DCL is ‘feeling good and feeling strong … looking forward to getting cracking”

That's how the Echo interprets these words…

"Looking forward to getting cracking…"?

I'm not so sure.

I read "I am perfectly comfortable running down my contract and signing a really lucrative pre-contract with a better team in January." :(

We have done really well selling players over the last 5 years (only Brighton with a better net spend in that period…); the ideal is he signs an extension but, if he doesn't sign and we accepted an offer, we wouldn't have any time to get a replacement in.

Sell Holgate (or give him away) and Maupay first before we make any rash decisions.

Good work!!!

I am with you. Calvert-Lewin will have to have a good season if he is in the shop window. Holgate we am looking for a gardener.

If that's not going to happen, then running down his contract, pre-contract discussions with others, accusations of head being elsewhere, wouldn't auger well for the second half of the season…

And we don't have a lot of back up.

Need to offload Maupay, add another striker on a loan or
possible buy deal.

I read it like Steve #2 that most players and agents have learned how lucrative it is to run down a contract.

If this is the case, the only benefit we will see is a fully charged Calvert-Lewin trying to show the world how good he is.

I have a bet on with a friend who said he will score 20 goals this season, I said it will be closer to 10.

Let's hope he wins the bet but I fear not.

If the stadium is finished before the end of this season, we should get the squad to train there. It might whet Dom's appetite and convince him to stay!

What did he cost? £1.5M? We paid over £40M for the Icelander and another £45M for the duo from Barcelona and got nada in return. Now that was criminal.

I like Calvert-Lewin and I think he is definitely worth spending £20M on wages to have him for the next three seasons. (It really was incredible what Bosman did for professional footballers!)

But he might also want a big signing-on fee and he might not even really want to sign again, so let's just hope he has a good season, and then wait and see what happens.

However, I suspect that the clubs that he fancies would be reluctant to shell out a large fee for him given his injury record in recent years and the prospect of little if any sell-on value when a, say, 3- or 4-year contract expires. Those that would be interested probably couldn't or wouldn't offer better terms than we do.

Ivan Toney and Brentford seems to be in a similar position.
I've always liked Calvert-Lewin and, given the current alternatives, would hope we keep him for another season at least.

I was reading only a few months back that Marc Bosman is now saying that he isn't happy the way players have taken advantage of the law he helped come to fruition.

What Bosman argued and rightly was that it wasn't right that clubs could hold on to a player's registration even after the contract was finished. But he didn't agree that the player could walk away and the club get nothing for him.

There should have been something in place that would allow a club to get a set amount of a transfer fee given age and time the player had been at the club.

Once players get into the last year of their contract, it's very hard for clubs to move these players on as they can negotiate a signing-on fee with a prospective club.

When Arsene Wenger speaks, I listen, and he said that he thinks transfer fees will become a thing of the past in the not-too-distant future. We will see.

If he starts well, signs a pre-contract in January, then tails off, then we just bench him and play Beto. Simple.

We only paid £1.5M for him and he's been well worth that already; with 1 last good season for us, then I wish him well in his career.

Much better value than a whole host of players we signed during the Moshiri disaster-class.

I am not usually so pessimistic but am trying to put myself in his shoes. He has openly stated how hurt he has been by a number of our "fans" and has linked this to mental health struggles.

He has been with us for a long time and he has now reached this stage of his contract. He is in his prime for a striker and wants to sample greener pastures. You get one life and one career, who can blame him? Not me.

I would just like to see us get some return on him, we have developed him into a very good player, despite some of the negativity on here, and we are a worse team without him.

I know swap deals are extremely rare but I wonder if there is mileage in an exchange with Abrahams? Maybe with the Friedkin links, this might be something that could happen, they are in a similar position with ol' Tammy. Either way, we could all use some clarity.

You are joking, right? 15 to 20 goals… Hahahahaha!!

A pint of what you're drinking for everyone on here — on the house.

However, Calvert-Lewin's plan is not necessarily misaligned with ours. Even on a free, albeit with him wanting a big signing-on fee in lieu of transfer fees, the attraction of a striker who has been a bit of a sick note, scores at the rate of around 1 in 5 games in the last 3 seasons, and is (at that point) 28 is not exactly compelling.

To make it more compelling and for him to achieve his self-enrichment, he really needs to have an injury-free season, and score 15 goals or so in the league. Then he'll have serious suitors. Such an outcome would not be unwelcome to us either, just that the potential cash is down the drain.

On the other hand, if he gets injured again at some point next season and out for months, we might be congratulating ourselves for dodging a bullet.

I don't think we yet have the proven midfield prowess of many clubs to really be a big challenge to opposing defences.

Using the same ploy of Doucoure tucking in behind Calvert-Lewin is not the way to go, as proven in the past.

However, with a few new options things may change but the first month or so will prove one way or another if we will become a struggler or a solid mid-table team.

The Roma game showed one or two tidbits that gives a little more optimism.

