Dobbin joins Villa as Minteh agent speaks about Everton target

The news that Dobbin has left Everton to join the Midlands club is not a surprise of course and was widely touted over the last few days.

In some ways this is a shame as Dobbin came through the ranks at Finch Farm and has at times shown genuine promise without ever being able to realise it in a royal blue shirt.

He joins a host of other talented youth products who could not fulfill that potential and eventually left the club in recent years, such as Ross Barkley, Jack Rodwell, Tom Davies and Anthony Gordon.

But, his fee could really help ease the Blues immediate financial worries, and so given that, together with the fact he has anyway had very little opportunity under Sean Dyche, means the deal makes sense.

Dobbin has gone the other way to midfielder Tim Iroegbunam who signed for the Toffees yesterday in a deal that was also for an undisclosed transfer fee.

While all this was going on, new reports emerged that Newcastle United were determined to do a deal for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whom they have long admired.

And, as this story gathered momentum, there were further rumours that the Blues were interested in taking Gambian winger Minteh from the Magpies.

There was no hint that this move would be tied to Calvert-Lewin's potential departure for the North East, but nevertheless it was presumably not entirely coincidental.

Then this morning it emerged that an unnamed club either in the Premier League or abroad had apparently agreed personal terms with the 19-year-old wide forward.

It was not clear who that club was and further statements today from Minteh's agent has not clarified matters either.

Newcastle want a fee for the young winger and the amount quoted is said to be around £40 million, a frankly ludicrous figure for a player who has done nothing in English football.

If true, that would almost certainly put him out of Everton's presumed price range, at least until Dan Friedkin completes his takeover, although he isn't renowned for spending big.

However, as mentioned above, the sale of Dobbin means at least in theory, a potential easing of PSR pressures thereby maybe enabling the Toffees to have more resources available to spend.

That fee for Minteh is still way too high, but another alternative scenario could still see the Calvert-Lewin sale being linked to the youngster's future destination.

All this is purely speculative and I have no idea whether either of these circumstances is correct.

And anyway, Minteh is not a like-for-like replacement for Calvert-Lewin.

So, although he could represent a good additional attacking option with pace and a genuine goal threat, Everton will still need to look to bring in a centre-forward too.