than 10 a season for us actually. He is also good in the air. I have kept a close eye on him for a few years.

Jim @5, I agree mate, not sure what the issue is but if he can get a good season behind him hopefully all boxes can be ticked by him getting his alleged wish to leave and us some good coin. I fear however the boy's body is breaking down and we have lost the chance to cash in when at peak value. Always the risk.

As Rob, Sam and Tommy et al frequently point out, there are lots of options abroad for better value.

I know nothing about this fella, but Robert's comment @2 pretty much sums up my thinking.

If we had any interest in this player, why are we doing the business now (if we are – it may well be just more paper talk) and not in June? Either he's just come onto our radar, which seems unlikely, or he's 27th choice in a long and winding list of targets we ain't managed to get over the line.

I really hope we sign him, if he's as good as a couple of people on here say he is, because he is the right profile. But, whatever happens, this – with the comedy that is the Dele situation, and the disruptive uncertainty of the Gordon situation – does not exactly indicate competence at the highest level of our club.

Simply a lot better than the other load of crap we have been looking at.

I quite like though it's interesting to me that people seem so much keener on him than Maupay.

Last season, Brereton Diaz scored 22 goals in 40 appearances. A few seasons back, Maupay scored 25 in 43 appearances for Brentford (though Brereton Diaz had a fair few less minutes).

Both would probably cost around the 㾻M mark and I reckon both would probably get us between 10-12 goals which is probably okay considering both tend to play from a little out wide.

I'm not sure either would be the 'central striker' and I expect us to bring in two players in the next few weeks. Possibly a ball carrier (Maupay, Adams or Brereton Diaz) and then a more focal point (Broja, Ajorque, Guirassy.

Another day, another suspect. I would be pleased to get this guy but with Rovers starting so well and obviously having ambition to get back to the Premier League, it'll be very costly to bring him here.

Investment in Brereton Diaz could make sense. He's 23 and is becoming more prolific as a goalscorer as he is just entering his prime years. This upward curve in form may have a year or two more to run. I think he will be a good addition who will get goals and also a good chance of increasing in value.

It's a gamble making the step up, some struggle whilst others thrive with the better service they get. Brereton Diaz has done quite well for Columbia when called upon so I think this is good experience and I am tentatively confident he will fall into the category of players that will handle the premier league.

Blackburn sensibly activated the one year extension option on the his contract. But with that ending in June 2023 they will be looking for a sale I think. At the 10-15m level I'd say Ben Brereton Diaz Is a good opportunity to get some goals and options into our drought hit forward line. Not as a silver bullet signing but a solid improvement one . I think we need at least one more too , probably two more if Dele and Gordon are leaving.

Frank, Kevin, go and get him this afternoon, start him on Saturday.

I think we should sign him, now that he's big.

If we could afford and persuade him, I would try to get Tammy Abraham. Imagine how exciting it would be for our wingers.

And this guy is a substantial upgrade on Ellis Simms??

Everton need to do the business slick as, if they are going for a last-minute bargain and a top prospect, I doubt it will happen.

This Saturday brings back memories of better times for both clubs, but Forest have turned full cycle in under 12 months, from bottom of the Championship, to gaining promotion.

They showed enough v West Ham to cause Everton problems.

I've been away. What strikers did we buy?

Peter, 19, the same as the number of goals we have scored, none.

Tony, he's Chilean mate. Agree that it is likely to be a ballcarrier and a target man like Guirassy.

Thoughts on a Brereton Diaz?

There are reports of him being available for circa 㾶M.

This is a very good price for a player with decent international pedigree and a year of good performances in a very average Championship team.

He's started this season fit and on form.

What's up with the lad at Norwich, Pukki?

Thanks, Steve,

At least I got the continent right!

I'm glad that Everton are apparently interested in Bereton Diaz, after missing out on Cornet I hope we get him before Leeds or West Ham do.

Ray 22

I think Pukki would have been a decent backup striker too; he is 32, however, so I doubt we'll go in for him and unlikely Norwich would sell cheap.

I would like to see us with some alternative up front rather than the fabled traditional target man.

