Free agent Isco on Everton's radar

W.T.F... Again and Again, has beens. this board ain't gotta clue.

Echo's of Gazza and Ginola with this one. Not surprising though cos we have a lot of similarities with that Walter Smith side.

I hate to say it but I'd take a punt on him if he'd accept a 4 month deal. That's because he's an extra body we're short on creative players and he might find the odd moment of brilliance that could win us a game.

if he's stinking the place out no wonder Farhad is on high alert.

IF we can get a reasonable deal AND Dyche agrees this could be worth a punt.
The guy has genuine quality and IF engaged would improve most teams. Whether he's up for a relegation scrap is down to the manager's judgement of course.

Despite a high Football IQ with great creativity & vision on the field at his best days, Isco is a luxury player who needs teammates around him running their socks off for cuts to be effective at attacks and track-back at defending: his injuries have taken away the pace that he never has and he is never high on workrate.

He is very much like a Poor Man's version of James Rodriguez and a Deli Alli replica. His time at Sevilla was very similar to the one Deli is having at Turkey: under heavy fan criticisms on a lack of workrate and sacrifices for the team.

If that is the case, he is definitely not someone who can contribute at the trenches for us, IMHO.

Give ISCO four months!

Seville therefore presumably have passing sideways or backwards, never shooting, and lack of pace/joined-up-thinking at the top of their business model.

Christ on a bike, when will we all, as fans, realise that in the worldwide entity that is professional football we have for decades been regarded as useless in terms of success or career enhancement to ANY aspiring player, all of them recognising the enormous uselessness of Kenwright way before Carragher last week spelt it out?

On the contrary, we only attract "personalities" hugely delighted to sign fabulous contacts devoid of attribution for their own non-performance.

With Moshiri in so-called charge, expect more of the same.

Isco has not played since 13th November 2023. Do we have time to get him up to speed for the EPL and 18 cup finals. I very much doubt it.

He, like Deli Ali, appears to have lost his enthusiasm for the game but not the money ! He would be a very risky high cost player to sign.

Stats for 22/23 are 19 games, 1 goal and 3 assists. Played 90 minutes 5 times.

He's a Harry Winks. Looks better cause his team mates were good. His stats are fairly shite and Madrid have been trying to offload him for years. May as well sign Jack Wilshere

Iscoing to be another has been disaster.

I don't want to irk Michael Kenrick by posting Fake news but if Twitter can be believed, Everton had to raise 35 million this window to satisfy FFP. Also, it's all over Twitter and Reddit but no mention on here so far but allegedly Gordon was acting up in training and incurred a punch from someone whose name rhymes with Toady. No idea if it's true but some fellow who has twice as many followers as the legendary El Bobble has been hawking it as well as others. I'm not sure Coady has been playing so well he can punch his team mates but this is the rumor, allegedly

Kieran #11, that's why I think the Gordon money went the way of the Artera money and we were not going to sign anyone.

Fighting in the ranks? Can it go any lower?

Interesting point of the FFP requirements in the January transfer window Kieran.

If we had to bank £35 million of the transfer fee, it explains why we were only chasing loans with an option to buy. The Athletic published an article yesterday showing the Premier League Sustainability Index - and we are now 2nd!

Clearing players wages from the salary bill and bringing in £100 million for Richarlison and Gordon has helped our financial position, but what a gamble when relegation could be the outcome!

I can't say I know too much about this player.

We need players and failed (or couldn't) purchase any.

On one hand it smacks of desperation. Forget Aldi, we are now shopping at Netto.

But we once signed a player who failed to make the grade at Arsenal and was shipped out to Turkey by Arsenal. He came to us on loan almost 30 years old. Hardly prolific but scored a winner at Anfield was signed permanently going onto become a bit of a cult figure to some (not me by the way).

Kevin Campbell was a decent striker, not the best, who scored important goals in a struggling team. I wouldn't turn my nose up at anyone who can potentially lift the team and the squad.

Good and interesting post Kieran.

But pet hate and being as pedantic as Michael calling out my grammatical errors, we are not subject to FFP. That is a UEFA thing for teams involved in European competition.

It's probably one of the same, but we are subject to the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules, hence the reports that the club have for a while now been in consultation with the English Premier League.

Either way, it was obvious we needed to balance the books and the owner can't or won't invest further as he looks for the exit door hoping that he can keep the ship sailing to get a return for hisinvestment..

At least we could sing "Burn Baby Burn, ISCO Inferno"

Danny@15. Nothing wrong with Netto, mate!!

His agent is Mendes so probably Wolves bound. There's a pattern in his career of reported deals falling through as after agreeing terms he's asked for more dosh. At different times Chelsea, Barcelona and same with the latest Union Berlin move.

Nothing wrong with signing a 30 year old with appetite for the fight and some experience and talent to lend to the cause.

But Isco is not that 30 year old. Overweight and overpaid he's a player who had real talent but hasn't really looked on it for 4 or 5 years now.

