Everton owner Farhad Moshiri says Blues "quite happy" with summer transfers
The transfer window ended without striker or defender arriving
By Phil Kirkbride
September 1 2017 Liverpool Echo
Everton's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri says the Blues are “quite happy” with their summer transfer business – but expects them to be active in the January window.  And Moshiri confirmed that a new centre-forward could be on the agenda after Everton failed to land the striker Ronald Koeman called for.  The Blues also couldn't strike a deal for the left-sided defender Koeman wanted but finished the window having made eight senior signings in deals worth over £150m.  Moshiri says they know want to give this revamped Everton squad time to gel before looking at a fresh recruitment drive in January.
“I think it's been a very busy transfer window,” Moshiri said.  “We brought in a lot of new players, especially in the attacking areas.  “In the number 10 position we have brought in Klaasen, Sigurdsson, Rooney. We brought in Sandro Ramirez and we want to give the team a chance to gel.
“We have a lot of new players and it takes time for them to gel.
“We reconsidered the position and we will try to strengthen the squad in January.
“We need some time for the nine new players to gel and we have also Bolasie and Coleman to come back in October and December. It will be quite a strong squad.  “We brought in a Croatian attacker so that will help the squad.  “We are quite happy with the business we have done.”

Everton summer transfer window: The Complete ln and Out list
The Blues were busy in the market even if Deadline Day saw just one arrive
By Phil Kirkbride
1 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
It has been an unprecedented summer of spending at Everton.
The Blues have revamped their squad after sealing deals worth well over £100m and broke their transfer record to sign Gylfi Sigurdsson.  Everton also sold Romelu Lukaku for a club record fee as Ronald Koeman went about building a squad capable of breaking into the top six.  Here we list all of the senior ins and outs after a summer of movement the likes of which Goodison has never seen before.
Ins (does not include add-ons)
Jordan Pickford (Sunderland) - £25m
Davy Klaassen (Ajax) - £23.6m
Henry Onyekuru (KAS Eupen) - £7m
Sandro Ramirez (Malaga) - £5.2m
Wayne Rooney of Everton celebrates his goal with Sandro Ramirez
Michael Keane (Burnley) - £25m
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) – free
Cuco Martina (free agent)
Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City) - £40m
Nikola Vlasic (Hajduk Split) - £8m
Outs (does not include add-ons)
Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United) - £75m
Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona) - £10.5m
Tom Cleverley (Watford) - £8m

Everton's imperfect transfer window doesn't have to derail their hopes
But Phil Kirkbride would give a penny for Koeman's thoughts on striker fail
By Phil Kirkbride
1 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
When trying to determine the success of your club's transfer window, there's a fairly simply question to answer.  Unfortunately for Everton, the response isn't that straightforward.
Because while this looked like being the windows to end all Royal Blue windows, it ultimately fell just short of perfect.  Are the Blues stronger coming out of the summer than they were heading into it?
In so many ways, yes.  In other, frustrating ways, they are not.  Everton embarked on a record breaking summer spree which saw them smash their transfer record in a splurge which witnessed the £40m Gylfi Sigurdsson arrive as one of NINE senior players in deals worth over £150m.  We've been left wondering how Everton ever coped with Wayne Rooney for over a decade, Jordan Pickford looks like being the best Goodison goalkeeper in long time while Michael Keane has the potential to be England's first-choice centre-half for years to come.  Everton prised Davy Klaassen from Ajax, beat off competition to take Sandro Ramirez from Malaga, did similar to land Henry Onyekuru, added Cuco Martina, eventually wore down Swansea City over Sigurdsson and wrapped up a deadline day deal for Croatian youngster Nikola Vlasic.  There was a time in the window when it felt like Everton were going to sign a player every two days, and they made the Premier League sit up and take note.
Gerard Deulofeu waved farewell
Ronald Koeman also used the window to trim his squad; Arouna Kone was released, Tom Cleverley was sold to Watford, Barcelona triggered a clause in Gerard Deulofeu's contract and Romelu Lukaku.....