I'd love us to see us with a little pocket dynamo now and then, a Tomasz Radzinski type signing for example.

Looking at a striker, 10 weeks too late.

Get the transfer business done and let's get on with the season.

I've been banging on about Brereton all summer long. 22 goals last season and has 2 in 2 in this campaign.

Seville offered 㾻M for him but the Venky's want 㿀M so Nice will also be shown the door.

If the very underwhelming Borja is being touted for 㿊M deals for Brereton and Bristol's Semenyo for a combined 㿊 - 㿏M make far more sense to me.

Steve #21 That's very true but he's homegrown, born and raised in Stoke... and you know how fond we are of ex Stoke lads.

If it comes down to the wire and we don't get Gueye and Gordon is sold before we can use the money for strikers would we expect Frank to walk?

But if we don't have any strikers we won't score any goals?

And if we don't score any goals we won't win any games?

And if we don't win any games we will be relegated.

From the Southampton fella to Broja to Diaz and so on. We really are treated like gobshites by the press, by agents, by the Premier League etc.

Pray the day this Super League happens…

Brian,

We are treated like that, because that's what we have become. A laughing stock.

Ian @27,

Ha, yes, of course, I don't think he comes across as very Chilean with that accent. I recall reading a story online about it, just found it:

Ben Brereton Diaz's life was changed forever after revealing he had a Chilean mother in Blackburn's programme... now 'Gringo' is a South American idol dreaming of the World Cup, but faces a nail-biting wait as he watches his country play Ecuador

Get it done, Thelwell, for fuck's sake... we need him for our next match.

I'm sure I read that Brereton Díaz was a free agent after the end of last season and has only recently signed a new contract, if I'm right surely it was wiser and cheaper to sign him then rather than now.

Dave @740,

I think I saw somewhere that they triggered a one-year extension in June.

But you do wonder why we didn't move for him a lot earlier if we really wanted him.

Michael,

Yes you are correct, Blackburn triggered a 1-year extension in the close season.

I wonder if they extended that contract at the same time or is this season his last at Blackburn which could reduce Blackburn's asking price?

It's a yes from me. As indicated previously so much better than some of the other players touted.

Get the deal done pronto so he can start against Forest where he seems to have started his trade.

What not to like a forward with a beard like Bob Latchford and when he has a shave he will score 30 goals.

Why not. It's a gamble no matter what but sometimes you get lucky.

Everton have crapped out with so many gambles over the last few seasons with players coming in who have been out of favor with the clubs they were at and then flopping here.

Everton need a lift especially with players getting crocked almost every game. Some of these may be in their last season with the Blues.

I haven't seen enough of this lad to form a view but would just like to make the point that, having sold Richarlison, we need two goalscorers – not one.

We are rapidly turning into Brighton of a few seasons ago. Play good football but can't score goals.

We need 50 goals a season. 5 may come from the defenders, I would normally expect at least 10 from midfield but currently zero, that leaves 35 for up front. Anyone want to send for Tom Cruise?

I tell you what, Jay, I think we actually need more like 60 goals a season.

Very rarely do we score enough goals, it's always the 40's or early 50's.

Last season, we scored 43 I believe, and very nearly got relegated.

We aren't really the kind of team either that keeps many clean sheets, maybe 10/12 tops so that puts an added pressure on the need for more potency.

Arnautovic

I have a friend who is a Rovers supporter and he is surprised that they still have Diaz, He expected him to have been bought by a "bigger club" by now.

Jim, it is frightening when you think we've added McNeill to Iwobi, Gordon and Gray who couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo between them.

I hope I eat my words but why the hell we wasted 㿀M on McNeill instead of putting everything we had into getting a top goalscorer makes you wonder what goes through their heads..

Pointless talk, if it's true that any purchase will be back to Calvert-Lewin, who's fundamentally unreliable.

What striker who's actually worth anything is going to want to come in as an understudy at a low-rent, small-time club like ours?

Eddie @ 15. Unfortunately I'd be amazed if we could afford Tammy Abraham and, even if we could, I'd be amazed if he would be remotely interested. He's onto a good thing with Roma.

