Have you considered a role on our transfer committee?
You are listing names here they will never of heard of.
Expect a loan, can’t see us hurrying to spend cash.

Robert, you forgot to mention Balogun himself. Due to the injuries he has played only 14 minutes at top-of-the-table Monaco this season, replaced by a young German striker who is scoring a goal a game, and the USA just trotted out an 18-year-old striker who scored in his first three internationals.

So for both club and country Balogun should be VERY highly motivated to get back to top form as quickly as possible, and just this weekend told TalkSport that he's still interested in the Premier League.

Why wouldn't Everton and his agent be back on the phone before January, sorting out whatever went wrong in September?

Ian #1, Balogun left £40m on the table, and that money should presumably still be available to spend under SCR, so no reason for us not to splash cash on a good striker.

Mike, you answered your own question in your first paragraph. There are better, younger players than him out there without the entitled attitude.
He missed his original flight to Liverpool on deadline day, thereby putting the rest of the day’s schedule under unnecessary pressure, and then flounced off even after both Monaco and Everton had agreed terms? Spoilt American behaviour- he can do one.

John, I haven't seen most of the players Robert cites, but I can tell you that Balogun is a fine young player with an excellent attitude and work ethic -- and a more proven top-level scoring record than most of the others listed.

Nobody has any information on his so-called "spoilt" behavior. He has not spoken one word of his reason for walking away from the Everton offer -- the only account was from the Monaco chairman, who wasn't there and whom Chelsea has publicly called a monumental liar -- but I assume it was on the advice of his powerhouse agent, whom Balogun shares with LeBron James.

If Balogun, the agent or Everton decide to fill in their accounts of that day, I'll judge his attitude then, not from the spouting of the executive whose club tried very hard to hide the records of Balogun's injury.

Until then, to me he is what he was before, the player I've seen score a dozen times for the US -- a hardworking, accurate goalbox assassin who would be a fine addition for Everton.

Mike,

Have you forgiven him?
I don't think they will go back in for him mate.

John, I once married a girl who stood me up for our first date.

(OK, it failed, but still...)

My point is that this is a business, not online dating. If it makes sense for both sides, I don't think anybody will let hurt feelings get in the way.

The Manure was pissed off about Cristiano's ugly departure, but they welcomed him back 13 years later and got a 24-goal season.

Mike,do you khat are Balogun's injuries this season, and how close is he to full fitness?

In terms of January signings, Jelovic did well initially. He was in double figures by the end of the season.

I still think there's a player in Richarlison. Hard working, and there is a goal return in him. Can be played in midfield or upfront. I think the row with spurs over a loyalty/ bonus payment was an issue as much as his available options. He didn't go anywhere else with windows still open.

Perhaps both him and Spurs may feel different in January. Match fitness may be an issue but springing him off the bench may be an option initially.

Ferguson, if fit, would be a great option. He is a quality striker with time on his side. If the injury isn't too persistent, he may be worth picking up in January before someone else does. One for hitting the ground running next season perhaps.

Hell hath no fury Mike.
Would you want to sign a player you described as disingenous a month or so ago?

Robert - from your list, Ebnoutalib would get my vote. 6’3” but really quick and loves one touch poachers goals. Our lot would love him. Can’t see Frankfurt losing him mid-season though.

Robert, as always, a well-researched and thought-out post.

Mike, Balogun does not deserve another chance after causing a major disaster. The papers were submitted and the player changed his mind. That much we know to be true so I don't think he should or would be considered an option.

One name not mentioned is Troy Parrot who ended up going to Real Betis and is still scoring for fun for Ireland.

I think we missed out there but there is always a chance to go again albeit at a higher price but apparently Moyes didn't fancy him.

I agree with you on Balogun, Jay. The whole thing was way too embarrassing and the strong impression is that he just didn't want to join Everton. So why go back?

To Ian # 1, the club knows all about the players listed and a whole host of others (and in minute detail too, with a bewildering range of data analytics in support). As our tiny squad and very small budget improves, as it surely will, the squadbuilding will get more "imaginative" I expect.

Respect to you, Robert, you did a similar article in August. I cannot find it now but I remember Evan Ferguson was on your previous list. As you say he is injured again so no thanks to him. When you haven't got much to spend you have to be careful (as a pensioner I should know).

i tend to agree with Ian @ 1 but Robert you seem to be over-qualified to join our 'elite recruitment team' and you say Everton know all about the players you have listed so did you copy them in on your e-mail? We are a sell-to-buy club now and unless we sell a player in January I expect us to try for a last minute loan. (hope its a striker ! )

Serious, efficient football clubs identify targets and get deals done early — but it's been a long time since Everton were efficient. We now do our shopping from the meff shelf at Lidl 5 minutes before closing time!

Philip #12, I'd like to point out that of our recent acquisitions, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Hackney, Barry, Dibling, Norgaard and Brennan Johnson were all identified and signed early.

Only Grealish, Maitland-Niles, Rohl and the aborted Balogun deal were closing-time situations.

So we're not totally inefficient, are we?

Jay #10 and Robert, what Balogun "deserves" is irrelevant. Proper businesses operate on logic, not emotion.