Everton trousered £75m upfront from Manchester United for Lukaku, it also paved the way for Rooney's return, and could end up banking £15m more.  But – and unfortunately it's the 'but' eating away at Blues fans today – they haven't been able to replace him.
Sure, Koeman insisted that there was a need to spread the goals burden around the team, they could not rely on one man and that the need for productivity was the responsibility of many.
Rooney, Klaassen and Sandro have been brought in to help with that but the worry – not only fans but of the manager as well – was that they still hadn't adequately filled the 25-goal hole left by Lukaku.
Ahead of the opening league game of the season, Koeman said the following: “But still now we really have one striker, in my opinion......compare that to the big teams and what they have on the bench or even in the stands and it is a big difference to Everton.  “If you look to the team this Saturday and the bench you can not compare it to the big six.”  On Sunday, after Everton lost to Chelsea, Koeman spoke of the “importance” of landing a striker and stressed the need for a left-sided defender (how do the Blues cope if Leighton Baines get injured?)
Deadline Day delivered neither.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is coming on leaps and bounds, he was terrific against Manchester City, but he's 20-years-old and still very much learning his trade.  Koeman rates him highly but knew he could not expect him to lead the line each and every week.
He may now have to.
Everton came racing out of the blocks this summer but few sides can avoid a mad dash to the line on deadline day.  The Blues are believed to have been working into early evening on finding a striker but, as Farhad Moshiri suggested, they decided to keep their powder dry until January.
A penny for Koeman's thoughts today, after he repeatedly called for a striker to be signed, he can't be amused but, equally, he was never going to accept Everton buying anyone for the sake of it.
And as the Blues crossed another name of their list – Giroud, Benteke, Costa, Llorente... - and the hours ticked by, he would have been using Calvert-Lewin as a yardstick; are they better than he is right now?
The answer, as Everton struggled to find a centre-forward, was that the ones available to them were not.  Only time will tell just how keenly felt the absence of an experienced No9 will be and the hope is that by the time the January window opens, they are at least in touch with the leading pack.
The sense of a missed opportunity would only be heightened if the lack of a centre-forward, and a lack of cutting edge, goals and productivity, leaves them cut adrift by the mid-way point.
Arsene Wenger, the embattled manager of Arsenal  But what business they have done has strengthened the side and though Everton didn't manage to find the final two pieces of the jigsaw, they have still had a better window than Arsenal and nothing in the opening games of the season should lessen their belief that the Gunners can be overhauled this term.  The window didn't quite deliver everything we, or the manager, wanted but that doesn't mean the season still won't.

Ipswich Town’s new Everton loanee Callum Connolly hailed as ‘Mr Versatile’ by Joe Royle
01 September 2017 Green Un
Stuart Watson
Ipswich Town have signed ‘Mr Versatile’ in the form of Everton teenager Callum Connolly, says Joe Royle.  Ex-Blues boss Royle now oversees youth development at the Toffees and was delighted to see defender Connolly head to Suffolk on a season-long loan late on transfer deadline day.  The 19-year-old defender made his Premier League debut when replacing Seamus Coleman in a 1-1 draw with Southampton at Goodison Park in April 2016.  He then played a key role for Everton’s Under-23s, managed by ex-Blues loanee David Unsworth, in the first half of last season to set them of the way towards an inaugural Premier League 2 title.  After that came 18 appearances on loan at Wigan in the second half of the campaign, earning rave reviews despite the Latics’ being relegated to League One, before he helped England’s Under-20s win the World Cup this summer.  “He’s a talented all-round player,” said Royle. “He’s 6ft plus, quick, strong, reliable and decent in the air – and he’s certainly Mr Versatile.  “It’s always been easy to play him in wherever there is a void to fill. He’s played a lot at right-back, but he’s been a left-back for England, done wing-back at times and has played games at centre-back too. He played centre-back at Chelsea for our Under-23s last weekend and we won 3-0.