Good call from the other thread Steve. I think that was you and in the fine TW tradition I'm not looking it up. UTFT! Something!!

This is the first name I've read in recent weeks that at least hasn't turned my stomach.
If only we'd had access to a striker who could score regularly in the Championship - like 3 in the first 2 games and maybe more this evening!
Absolutely criminal of the club to let our young reserves go out on loan with absolutely no cover in place for DCL - there's no way I'm counting Rondon who is the least athletic Everton player since Big Nev's final days.

Anyone who reads my posts wil know I'm a fan of this guy and was Cornet too. I'm surprised he's still at Rovers also. I want this signing to happen.

Its so frustrating when you think that Sigurdsson cost 45million and again he cost more than Liverpool paid for Sadio Mane. What a way to fun a professional football club!

Looks like Aouar will be ready in time to face us. Forest did well to get that one for 15m if that was correct. I'll be surprised if he is at Forest for long.

Joe 51 - Yes, McNeil over Cornet is a strange one too.

This has the look of good business for me. He's on an upward curve unlike some of the people we've been linked with. I have only seen a couple of his clips but he has desire and workrate. Last season his best yet. 15m would be ideal.

He has the profile of young hungry lad, looking to further his career without a heavy pice tag this would good.

As I've said previously we don't need back up for dcl, we need competition for him.
At the moment dcl knows no matter what form he's in, he's in the team, that's not good for motivation for him and defo not for the team.
When's the last time we could play 2 up front if needed ?
Good business for me this.

Ed#53
It might have been the case, that Cornet wasn't interested in coming to us. And judging by the last two seasons, he probably thought West Ham was a better proposition

Joe 51 agree
The barcodes seem to be taking their time to splash the cash. Maybe they have seen how not to go about it with us.
The way the money was wasted is sickening.
30 odd mil for onana. 20 year old Belgium International shows hopefully we are turning a corner.
McNeil, Patterson, myko, onana these players bought for fraction of what brands & Walsh were bringing for massive fees, they are younger with potential sell on value.

Before Richarlisons sale, I don't think we got a decent fee for any players we sold in last 4 years, Apart form digne. That's why we in such bad financial shape, not what we were buying but getting nothing when selling.

It's like running a shop buying the sweets for 10p and selling for 5p.
Not rocket science

Some links to Sarr today. A player I used to like but feel he's stalled somewhat over last season or so. Think I'd prefer Joao Pedro from Watford.

Thought we'd have got a striker this week. Something is slowing it down. Smells to me that our number one deal is a complicated one, which makes me think it could well be Broja (Chelsea waiting for Aubemeyang potentially).

I do like Broja. Overpriced perhaps but could grow into a genuine top class 9, of which there aren't many around.

If we get Gueye, Brereton-Diaz and Broja in over the next 2 weeks along with another talent if Gordon leaves (maybe Hudson-Odoi on loan) then we should have some decent options.

There's some nonsense on Twitter linking us to Gabriel Barbosa. I love this quote about him from Tim Vickery:

“He's 25 already, he had one go already in Europe with Inter Milan and Benfica, and it was an absolute disaster. People spoke very badly of him, if he was chocolate he would eat himself, he swanned around like he was Pretty Boy Floyd."

Sign him!

Some joker on twitter saying we've just landed Gabigol on a free, I thought it was serious for a minute. Feeling a little crushed now.

Sam @ 57, we can't have any more than 2 loans from other English PL clubs. We already have 2 players on loan and so Hudson-Odoi is a non starter

Mark # 60. Who's the two? We paid for McNeil, Tarkowski was a free, so only Coady is on a loan. Onana was also bought.

URGENT - Mr Lampard and Mr Thelwell.

Please get cracking on Brereton Diaz who seems a very reasonable choice at about the EFC price limit. We aren't asking for too much are we? And by the way we just don't need a striker to fill in for DCL, we need a striker who is going to score goals and provide competition for him as well. As DCL has proved, unexpected injuries happen all the time and unless some sort of miracle happens we don't have any strikers because they are all out on loan until the end of the season when it will be too late for us. I have ignored Rondon for obvious reasons.