The good thing is the new guy O'Brien at the back and that Man Utd may now not want Branthwaite after their recent alternative exploits in that department.

For those who think Calvert-Lewin owes us something, come on, don't be so naive. He, apparently, is doing what he feels is best for him, exactly as each and every one of us would do in the circumstances.

Forget about being an Evertonian. Players don't "generally" support the club they play for.

If he stays and helps us to a decent league position, then decides to leave, he'll leave with my appreciation. I really like him as a player and I see his qualities.

If he doesn't sign, then I would imagine he goes in January. I still don't know who that would be to though.

Calvert-Lewin will have come through academy system and seen 99% of young players discarded from 7/8 years old as being not good enough. There's no loyalty from clubs at that end, so not sure why we expect it at the other end?

If he stays and runs out his contract, it's vital that the club puts succession plans in place for next summer. Unless Beto and/or Chermiti come good, we will have to invest in a top-level striker if we don't want to have a post-Lukaku type vacuum at the top of the pitch.

Bosman ended up on the bones of arse suffering depression as well as fighting an alcohol addiction. He did not say he regretted the findings. He did say he was envious of those operating in a different league to him. Edgar Davids, Brian Laudrup, Steve McManaman were all early beneficiaries.

Sol Campbel. Lewandowski. Pirlo and Ballack were all mentioned as examples in the article, but there are many, many more.

Bosman felt they all owed him a debt of gratitude.

"I'm still waiting for others to say thank you — Ronaldo, Beckham, all of them."

I've been banging the power-is-all-with-the-player drum for months on here, but some people simply kept saying just get rid "Sell him... Give him away" (in Holgate's case)

You can't even give players in the last stages of their contracts away. Not unless they like the proposal and permit you to.

That means his price will go up. Or if we have a good season, he may even want to stay?

He wants it here and he is going to prove to Everton why they should give it to him.

DCL has been offered an improved contract which he will not sign.

Amongst other things, he told me he learned the hard way that as soon as a player asked for a move or an improved contract outwith the Club's finances, he had to move them on.

Not that I think for one minute Calvert-Lewin would do it, he said players would just mistime a tackle, just not pick up their player in the box, just turn slowly, etc, etc. Things the average punter may not see but as an ex pro seeing them every day in training he could.

Rightly or wrongly most players, and their agents, only think of money.

I posted earlier in this thread, I just don't think DCL has the credits in the bank to behave like that. His stock is not that high, given age, injuries and a shortage of goals in the last 3 years. It's only as high as it is with us because we are desperate, with no decent back up. He needs a strong, injury free season (or even half season) to increase his market value to where he wishes it would be. Hopefully he has an agent smart enough to tell him as much but I won't bet on it.

Another poor season and/or injury and I doubt he'd have many takers over what we have already offered.

Players come and go, some of whom may have regretted leaving Everton.

There will be options in the market that Everton can explore. Sign or move on it is as simple as that.

If he starts strong and scores a couple, there'll be even more interest and he and his agent will be in a better bargaining position. Barcodes are still keeping tabs on him.

It just seems odd to me that a new contract could not have been agreed by now if both parties genuinely wanted to sort one out.

Time will tell as always but I don't begrudge him trying to max out his last contract. I just wish they had the transfer window close before the season starts. You don't know what squad you'll have for the season until you're already 4-5 games in.

Still no sign of a new right-back...

What's exactly wrong with that?

We can't even do a Chelsea and sign him for 10 years, not that we, or any club would want to.For years, we have bemoaned that the club is poorly run, with huge contracts handed out to poor players that ended up certainly costing us points and almost financial oblivion!

In this case, both club and player have been professional. Now, that's all well and good if the rest of the clubs play by the same rules, no tap ups, no third party payments etc etc but they don't.

So our hope and expectation is that we get something for him and wave him off. If not, we will get the tar and feathers bucket out that was last used for Barkley and warm it up.

The Bosman was put in place to protect the players not the clubs; it was needed. If the contract system needs change, what would be in its place?

He is contracted for a period of time, does the job, is paid and thanked or a new contract renegotiated. I think after 8 years he wants a change.

More of a concern though is if he gets injured or not replaced, just who will score the goals for us at the moment? Beto? Maupay? I am squirming a little on my chair remembering when we sold Lukaku...

DCL may not be the very best striker, but he is the very best striker we have. For me, it's a keep but look to replace immediately.

We will simply have to pay him his market wage to keep him.

Dom is/was good like, but let's be real, lads, he misses loads of chances and is always offside. If we can get £20-30M, then so be it, long as we get Broja or Nketiah.

We've been subjected to absolute shite for the past 5-10 years and we think Dom is our lord and saviour!!! Same for Jordan… We really can do better, we are just scared of change.

Swap Dom for Broja? No thanks. Broja's got some talent but I've never seen anything from the guy that particularly impressed me.

And if you really think we can do better than Pickford... go right ahead and name the new keeper.