“And we suspect that he’ll eventually end up as a holding midfielder because he’s got goals in him. I watched his debut for Wigan at Burton back in January and he scored two good headers.
“Versatility is an asset, but it can also be a curse for a player and I’m sure he’ll want to settle in a position soon. I haven’t had chance to speak to Mick (McCarthy) yet about where he plans to play him yet.”  Town’s three senior centre-backs – Luke Chambers, Adam Webster, Tommy Smith – are all currently injured, with full-backs Jonas Knudsen and Jordan Spence deputising at the heart of defence in the recent games against Brentford (2-0 win) and Fulham (2-0 defeat).  Connolly is one of eight Everton players on loan at Championship clubs, with Royle also keeping an eye on the development of Joe Williams (Barnsley), Kieran Dowell (Nottingham Forest), Brendan Galloway, Tyias Browning (both Sunderland), Matthew Pennington (Leeds), Liam Walsh (Birmingham) and Antonee Robinson (Bolton). Conor Grant, who had a brief spell with Town last season, is on loan at League Two side Crewe.

Holland U21 1-1 England U21: Dominic Calvert-Lewin nets debut goal but Gervane Kastaneer pegs back Young Lions in Euro 2019 qualifier
By Dominic King for the Daily Mail
1 September 2017
The scene confronting Aidy Boothroyd was familiar and bleak; a dressing room full of glum faces and barely a word of exchanged.  That's how he remembered it in June after England's Under-21s had been beaten on penalties by Germany, the understandable state of misery being induced by the feeling of being so near to - but so far from - a European Championship final.  This time, though, Boothroyd didn't expect it. A credible 1-1 draw with Holland in a difficult opening game which marked the beginning of the Euro 2019 qualification campaign should have been greeted with enthusiasm but the head coach knew why the mood was unusually solemn.    The lads were all devastated which is ridiculous, isn’t it?’ said Boothroyd. 'But they are world champions and they just expect to win every time. I don’t agree. I wanted to win but I think this is a solid point.  ‘Holland upped their game. But it’s a good start to the campaign against one of the better teams in the group. We’re a new team coming together and I am happy to take a point.’  England have had an unblemished record in European Championship qualifiers since November 2011 – that was the last time they lost a group stage, in Belgium – but this was as close as they have come in the intervening years to seeing that record slip.  From the first whistle in Doetincham, this squad of England players quickly realised they have a target on their back.  The first game of a new qualifying campaign always represents the changing of the guard and you only had to look at the teamsheet to appreciate how different this group was compared to the Under-21s last match in Poland.  Only Ben Chilwell of this starting line-up began the European Championship semi-final against Germany; goalkeeper Angus Gunn was on the bench that night in June, while Demarai Gray and Tammy Abraham dropped down to join the substitutes. These players, though, are not strangers and seven of the team Boothroyd selected here began the Under-20 World Cup final against Venezuela and the confidence that historical success provided was evident to see in the opening exchanges.   Sometimes games at this level can take time to warm up but, within the first eight minutes, the Netherlands and England both had two good chances, AZ striker Guus Til and Kaiserslautern’s Gervane Kastaneer going close for the hosts, Kieran Dowell and Dominic Solanke doing likewise.  England’s key player was Ademola Lookman, the Everton winger at the heart of everything positive his team created. He is only small and slight but his speed and strength more than compensates and his scurrying surges down the right threatened to cause the hosts problems every time.  Lookman had given the Netherlands sufficient warning of the damage he could inflict but they did not heed the warnings and in the 20th minute, his trickery and cute pass enabled club-mate Dominic Calvert-Lewin to stay onside and then sweep home a goal on his Under-21 debut.  Calvert Lewin enjoyed a busy bow at U21 level, having been prolific for the England U20s  It wasn’t as important as the goal in Suwon but the manner in which Calvert-Lewin celebrated showed how much it meant; he has made an encouraging start to the season for club and country and given himself a firm platform from which to progress.  'He’s an old-fashioned centre-forward,' said Boothroyd. 'He can shoot, he can head it, he can run, his touch is good. He’s very honest and genuine and he doesn’t ever down tools, he always keeps working hard and gets his reward with the goals he gets. I thought he was excellent.'   You anticipated England would do the same against opponents they have not faced at this level since August 2009 but, almost immediately, Boothroyd’s players had a spell in which they lost their way and the Netherlands sensed an opening.