Just remembered, we've got Vinagre on loan, but he came from Sporting Lisbon. So that still means we only have one on loan from an English premier league club.

Until recently I hardly knew anything about this lad but I've been scouring the different websites and forums and they all seem to agree that he's a really good prospect.

So Billy boy, I know you read TW so get your finger out of your arse and get this kid in before it's too late. Your dithering cost us Kyle Walker, Dele Ali (MK Dons) James Maddison, Riquelme Moutinho and Manuel Fernandes amongst others.

Blackburn allegedly turned down a bid from Nice of £10mill today,

Well it's almost Thursday and since our patched up squad rolled out last week end we have achieved the following:

Docuoure got injured

Mina's expected return date was extended

Kenwright has tried to turn the fans on AG by leaking he won't sign

Kenwright has agreed to let us get Joseph Yobo'ed again in Turkey

Great week from the best run club.

Mark@60

As Rob has already pointed out, we only have Coady on loan from the PL so could loan another.

I highly suspect we'll make use of that other loan and that Chelsea may be the club we loan from (Pulisic, Broja, Gilmour, Hudson-Odoi, Ampadu or Batshuayi etc).

My lad reckons were signing a Brazilian from Flamengo called Barbosa, don't know if anyone else has heard. A striker apparently. Probably more nonsense from Twitter and Instagram.

Andy, more chance of signing Captain Barbosa from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Fake news about this Barbosa character. As I thought it would be.

Andy M Not sure about Barbosa but Jane Fonda's Barbarella would get most people out of their seats.

Dale @51

Just call me Mystic Meg, pal! Weird I called it now it seems we are in for him. As mentioned I really want this one to happen, or Broja. Something has to happen tomorrow, FFS.

Blackburn hammered by Reading 3-0 tonight, and Brereton Diaz was dragged off with less than 10 minutes to go.

Obviously means Sweet FA, but hey, one can hope he was dragged off to prevent a late injury which could scupper any transfer.

Sam 59.

I agree with you 100%. Joao Pedro is exactly the type of player we should invest in. The lad is an enhanced version of Gordon but with pace, power and goals.

Also, as many on TW have pointed out, we need 2 strikers, not 1. Rondon doesn't count!

I do hope this one is true and we can pull this off quickly. And preferably one more striker after as we can't rely on Rondon or Calvert-Lewin.

The cynic in me, though, says this is Everton and we will probably go into the Forest game with no new striker, playing Gordon up front again, with Rondon on the bench. And Davies coming in for Doucoure!

He's no more than a championship player.

Would have been better off keeping Elis Simms at the club and giving him a run.

More money down the drain... Glug, glug, glug.

John #78,

I think I agree with you on this one. 1 in 4 at that level!! But what other options do we have?

Two weeks gone and my pre-season optimism has turned to same old Everton blues.

John G @ 78. I wholeheartedly concur. Is Brereton really 㾻 million a better player than Simms? Not based on scoring record.

I watched Simms last night and his hold-up play and distribution has improved considerably. He is already miles better than Rondon and has an eye for goal. Shipping him out on loan so early when he could have been given a chance to prove himself was an error, in my opinion.

If he failed then we could have loaned him out at the end of the month to get more experience, instead of persisting with playing Gordon out of position or using the Michelin Man or Mr Puft as our main striking threat and costing us precious points in the process.

John (80), Re Simms, did he get injured or was he substituted last night?

Simms debut. Could have had a hat-trick:

Link

And another against QPR:

Link

John @80 completely agree. Staggering incompetence on behalf of the club.

I know Simms isn't ready for the Premier League yet but he could have got a few games experience in already and then loaned on ehe final day of the window once we got a striker in.

Or we could have kept him once getting in another striker, with Calvert-Lewin out it was an opportunity for him to get that valuable experience. I really like him and think he will be our 3rd choice 1st team striker next season after scoring 15-20 for Sunderland this season.

I know it's all about opinion, but I simply don't understand the desire to bring in players who are not even good enough to have played top fight football.

