Coming up to Christmas I don’t know about you but I’ve been nagged left right and centre into what do I want. As a consequence of this I thought I’d seep through all these lazy “journalistic” links for who might be coming in or leaving in January.
Now I know what you’re thinking, let’s not get ahead of ourselves Everton never sign anyone. But here’s to wishful thinking!
John Stones. The greatest centre back I’ve seen at Everton in my lifetime has been linked to every dick and harry around the globe. From Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and even Barcelona the media have linked this guy away from the toffees. But if you actually read the articles there is not a single bit of evidence or quotes (see for yourselves http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3030349/Barcelona-wanted-sign-Everton-defender-John-Stones-signing-Jeremy-Matheiu-Thomas-Vermaelen-summer.html). The England international will inevitably leave the club after we fail to secure Champions League football for another year but in my personal opinion this has got to be a prime target of lazy journalism. And don’t get too upset blues, £40+ mill has got to only help the club when he leaves.
Speaking of centre backs we have been linked to several in recent weeks. Firstly Ron Vlaar has got to be one of our prime targets this January, this strong centre half is currently a free agent after leaving Aston Villa and would be easy pickings as he wants to apparently stay in England. However, rumours surfaced today about us looking at former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic via TalkSport creates a dilemma that has split fans. Okay, so we all know the quality Vidic HAD but after returning from an injury (just like Vlaar) do we really need an over-paid 34 year old injury prone player? I agree he was quality for Manchester United for a long time, but I have seen way too many flops come to Everton on “Oh they use to be good”. So for me, it’s Vlaar every time.
Moving up the pitch I just had to put this in for comic value. Soon to become the new Riquelme deal Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega has actually been linked to us AGAIN. The Argentina international is out of contract in the summer and is believed to be looking away from La Liga (Well that’s if you believe the metro newspaper). Now I cannot claim to be a La Liga expert but I have watched this guy a few times in Europa league games and I’ve got to say I haven’t seen the appeal. Built as a strong defensive midfielder I only often see him miss out on headers or lose the ball in the middle of the park. Also another negative about this guy before I move on from this idiocy is he’s on £70,000 a week! No thanks.
My favourite little Scotsman Steven Naismith came out the other day to Liverpool Echo saying if his first team chances don’t improve he could seek a move away in January. Genuinely, I was upset. Here on Merseyside I feel like we’ve grown to love this tenacious centre forward (after hating him first season) who in my opinion encapsulates the spirit of the club perfectly. Roberto blocked an £8 million move to Norwich in the summer to bolster up the squad but surely this guy wants game time, I’m confident that he could waltz into any bottom half team and improve their goalscoring. So if he goes, I’ll be upset just like I was when Jelavic left, but all the best if he does Steven.
Another one that HAS to go in my opinion is Kevin Mirallas. He absolute stunk the other day against Norwich, I mean his intent wasn’t there, his skill wasn’t there. The player is long overdue a fresh start somewhere else in which he can re-build his career as the terrifying winger he use to be. With the emergence of interest from AC Milan that’s exactly what he can do. With a large variation of prices thrown about on the news websites I thought I would settle with £10 million which would sit pretty in Everton’s transfer budget if it got re-invested.
It’s been a long long time coming for Everton fans to finally getting upset about Howard in goal. The other night after the Middlesborough win I even saw fans giving abuse to him on twitter about how good it was he wasn’t playing (which isn’t cool by the way). And so the newspapers are at it again, putting two and two togther they have linked us to Stoke’s Jack Butland. The young Englishman has put in some fine performances and developed well since moving to Stoke however, my main worry is that Mark Hughes wants £20 million for the player after signing a new four year deal. As if Everton football club are willing to pay twenty million pounds for a goalkeeper, this is coming from the club who still charge £34 to sit in the top tier balcony at Goodison, So I put this down to media speculation more than a reality so we’re stuck with Howard or maybe Joel if we’re lucky.
I’ve clearly missed a few off here that you may class as links such as Lukaku moving on, Yarmelenko or Chambers coming in and feel free to let me know more cause I love hearing Everton transfer gossip. But the unlikeness of such events has forced me to get back to University assignments!