In a week when not much is happening concerning Everton there are a few further stories circulating again about several players and a manager who have been previously linked with the Blues.
As we told you recently Everton have been linked with making a move for a youngster from Nantes in France. 16-year-old Kamal Bafounta, who is also apparently wanted by Inter Milan, is being labelled ‘the next Paul Pogba’.
Well we’ve heard all this sort of thing before of course (the next Patrick Viera, the next Thierry Henry etc) and I think it’s putting a teenager under far too much pressure to start talking in these terms.
It’s hard enough for these kids to make their mark in the game without being compared immediately with an established superstar player.
Mind you having seen Pogba’s hugely inconsistent form since his return to Manchester United, maybe the comparison isn’t such a great compliment after all!
If he joins and is as talented as Pogba and can fulfill that potential, (all big ifs), Everton might have a stellar player on their hands. At any rate the Blues are once more being strongly suggested as a future destination for the player.
There’s also more on the possible future of Jack Wilshire. Wolves are now the latest club to also be linked with the player after their promotion to the Premier League.
Everton have according again to the Mirror already offered Wilshire a huge signing-on package to try to lure the Arsenal midfielder to Goodison Park.
I think the jury’s still out on Wilshire as to whether he is what Everton need, given his injury record and off-field issues. Would he be a worthwhile investment?
Another player who is possibly on Everton’s radar is the Stoke City playmaker Xherdan Shaquiri.
The Swiss international will almost certainly leave Stoke at the end of the season, if they are relegated. And Talksport are claiming the Blues are one of several clubs in the Premier League who are looking at him.
Although he is undoubtedly a talented if very erratic player I’m not sure he would be a good fit for Everton. At the moment the Blues are top-heavy with supposed play makers and ‘number 10’s’.
Would Shaquiri be able to find a place in the team and contribute more than Wayne Rooney or Gylfi Sigurdsson?
More from Prince Rupert's Tower
- Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
- Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
- Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
- More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
- Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions
What is needed up front if the Blues are to bring in yet another forward, is pace, consistent creativity and reliable finishing. Those are the priorities.
Shaquiri does score a few often spectacular goals and make a few assists but Everton require a player that can provide 8-10 assists and/or find the back of the net at least 15-20 times a season. He’s not that kind of player.
It’s to be hoped that Cenk Tosun will be able to produce that kind of goals tally next season if he gets the right kind of support and enough chances. If not he could prove another expensive flop in a long line of them for Everton.
Talking of forwards who didn’t live up to expectations we come to Kevin Mirallas. The injury-prone Belgian forward has been on loan in Greece with his former team Olympiakos since January.
But after some bizarre incidents the Greek league has been suspended for the rest of the season. But it appears Mirallas doesn’t want to return to Merseyside in the off-season and is seeking a permanent move away.
This looks more than likely to happen as I’m sure Mirallas will be one of those players leaving in the summer clear-out which certainly needs to happen.
Next: Blues fans asked for view on manager
Last but not least Toffeetv (see above video too) are claiming that Paulo Fonseca the Shaktar Donetsk boss wants to come and manage in England reinforcing past rumours that he might come to Everton.