Many are urging the club to "snatch Chelsea's hand off" and sell Gordon. Yet the desire to bring in a guy who has had one decent season in a lower league is taking on the form of a stampede.

Why on earth do people believe other clubs' players are automatically better than ours? Is it because they get to see their highlights and are taken in?

Keane, Holgate, Calvert-Lewin and Davies must have played approaching a thousand games for this club. They can't be accused of being a manager's favourite because they have been asked to do it by half a dozen managers. Some of the most renowned names in the game.

Yet they (along with a few others) are often described as "Championship at best" by people who can't wait to get rid of them.

None of the above players will get us where we need to be, but they need to be replaced by better players. Why on earth would we even think of spending part of the money we may get for Gordon on a 23-year-old who has never attracted so much as a second glance from a Premier League team?

Yes, he looks decent against the journeyman centre-halves of the Championship, but he won't just think he Is playing at another level when he faces the likes of Koulibaly and Van Dijk. He'll think he's playing a different sport.

Yes. Let's get rid of these players who can only ensure mid to low Premier League finishes, but let's replace them with better players. Not with players who have never even been invited to compete against the sort of quality they have faced for years.

Dave, managers and scouts are tasked with assessing players and deeming whether they're able to play on the relevant league.

From how I read your post, no player can be deemed fit to play in the Premier League until… well until they've shown they can play in the Premier League.

Dave @85 you make some good points. I think that some are just fed up with some of the distinctly average players you referred to who have been with us for some time. I agree Brereton Diaz (off the back of one good season in the Championship and some good performances for Chile) might not sound a fantastic proposition to some. However, he has been highly rated for a number of years.

I also think that sometimes it's not about the individuals but the team. Frank et al are trying to put together a team, with an actual plan. As far as I can see (from evidence in the first two games) ,that team is an Onana, a Gana Gueye, a Gibbs-White type of player and someone who can stick it in the net away from potentially being a decent side with a strong core.

Let's try not to look at one signing who doesn't meet our initial expectations and think about how they can knit us as a team.

Dave @ 81.

He wasn't injured, it was a tactical substitution because of a Sunderland player getting stupidly sent off in the first half.

Because they play two up front, one of the strikers had to be sacrificed and he opted to withdraw Simms over his established contracted striker. IMO, Simms posed the bigger threat though.

Dave @85

There are many players who have stepped up from the Championship to play in the Premier League, it's all about being given the chance.

We had Cahill, Lescott, Stones and Jagielka step up to play for us. There are many others who stepped up from lower leagues as well. Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, James's Maddison, Jarrod Bowen, Michael Antonio just to name a few.

Sometimes it's all about being given the opportunity. Remember even our soon-to-be departed Dele Alli started at MK Don's and he did well for a while, didn't he?

Haha, Shane, that's not what I meant. Although reading back, it is more or less what I said.

Perish the thought that players be blocked from making the step up to the Premier League because they didn't start there. That would be as bad as scrapping promotion and relegation

It's all about levels. I was decent enough to earn beer money as a youngster, but when I tried to make a living in the game, nobody wanted to know. They were faster, stronger, more skilfull and they thought quicker at the next level. This happens all the way up the pyramid, but you are right. The door has to be left ajar for the exceptions.

The point I was trying to make is that we should consider the opposition before we big up other clubs' players. Just as we should consider the fact that our own "Championship at best" players have been competing in the toughest league in the world for years and they are still there.

When I consider how many world-class predators Michael Keane has faced down the years, I always find it difficult to accept people calling him a Championship player. He isn't the best center-half in the world, but he has spent the best part of a decade proving he can deny others from taking his place in the best league.

Steve

Agreed. Frank can't bring in top class individuals. He has to try to put together a group of players who can work as a unit.

John (88), thanks for that John, I never watched the game but knew that Simms had been substituted.

The joys of the internet and online scouts mean that we get opinions a plenty.

The reality is that nothing has changed.

A manager and his team will bring in the players they want based on what they want to achieve regardless of what we think.

