I must say before I begin, I’m delighted we’ve signed Leighton Baines. Signing a player who really wants to play for you and isn’t completely controlled by his bank account is refreshing and I think he will become a full international over the next year or so challenging Bridge and Cole for the full back position in Austria and Switzerland, an excellent signing.
We are faced with several scenarios now, one of which is the prospect of not signing anyone else at all. The left side of the field was a priority, no matter how many people thought we should have addressed the striker situation, Nuno Valente was the only naturally left sided player we have at the club, forcing him to be used at left midfield against Crystal Palace such was the need for a left footed wideman.
I am sure I can vouch for all Evertonians when I say going into a domestic and european campaign with the still threadbare squad we have would be extremely risky, and doesn’t at all instill confidence in the club’s fans whatsoever. We are still left with the scenario of not adding anyone else to the ranks, despite the latest rumours linking Manuel Fernandes or Lucho Gonzalez to the club.
The majority point to the need to address the striker situation as the next priority; having missed out on the likes of Dave Nugent and Alan Smith however, even myself being an avid Football Manager player can’t even come up with a suitable and available player to don the coveted number 9 shirt.
The most likely option mentioned recently is Barcelona’s Santiago Ezquerro. The Spaniard apparently would be available on a free transfer and would offer some continental nouse badly needed in the Everton attack. The player’s ability to cover several positions, including right and left midfield could also appeal to David Moyes.
Although Johann Vogel’s move to the Premier League seems to be hanging by a thread, there is no doubting the player’s pedigree. Having had over 80 caps for the Swiss and boasting plenty of european experience, a free transfer would have represented a real coup for Moyes. However Betis are apparently still insisting on a fee for the release of Vogel’s contract despite earlier agreeing to allow the former Milan midfielder a free transfer.
I am as suprised as the next Evertonian with this mystery 11 million bid for ‘the 36th best player in the world’ Lucho Gonzalez. There is no doubting the player would bring something extra special to the Everton midfield, but whether the touted figure will be enough is another story, as a reported bid of a similar ilk was rejected outright earlier this summer by FC Porto. Some have mentioned the bid is merely a smokescreen in order to try and bring Manuel Fernandes’ inflated fee down by a few million, others are painfully reminded of bids for Michael Owen and Dirk Kuyt in previous years, only time will tell.
Ideally, Everton will go into this season with a new promising left back, a cultured and creative midfielder, a ‘fantasista’ number 10 and a worthy number 9.
How many of these boxes will be ticked we will find out in due course.
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