Would be terribly suited to Dyche's Everton which will presumably be built upon hard work and strong team ethic.

Would be a bizarre and illogical signing. So he's probably on his way.

I don't know about Aldi and Netto, I'd say we were in the queue at the food bank. Trying to get free stuff that someone else doesn't want and has dumped in a basket outside a charity shop.

Actually, no I'm quite wrong. You don't get stuff at a food bank which is past its sell-by date.

Some truly amazing comments on this thread from some posters who were all over the signing of James Rodriguez. In terms of both performance and injury record this guy was streets ahead of the Colombian pre Everton moves.

Only the last two seasons has he struggled to play 20 games as opposed to James who barely played 20 games. He has also been a vital cog for Madrid throughout his career while James was fits and starts.

If Dyche can get this one over the line I would guess he would play a 4-4-1-1 and allow Isco to play further up the pitch as Pelligrini had him in his early career and would be quite natural to him. For four months and the predicament we are in he would give the whole club a lift.

Our front players excluding Dominic consist of McNeill,Gray,Maupay, Doucoure and Iwobi in addition to young players and most blues want to swerve Isco. Bizarre

Conor

Prior to joining Everton in two years at Bayern, James had 28 goal involvements (scored/assist) in just 43 games over two years. Prior to that he had two in 8 games at real before going on loan. Then the prior seasons he had 14,15 and 26 goal involvements. He had 10 at Everton in 23 matches. Isco has had 13 goal involvements in the last four years over the course of 101 games. On what basis would you say his performance was better than James?

We should never let james go, what a prick benitez was...i now see him here in Greece playing for olympiakos a team I hate with all my guts and he is still very good. Way better than isco and way more fit.

The club is on its knees and absolutely skint, and people still blame Benitez for getting rid of James Rodriguez. Ancelotti must have been privately shaking his head, at the state of the club, and must have ended up giving James, Carte-Blanche, because he knew he wasn't staying around.

96% of turnover is allegedly going on players wages, doesn't that tell you the real reason that Rodriguez was shangied? Although I've heard it said that Benitez didn't believe he could run.

I don't understand why we are even considering these "free agents" — read unwanted, too expensive, always injured, disruptive etc etc.

If they were any good, they would never reach their current status. Have we ever had anyone come in under these circumstances and prove to be value for money?

Better than Ayew 🤷‍♂️

Peter Crouch said Abby is desperate to return to her old haunts in Liverpool. Crouchy would be head and shoulders above any of our current forwards.

Tony #25, you've gone quite on the yanks take over, have you heard anything else lately?

Jeff

No idea if it's related but Ashton Kutchner said on morning TV the other day he's an investor in an.entity that “almost bought a stake in a premier league club last week”

Well Kieran, let's hope that statement has a butterfly effect.

The lack of transfer activity has been explained. Due to the creation of an entirely radical occupation, Everton have two front-runners to fill the vacancy they are Dwayne Johnson and Brock Lesnar.

The position? Senior Headlock Coach!

I see the DOF at Spurs said the only reason they went for Danjuma was they had lined up a deal for Gerrard Deulofeu but he got injured so they moved in for Danjuma. I listened to Sean Dyche say he saw for himself how hard the DOF, the chairman and owner were on the phone non stop to try and get deals done. Nice try Sean to defend the indefensible but they had 31 days to get deals over the line, no need to be scrambling round on the final day of the window. Thelwell was there when Lampard finally admitted 2 weeks before the window opened we needed at least 2 attacking options. In defence some may say they had to wait for the Gordon deal to go through, but they new a couple of weeks ago how much Newcastle were prepared to pay for Gordon.

If the signing of Isco works as an inspiration to the team and the fans, it might just work. The spirit needs to be lifted. It would be a huge demand of Isco to play every match for 90 minutes, making huge impact every time as in his earlier days, but it's not happening. Hence the inspiration aspect to lift everyone else.

Everybody knows it will come down to his wage demands, the role he wants in the team and the length of his contract, but I believe Dyche can get him fit and use him in the right moments, so again does it all fit with his and the club's demands if he chooses to come here?

I remember when Isco broke into the Real Madrid team and in fairness he had a couple of good seasons… but that was several years ago. His stats are appalling for the last 5 years.

He's clearly lost it, much like Dele Ali (as others have mentioned). If Everton show any interest whatsoever, then it proves to me that those at the top haven't learned a feckin thing.

Duncan,

Isco really only ever had one good season which begs the question, was he ever really any good? When Man Utd were good there were various people like Jonathan Greening, or you can even go back to Mark Robins who seemed good but based on their broader careers you realize they just looked good because their team mates were excellent and gave them the perfect passes etc.

If Sean produces the miracle and we stay up, we will need goals next season to avoid this crap show, we've endured for 2 seasons. I would recommend we look at these 3 palyers. All available on a free from July 2023. Values from transfer MArket website.

Daichi Kamada - Midfielder - Age 26 - plays for Frankfurt. Valued at £30m
Japan International. Played in World Cup. Has 6 goals in 26 appearances for his National Team. Stats for Frankfurt in 22/23 are 25 games - 12 goals / 5 assists. fitness no issue.