Will they get it right first time of asking? Will it be to everyone's choosing? Likely no. Neville Southall aside, Howard Kendall's first attempt in 1981 was hardly as success and he had to go back to the drawing board.

It's down to the manager and his coaching staff, no matter how much of an opinion we have on it.

Nathan (90),

The list of players who have stepped up from the Championship or League One and failed to make much impact at Premier League level is much more exhaustive than the few who have gone on to reach the top of the game.

Reducing to it just “being given the chance” is wildly oversimplifying the risk, especially when a decent Championship prospect is likely to cost upwards of 㾻 million.

More names, more rumours, more contradictory reports. Does anybody out there know anything about what's going on?

Just over a week to go and do we have any idea as a club, of the players or strikers we are looking to sign?

Are we negotiating or manoeuvring with other clubs behind the scenes to get the best deal for these players? If so, what stage are they at?

What's happening with Gordon? Is he going or staying? Has an offer really been made? If so, was it cash only or cash plus players?

The media and indeed some of our own posters have linked us to more names than a school register but still we seem to be in an information black hole and time is fast running out.

Looks like we're heading for a final day panic buying frenzy. I hope I'm wrong and it all turns out to be part of an Everton “cunning plan” to keep the competition guessing, but I suspect I'm not.

Early days in the season as we know but if we don't get 2 decent strikers in pronto the damage may already be done.

Backs against the walls yet again... The fuckers at Everton do too much pissing around in the transfer market and always have done.

Everyone knew Richarlison would be leaving and still they farted around... Why?

What a joke of a club!

The last time we signed a centre forward from Blackburn Rovers it turned out quite well 😉

We need Broja, just 19 years old and already built like a brute, get him and DCL up top and get crosses into the box and we might have enough, anything less and we will be in big trouble.

Diaz and Maupay both look decent but if we can squeeze the extra funds Broja is a must.

Ant Dwyer #98 - Broja would actually be my first pick. He is very difficult to knock off the ball with a “professional foul”. He doesn't like to go down - prefers to keep going if he can. He can shoot from outside the box, is fast, 6'3” and 20??. Just what we need.

As a matter of fact if we can land him I would start feeling very optimistic about the future.

Laurie, do you mean Roy Vernon?

I must admit a bit before my time but my dad raved about him.

David @ 96, I agree.

Thelwell and the recruitment department have had a decent transfer window, but the failure to bring in an additional striker is negligence.

Lampard is heading into his 3rd league game without a fully fit striker.

BT, Laurie 98,99

He's 21 in a couple of weeks so still very young. He'd be a signing to get the juices flowing but at that age he still will be raw and has a lot of learning to do. I think it would be a bit of a coup if we could land him. What concerns me is that he is still is still in the development stage and will be inconsistent. What I like about him is that he has that single minded temperament. A beast who when on the pitch is hunting for the goal.

If Chelsea want Gordon then we shouldn't listen to any Barkley, Gilmour, Batshuiyi etc makeweights. It has to be Broja or Gallagher. If, as looks likely, Chelsea sign Aubameyang next week then I think we may have a big opportunity to sign Broja. I think this is why we are holding fire on signing any second choice strikers just at the moment.

Even that is not enough forward threat. We need at least one more too and another midfielder. Brereton-Diaz and James Garner (more of a tenacious, full of energy, DCM who can chip in with goals ). Alternative to Gana if PSG are still demanding the €9m fee? Even so Id rather have both and try to move on Gomes and Davies. Both are young players on the up and would be good squad additions. Both about 15m, whether we can afford that is debatable.

Tony (102) agree on James Garner. Speaking to a few mates who are United fans, they certainly don't want him sold and rate him highly. Fits our young and hungry profile to a T. Diaz would give us another option in attack, and clearly a better goalscoring record than Rondon. Ideally we need one more striker as well. Some rumours abound that we've been offered Arkadius Milik for £17m which would be excellent IF true.

Steve (87) Good post

Steve # 100 - I actually meant Fred Pickering who came in 1964 (56 goals in 97) appearances. Roy Vernon was however a great striker who also came from Blackburn Rovers (101 goals in 176 appearances).

