Guess the thought is that Masina wants to go back to Italy and Estupinan may yet be subject to a big offer. Bringing in Giannoulis would suddenly make us strong in that department so we could afford to offer out Masina on loan and have cover for losing Estupinan.
I am not sure Masina suits the role Ivic asks his full backs to play. Ivic's wingers seem to play almost like wingers and are relied upon to provide a lot of the attacking width. Masina seems lost once he crosses the half way line.
I’d happily lose Masina in reality. Nice guy - but started really slowly at the club before a brief improvement last season - but he was dreadful after lockdown culminating in one of the worst 45 mins performances I saw from a Watford player in the PL. When people wanted rid of him before he had a run in the side, I was always on the ‘let him have a run of games and then judge’ side of the fence - he’s had that now and not shown enough IMO. For whatever reason, I’ve always got a sense that he would rather be back playing in Italy as well and that he’s a bit of a passenger who’s heart isn’t really in it. I’d happily see the Greek player replace him if the finances mean it’s almost a straight swap - but the problem arises if we are keeping Estupinan. The Greek surely won’t join if he’s not assured the LB spot.
I'm NOT suggesting there have been movements on this transfer, but maybe it's time we went back in for him
If Estupinan is a goner then we should be all over this signing, get 15 million for PE and spend 6 million on Giannoulis wouldn't be bad business.
Even if we sell Estupinan for the rumoured £15m (well below his true value imo), Giannoulis is supposedly available for €5m, so it's a no-brainer
Matty Cash was signed for a fee rising to £16m. Yes he's English, but he's never played in a top division. We have to ask for more than €15m for Estupinan.
Matty Cash, a punt from the Championship sold for £16m. Doucoure an established Premier League player sold for £20m. I still can't get over why the club mugged themselves off like that. Really bad business as far as I'm concerned.
Always a premium on English players but still. Ship the old boys, fine, but start shipping the youngsters... what's the method here? If he's going we need to wait to sign a new LB first or we'll be stuffed. Sema literally just showed the difference a left-footed crosser can make. Good luck to Pervis. Fair enough, it would be a move for European ambition unlike Doucoure. Hope he turns himself into a £50m player.
To sell a player with the potential to become world class. Who has been scouted by the so called biggest clubs in Europe only for him to toddle off to Spain for a paltry £15M would be appalling. Remember promotion is worth far more than that. I sincerely hope it is just a rumour. Pervis would tear up this division and excel in the PL which we will need to do if we do go up in order to stay up. Short term vision is not a good idea.
I'd like to hope it is Ryan Manning instead of Giannoulis. Both look like a significant downgrade on Estupinan though.
Keep dreaming We'll replace him with some chump who has made 5 appearances for Udinese over the last 6 years
If Everton only offered £10m, would they still sell, being the only fee on offer? I don't subscribe to that. Their valuation of Doucoure as £20m is what I don't understand. I get they need to sell players, but selling Doucoure that cheaply means they are now going to have to sell someone else just to make up the difference. Doucoure still had 3 years on his contract. We held all the cards. Everton really wanted him. Had we played hardball, just as Rennes did to us over Sarr, then we'd have got £30m from them I'm sure. Everton had been chasing him for years. Now we sold so cheaply, it tells everyone else we're a soft touch, desperate for cash. Now it's transpires that's how it's panning out by selling Estupinan, someone of immense promise, for just £15m.
I think it’s clear we need to pull in some transfer fees quick, and reduce the wage bill. Maybe as part of some covenant linked to refinancing existing loans...the main issue is how deep does that go...we could well be in deeper short-term trouble than we all feared.
Why is this guy good? Can't find any info in between the talking about Holebas, Greek holiday destinations and describing the guy's name as an illness.
They are clearly more aware than us of 1/ the need to sell and 2/ what Everton would do if we insisted on a higher figure. They made the call based on that.
Yes....and it was poor business. No one can really argue that their judgement has been good over recent months. Bad calls, bad decisions and bad judgement resulted in relegation. Why would this poor activity suddenly be reversed? They may pull it around, but until I see real evidence of it, I'm not going assume it, or make excuses for them.
Evertons Ace card was knowing Doucoure wanted to go to them, we were never going to keep a sulky assed, non playing, player, who's value would have only decreased.
Doucoure himself said he turned down other offers. I agree with the wider point that we had to sell him - but sadly we were too empathetic to the player and allowed him to dictate the transfer which meant we have likely lost somewhere between £5m-£8m in my opinion. His odd desire to only go to Everton put one hand behind our backs sadly.
Completely agree. Pozzo seems desperate to flog our saleable assets on the cheap. Hard to feel confident in the owner at the moment. Looking like we could throw away the best opportunity for promotion in a very long time. Very disappointed.
I’m not sure he is determined to sell them on the cheap - but we do seem petrified of letting the market play out. There is plenty of buzz around our more attractive assets so I fail to believe we couldn’t sell them late in the window for the same fee’s we are talking about now if we absolutely had to. And if we are in a situation where we have to sell them, then whilst I recognise it’s important not to look desperate or to be ripped off, then I think the club need to be more transparent with fans about that. They can save themselves a lot of anger heading their way when the eventual sales happen if they do. But the longer they are quiet and selling quality players for average to low fee’s, then they will deserve every word that comes their way IMO.
Whatever you think of recent years Gino Pozzo is unlikely to have suddenly lost all business sense. Methinks it'd be easy to rushing to pile on without, perhaps, the full picture.
Ha they clearly needed you round the negotiation table with them to fill them in on exactly how much more they could have squeezed out of Everton. They clearly took the first offer !
I agree. Crap negotiators. You have to be prepared to walk away from a deal. Call Everton's bluff. I think Harry Hornet would have got more out of Everton than £20m for Doucoure. £20m........it's just a joke.