Again, IF both sides see it as a deal that makes sense, it could be renegotiated.

mike I have to agree not every buy has been last minute, just me being conditioned to everton letting you down at the last minute ever since the transfer window was introduced 20 odd years ago. so no mike of the 10 players signed that you listed not all of them were signed on the last minute. of those 10 players we have 1 defender 2 forwards barry & johnson and 7 midfield/wingers ! we are not totally inefficient but myko is coming back from ukraine injured. allowed aznou to go on loan as mr stability does'nt fancy him.
only 1 fit full back for sunday. by the way who is this norgaard fella a mythical figure seen once when he signed him - signed him injured, when will he be available ? we have a chronic unbalanced squad and our elite recruitment team and moyes are to blame.
our transfer policy and moyes reluctance to play youth seem out of step with each other so I don't believe moyes had any influence over all of the signings despite what he may say.
maybe not totally inefficient but nowhere near efficient not by a long chalk !

Philip we have two fit fullbacks for Sunday, Maitland-Niles and O'Brien.

The latter obviously isn't anybody's ideal, but he played the position pretty well for a year and a half, and he's more than adequate cover for the likes of Hull.

FYI Aznou is injured and hasn't played a minute for Malaga.

Two fullbacks in the squad, one of whom prefers to play in midfield and the other wants to play in his more natural central defensive position, and yet some people still think that the recruitment has been good.

We might have signed some better players, but the lack of numbers at fullback and centre forward are truly embarrassing, for a top level football club, although I have a feeling this actually suits the manager in a strange way.

We have a lot more midfielders, than we have players in any other position, so my preference would be to see Hayden Hackney, get his chance, with James Garner, moving back to play fullback?

agreed antony, our recruitment is still crap (has been for years) not just players but managers too.all clubs make mistakes in the transfer market but obviously the most successful clubs make the least ! I still maintain our squad is really unbalanced and shoe horning centre halves and midfielders into full back positions is detrimental to the team.
and mike @15 apologies for not knowing azxou was injured I don't follow la liga really - you can tell jake to play full back but he ain't a full back, I saw at first hand opposition teams target him last season at hill dicko - why we can't look at lower leagues for a competent couple of full backs is beyond me...
anyway roberts post listed potential strikers - and goals win games. if only we had brentfords recruitment team thiago and schade up front. our lack of goals will cost us this season

Thanks Robert for all that info. you obviously have more work ethic than me.

The Balogun shemozzle was either unfortunate or poor procedure take your pick.

We are thin on the ground Tony but our hands were tied mostly by the rules. It's upfront and left back where we are most vulnerable, if Barry gets injured which is likely to certain he will at some stage, we don't have a like for like to step in, it's ditto at left back.

I think your suggestion of playing Garner at right back would work fine if we had to, but I don't think Garner would be too impressed saying he's on the fringe of the England team in midfield, not that I think he's close to first choice.

The betting at the moment has us to finish 11th to 14th which with our summer signings seems about right. I'm looking forward to see what our young players can do this season and I think we have the makings of a top 8 side if we had 2 or 3 better players in our weakest positions.

It's easy to point the finger at recruitment teams but the problems with the squad are largely down to money (and lack of it). These are problems stemming back years.

Brentford are good recruiters (and critically good developers of those they have recruited). But they have the likes of Thiago and Schade because they were spending money when we were not.

We are still catching-up.

Another full summer window and I believe you are right, Raymond, we should have a squad capable of properly competing back in the top 8.

As the moment we don't.

Hi, Robert. I just had a quick Google. Thiago cost approx. 30m and Schade 22m. They would cost a lot more now.

Dibling cost 40m
Barry cost 25m
Rohl cost 22m

Our elite recruitment team do sometimes get things right — KDH, Hackney, George — but they get loads wrong. As you said Robert as the Balogun deal went tits up there should be 40m to spend, but the sceptic in me says it will be a loan. Have we still got Solomon Rondon's contact details?

That's right Philip, Thiago cost €33.00m in summer 2024. Kevin Schade cost €25.00m in summer 2023.

My point is that we couldn't have afforded Thiago in summer 2024. That window our biggest signing was O'Brien (€19.50m).

We couldn't have afforded Schade in summer 2023 either. That window our biggest signing was Beto (€25m) - but any payment was deferred for a year because we were so poor. You can't be picky when you're that poor and those are your terms.

Brentford do recruit (and develop) well - with both aspects relying very heavily on data analytics (it's interesting to read what they did with Mbeumo).

But we were the Premier League's poorest club for a stretch of 4 years - and so they have been outspending us for some time too. It's not simply a case of them scouting hidden gems (I don't really believe hidden gems really exist these days). The fact is they're paying more than we are for their best players. Like their acquisition of the excellent Sangare this summer for €48m.

We are still catching up.

However, once the additional revenue from the stadium and settled finances comes through (which it will) then we will outspend and overtake them. It'll take another season or two.

Of course it’s about money, but that doesn’t mean you can’t criticise a recruitment team that does appear to have been building from the middle.

They have signed one striker in two seasons, a young left back who wasn’t ready according to the manager and a right back who has come out and said he’s a much better midfielder.

There must be more, that I’ve forgotten about surely? I’m sure they must have signed a couple of goalkeepers as well? But most of the players they have signed have been wide players and midfielders.

Robert , err yeah I know we were skint in 23 & 24 but we spent in 25 & 26 but we can't find players like thiago and schade and develop them. We can't even identify where the squad needs to be strengthened. We buy players and bench em "the boys not quite ready yet" we devalue players 40m for dibling??? Lucky to get 20m for him now ! BUT WAIT what light at yonder window breaks TFG put us up for sale...Yankee go home (thanks for finishing hill dicko)you can concentrate on roma now !

Thankfully they are saying that they’re still committed to Everton, though Phillip!

yeah antony thats a great comfort ----maybe they had a sniff from a potential investor but a minority shareholding was not an attractive investment. i'm not an expert on takeover deals as you may have realised ! january transfer window should be interesting ( but not for us )