Two very different types of striker but they both new were the onion bag was. Those were the days - perhaps a return of those days is coming soon.

Tony # 102 - agreed. Nevertheless “If there good enough they are old enough”.

I like James Garner,can't understand why we have not been linked with him.Good young player, skilful,lots of potential just the kind of player we should be going for,and at the right price.
That's probably why our management team won't go for him,doesn't fit their profile of an old,much travelled mercenary who can't get into his club side and we can get him on a four year contract for big bucks with no sell on value
After all,that's a tried and tested formula at Everton!

We are linked with him Stu...along with Spurs, Southampton and Forest..

I realise it may not mean anything, but friend of mine (follower of the men in white - Leeds) sent me a text that just said, Brereton Diaz to Leeds.

Easy reply Joe, just text back saying Brereton Diaz on Merseyside having medical at Finch Farm.

Talking of rumoured transfers, the red Echo reporting we have made contact with Brighton about possibly signing Leandro Trossard. Now this I do like. A player who is full of energy and knows where the net is.

Sky Sports News also saying the Kudus loan deal is still on. Get these two, plus Borja and maybe Conor Gallagher, and things will surely be looking up!

Rob, I was joking on the Maupay back and forth but yes oh yes we would take that footballer. A bit of fight in that one that I do like. If Kudus and he were on the pitch I doubt if we shoot blanks like we have.

Rob, before I do is this true?

Which part, joe? The rumour about Trossard is “True”, but the bit about Diaz I've made up. I cannot however, see anything about Diaz going to Leeds, but there are stories they are interested in him, same as us and one or two others.

Thanks for clearing up Rob, I meant Diaz. To be honest I'd take both.

Rob, I like Trossard too, into the last year of his contract so there maybe a deal to be done. Man U sniffing as well, so may not be straightforward if they are throwing money about.

It is going to be interesting as to who we pick, or perhaps who we just manage to coax in to Everton.

I like to think we will pick up 2 strikers (as per Sean Roe #5). But they need to be able to work together (click) so that they both score but both lay on scoring opportunities for each other.

Frank - really get your thinking cap on, mate!

If we could get Brereton Diaz from Blackburn, for me that would give Everton a good striker, whose got a lot of skill in his locker. Some good goals for Chile, and good with his feet and head and scores from outside the box.

Hopefully it's not going to be too much to get done in the next few days but the clock is running. But is any more business depending on a sale of Gordon to Chelsea?

Paul. Just imagine that. A player who has a go outside the box. Next stop san siro. I thought that was McNeil's strength!

Yeah Diaz would do us fine and even the ageing Gana is a step up in the middle. Centre halves dropping like flies maybe we might have to drop the big three idea at the back.

Colin, well said, and let's get The Blackburn striker, signed ASAP., in my view, he is a complete player and striker.

For me he is a footballer, based on my research, he is a potential great footballer, sublime positional sense in and outside the box, knows how to execute the killer shot, header or pass.

More offering, all around from any Everton player in the squads, and he has proved this ability.

Now the grease skins like Villa and Brighton, are in, it's time to call this out,

If Everton don't do business in these last hours of this window, for, Strikers, to be brought in, then, it's neglect of duty, by the Everton board, in my view.

I stand by my views and it doesn't, help Everton supporters, if the club has to operate in radio silence?

But is any business potential, in terms of signings, incoming to Everton, depending on an AG, move to Chelsea?

No, business would expose it's on field potential, and Opex & Capex, in such view, but this season, Evertons board, must scope up, and help Frank Lampard and his team, now.

Hours to go, and the whole project is being risked, - BMD and commercial viability, as prevention, is better than the cure.

This season, is going to be long and as tough, as ever, as it stands right now.

By the end of 09/2022, this season could be a relegation dog fight.

It's early in this season, but a massive week, for Evertonians and EFC.

Let's get the win at Leeds.

UTFT!

Sign Diaz, for me, is any easy say, but for me, he is a great prospect, and has done the grind rounds in his early years in the UK, started at United and has proved a point.

Instant hit and is a footballer that's up front for Everton, have not had since Rom, but has a great first touch.