Where we do need to see change is in agents fees. If footballers hold all the cards, then they should pay all their agent's fees for a transfer or renewal of contract. I would also put a ceiling on the total amount payable for signing-on bonuses.

That would at least bring some balance to the current situation.

Replace Pickford? Who is better? He's given me breathless moments with his saves in the past few seasons. The one that sticks out was a double against Chelsea at Goodison when he saved it twice and one came back off the post. I genuinely believe I stopped breathing for about 30 seconds!!

The man has even played wingback under Koeman the Klown. Yet people say "Get rid" or "He's Championship at best"… well, I am glad Thelwell does our transfers but, according to some, he is shite as well!!!

Just to say again Spuds paid £65m for Solanke who in the past seasons has scored 19, 6, 3 and 0. Yes… zero goals in the 2018-19 season.

But hey-ho, let's get a fiver and a packet of biscuits for DCL as you know he wears dodgy clothes.

Unless an offer of £30 million came in and I don't see that happening, then it's too late now.

It would simply leave us too short and another panic buy in the mould of Beto would be signed, a player that takes a year to even settle and we aren't in a position we can go and do that, we struggle for goals as it is.

Broja isn't the answer, he's not a lone striker and he's another one who spends too much time injured, I'd take him if we keep this squad together now, but as a replacement he's not that man.

Adebayo of Luton or someone of that similar ilk would be the most likely option.

This is Everton of course and I wouldn't rule us out selling Branthwaite and DCL on deadline day and not having anything lined up

Everton's record Premier League goalscorer leaves on a free!

I know if you say it quickly it sounds like a good idea, but I don't think a lot of posters suggesting similar deals are getting this. This is not FM.

When you are dealing with a player is in the last year of his contract and keeping his options open. So many stars need to be aligned to get a transfer that suits all parties.

First we need a club to meet our unrealistic demand for a player in his last season, or at least tempt us with a decent offer.

Then we need a player who will be inundated with options in ten months to want to join that particular club. They then have agree terms. We probably have to factor his family - Did DCL's Mrs fancy Newcastle ? for example. Thats just one side of the deal.

Would Broja, or another, want to come to a club with probably the most uncertain future of all. Would he be able to agree terms with a club who will probably pay less of a wage than he will earn by staying put. Would he be eager to step into an almost guaranteed dogfight ? Will his players family be happy to move to the NW of England ?

Please lets put a stop to calls to swap him for Abraham, Broja, Adebayo, or anybody else. We are dealing with real life here, not playing games on an ipad

Calvert Lewin is clearly keeping his options open. He hasnt refused to sign. He just hasnt agreed to sign yet. For anybody ! He may already have decided he is leaving. We don't know.

What we do know is that he is almost certainly waiting to see what will develop and what will best suit him and his family.

In reality, You would have to question the mentality of anybody who wouldn't do the same in his position

The only thing I would add is the influence of agents behind the scenes can be very significant. It's not a binary relationship between player and club, the influence of agents introduces a third element which is often purely mercenary and based on how much commission can be dredged from the deal.

I don't know if DCL will go or stay but my gut feeling leans towards Steve's view @2 above. Whatever he decides, Everton will carry on with or without him and he will no doubt be remembered nostalgically in future TW threads!

Good luck to the lad he's always done his best for the club despite not being the best goal scorer we've ever had he's never brought the club into disrepute like some players I could mention not far away across the park!!

Swap him for Broja? Have you seen Broja play? He went to Fulham last season, left on the bench, went to the Euros with Albania, started first game, was then benched. And get rid of Pickford as well?

With four days to the start of the season, we can't afford to sell Dom for the simple reason that Beto isn't an adequate replacement.

Pickford is one of the best keepers in our history. We're lucky he hasn't already jumped ship.

I can't and will never forget how bad we were the last few seasons. The entire team from front to back can do one and I'm glad we are starting to see a turnover. Every single one of them can get binned…

Good to see O'Brien, Lindstrøm, Ndiaye, Iroegbunam etc. I personally can't wait for all these brain-dead twats from the last 4 years to be gone. People have short memories but I don't.

Just a personal opinion is all, and I respect everybody else's opinion too who thinks I'm wrong. Only for Dyche we would be in the Championship right now!! I can't forgive them…

I would however have Richarlison back in a heartbeat. He was the only player for the last few years (except Seamus) that I could vicariously see myself represented on the pitch. 💙 UTFT

I wouldn't say I've ever hated an Everton team personally. Frustrated and annoyed? Yes.

More recently, I've been more dismayed by the management of the club, especially when the board abandoned us.

The players and the manager rode the storm and, were it not for forces beyond their control, would have finished even more comfortably than they did.

I am optimistic about the season ahead. The squad has a bit more depth.

Not long until Saturday. Here we go!

I was thinking the same on Richarlison, loan deal may be. I think that he still has affection for Everton and I would like to see him back, he gives options on style of play and scores goals.

We might then know what's happening.