Jonathan Bamba - Winger - Age 26 - Plays for Lille. Valued at £20m
Stats for 22/23 - 17 games - 4 goals 3 assists. Since joining Lille in 2018 h has scored 27 goals with 31 assists. Fitness no issue.

Moussa Dembelle - Centre Forward - Age 26 - Plays for Lyon. Valued at £18m
Stats for 21/22 and 22/23 combined - played 53 goals 24, assists 6. Not done as well this season due to arrival of Lacazette. He's definitely got goals in him. worth a punt. Fitness no issue.

For a team that will need goals to avoid this and last seasons struggles these 3 make sense. Signing on fee and wages only.

I haven't heard anything Jeff, but was told the other week that nothing would be happening before May. I took this as my mate telling me to stop fuckn asking, because that must have been my only topic of conversation!

Hopefully Dyche is going to get himself a crazy win bonus for keeping us in the premier league, and then a sale goes through very smoothly.

I believe Simone Zaza is a free agent now. It didn't work out for him at West Ham, but has had a decent run at Valencia and Torino after that. I know he is not a World beater, but on a free, I'd say he could be a much needed backup option until summer. I don't know anything about his character or why Torino let him go, but have thought of him as a fighter, and decent in the air- maybe a player in the Dyche mould if he feels he has something to prove. (As long as he don't take penalties, remember that silly walk-run up in the Euros against Germany?)

From TuttoJuve -
In recent days it has also been reported that Everton has set its sights on Isco Alarcón, an option that would greatly please the malagueño because it would give him the opportunity to play in the Premier League, however the Goodison Park team has not yet made a concrete proposal to its agents and therefore to date there is nothing but an interest. Isco has in his favor that he is free and can immediately join the team. Also approached by Juventus, not convinced.

Michael McG @ 6,

"Give Isco 4 months!"

Okay, as long as Kenwright gets 5 years (Grand Theft Goodison)!

In Walton Jail. Big Ginger on D wing will sort that bastard out!

In other news:

Fulham have placed a 㿏M price tag on 25-year-old United States and former Everton defender, Antonee Robinson, who is attracting interest from Manchester City, AC Milan and Inter Milan. Hmmm.

I've watched Antonee quite a lot, with the US national team, etc. Quite simply, Fulham are delusional.

I'll debate that with you, Phil. Pace like that is hard to find. I think Fulham have him priced about right.

That's about what Arsenal paid for Zinchenko, and Robinson is a much better defender, although clearly no comparison in attack.

And I'll guarantee you Chelsea would trade 㿨 million Cucurella straight up for Antonee right now.

We need 1.294117647058824 points per game to get 40 points.

Maybe Isco can help us.

It seems Isco being linked to Everton has been revived. Regardless of the money Isco is gonna get, the aspect of him taking the challenge and taking a role in Everton to make a positive difference this season is a warm welcome. It has to work, he's gonna have to work in training and in matches, he knows that.

The only way we will sign Isco is if:

- he finds himself a better attitude

- finds himself a pair of platform football boots and learns how-to play as a target man

- he offers to play for free

Hard to think of a worse match for us right now than Isco.

I doubt we'll need 40 points, Rolf. 36 points is usually enough for survival, which is a mere 1.058823529411765 points per match.

After the win against Arsenal, average points needed per match to stay up already changed. Take also into consideration:

Next 5 matches for:
20. Southampton - Wolves (H), Chelsea (A), Leeds (A), Leicester (H), Man Utd (A).
19. Bournemouth - Newcastle (H), Wolves (A), Man City (H), Arsenal (A), Liverpool (H).
18. Everton - Liverpool (A), Leeds (H), Aston villa (H), Arsenal (A), Nott.F. (A).
17. Leeds - Man Utd. (A), Man Utd. (H), Everton (A), Sou'ton (H), Chelsea (A).
16. West Ham - Chelsea (H), Spurs (A), Nott.F. (H), B&H Alb. (A), Aston Villa (H).
15. Wolves - Sou'ton (A), B'mouth (H), Fulham (A), Liverpool (A), Spurs (H).

Not really easy 5 next matches for any of the 5 bottom teams, I think the standings are gonna change drastically for each round.

Isco doesnt fit a sean dyche team in any way and its a bit baffling to be honest. Saying that if (a big if) he's fit and get his form back then hes a good short term creative solution.

Aside from the fact that Isco in no way, shape or form would seem to fit into a Sean Dyche team, the problem with aging, out-of-contract stars is that the odds of them being under-motivated and looking to be overpaid are very, very high. It's the same reason I can't get excited about Aubameyang being the answer to our striking woes if he ends up terminating his deal with Chelsea.

Fighting in the ranks seemed to help Martin Keown's cause in the nineties when he stuck one on Sheedy. Sometimes the air needs clearing and a therapy session does not cut it.

Please note that I do not endorse vilence in any form!