Nick Hammond takes up the recruitment reins at Everton

One would hope there is plenty going on behind the scenes.

But spot the deliberate mistake @4.

If we agree a deal before 30th June, we just don’t make the first payment until the day after for next season’s accounts. We could still agree it and announce it.

If we agree a deal in the ‘boarded up’ window, the player just isn’t officially ours until a bit later and can’t play for us. Well seeing as we’re not even training, let alone playing, it won’t make a difference.

I genuinely worry that some of us fans have put more thought into who we need to sign than the club have.

We’re 11 short of a squad, 10 if the plan is for Harry Tyrer to be one of the back up keepers, but more if Patterson really isn’t good enough to play ahead of Coleman and Young.

Less than three weeks to stay clear of any PSR issues. Nothing to be concerned about.

Christy@13, I reckon Ferguson might go for nearer £20m these days. Had two disappointing seasons and some questions over injuries. A bargain to be had potentially if he’s surplus at Brighton?

Here's hoping they get those hires done fast.

I would just point out that we've already made our first signing.

Martin # 18, Brighton have a much, much bigger and better squad than Everton - and, in terms of strikers, have spent €46.7m on Rutter, €26.5m on Tzimas and €34.2m on Joao Pedro in just the past 2 seasons. We have a much, much greater need for depth in forward positions than they do. I wouldn't be turning my nose up just because player's can't get in their starting line up - like Enciso and possibly O'Riley whom we're also linked with. If Ferguson is over his injuries he could be an excellent signing.

Yes, he is, Michael.

He could be a bargain but he could also be useless/spent/a player that’s been figured out/injuries have already stifled his burgeoning career.

Given our need for goals and limited transfer funds versus the huge job required…..can we really afford to gamble?

Id take him on loan, and he'd need to prove himself.

Otherwise, I am not sure how we ever find a striker who is better than the likes of Beto and DCL. Since we can't afford ready made quality like Ekitike or Gyokeres, it leaves us with:

- players with talent but poor goals record (e.g. like Cunha until this last season)

- players of talent with injury issues (e.g. like Broja and Ferguson)

- mid-priced players (eg around the £40m to £65m mark) who may already have peaked (e.g. like Solanke, Evanilson and Thiago)

- players from cheaper but weaker leagues - like Patson Daka and Paul Onuachu previously - who may not be up to Premier League standard

The alternative is to be really patient with players like Chermiti and Graham - and indeed buy a much higher volume of players of this kind (since if only 1 in 4 works out, that really starts to pay off over time - and your failures are cheap - e.g. when Brighton offloaded the underwhelming Gyokeres to Coventry).

A number of those listed were those £15-30m types not so long ago. Solanke Liverpool, Gyokeres Coventry, Cunha Athletico, Ekitite Psg, Delap City, Retegui Genoa etc etc.

We might have missed the boat on those, but there will be others that are emerging. If that means looking in big team reserves, weaker leagues etc, bring it on.

Ive said before, we can offer good wages, regular football, time to grow and put in a sensible release clause if they want use us a stepping stone until we can match bigger clubs in wages, honours etc.

There's a gamble, and there's looking at a playing profile, age etc like Brighton, Atalanta etc, that cuts the odds of success or failure.

We will be a work in progress for a few seasons yet.

Walker-Peters at RB (whom we've already spoken to allegedly)

GKs Olsen (already knows the club), Woodman (we were after him when he was still at Newcastle)

Exactly what I said on the Barry thread, we all admire what Brighon and Brentford have done in their transfer dealings but they took a gamble and it paid off, albeit with more money than we've had available.

I read we could be in for Jadon Sancho, whoever he is? Roma also apparently.

This new recruitment team structure is going to have to hit the ground running, as we don't want to be hanging around.

You would think that there have been background discussions already, but who knows? I hope the club has targets lined up based on advice from the scouts, as we have little time and their is now no-one to scout.

The important thing for me, is that we identify targets against a strategy to build a team. Not go out and buy a collection of individuals. As many of us have said time and again, the core of a decent team is there, we just have to fill in the gaps with better quality and depth.

Reading that, he's the business advisor, will be told the budget and act as the conduit with the board. Scouting is key, he tells them their operating boundaries and they identify players, which is nothing new. The manager influences, and, I would imagine has the final go/no go say. Hammond then goes to the CEO (accountable to TFG) to get the rubber stamp and will conduct the contract and financial discussion with the players and agents.

I wouldn't call it a revolution, more encouraging and positive evolution and much needed restructuring.

The last thing we need is another Moshiri-Kenwright-Walsh-Koeman season, when they all went to different supermarkets without talking to each other about the shopping list.

The scout team will be in for him if he’s good enough.
One crap first half won’t change that.