They had already served notice of their threat when Steven Bergwijn, the PSV Eindhoven forward, thrashed a right-footed drive that rattled the crossbar – it flew past Gunn and bounced away before he had realised what had happened – and in the 32nd minute, ‘Jong Orange’ were level.
Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Joe Gomez (bottom left) captained the side for the first time
Boothroyd will watch the replays and believe more could have been done to stop AZ midfielder Thomas Ouwejan picking out his cross but the header Bart Rameslaar followed up with was impossible to keep out, as it looped and dipped into the top corner.  Here was the pivotal moment as the Netherlands rediscovered their belief and only an brave challenge from skipper Joe Gomez to charge down a shot from Frenkie De Jong stopped them going into the break with the lead.  Their dominance continued in the second period. If the Netherlands senior set up is in disarray, with a once proud nation now being routinely thrashed and set to miss the World Cup finals, this group had verve and energy and adventure in their play.  For a spell around the 60th minute, the Young Lions had to dig in and stand firm. The Netherlands moved the ball at speed, they looked to exploit tired legs, always pushing and passing. England dropped deep and put their own ambitions on hold.  It was a wise move to close ranks. In the 74thminute, they were sliced open and only a superb piece of defending from Everton right-back Jonjoe Kenny kept the scores level; he raced back to his goal line and kick Bergwijn’s shot away. The right place, the right time. And, crucially, the right outcome. Holland (4-3-3): Drommel 6: Dumfries 7, Drongelen 7, Ouwejan 6.5, St Juste 6.5: Rosario 6, Bergwijn 7.5 (Idrissi 88mins), De Jong 6.5 (van Amersfoort 76mins 6): Rameslaar 7, Til 7, Kastaneer 7 (Zivkovic 88mins) 
Subs not used: van Osch (GK), Diks, Lammers, Van Bruggen
Goals – Rameslaar (32)
Booked – Kaastener
England (4-2-3-1): Gunn 6: Kenny 7.5, Gomez 7, Fry 6.5, Chilwell 7: Cook 7, Onomah 6.5: Lookman 8, Solanke 6 (Palmer 71mins 6), Dowell 6.5 (Gray 71 mins 6): Calvert-Lewin 7 (Abraham 76mins)
Subs not used: Woodman (GK), Davies, Tomoroi, Alexander-Arnold.
Goals – Calvert-Lewin (20)
Booked – Gomez
Referee – Ola Hobber Nilsson (Norway) 7
Man-of-the-Match – Ademola Lookman

Leandro Rodriguez - The mysterious career and exit of Everton's unknown man
Phil Kirkbride examines how a player left the Blues, and nobody knew
By Phil Kirkbride
1 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Leandro Rodriguez's side door exit from Everton was in keeping with his underwhelming Goodison career.  The Uruguayan striker made a low key transfer to Danubio in his homeland during the middle of August after being released by the Blues.  Rodriguez made just one appearance for the Everton first-team after signing from River Plate Montevideo in the summer of 2015 in a deal worth around £500,000.  He came off the bench to face Dagenahm and Redbridge in the FA Cup third round but was hardly seen in Royal Blue again.  A loan to Brentford was abandoned early due to injury in 2016 before a move to Waasland-Beveren ended without him kicking a ball in anger.  But Rodriguez's miserable spell with Everton was cut short on August 10 when his four year contract was ripped up and he sealed a move home with Danubio.

Why early-birds Everton are facing the same old questions after anti-climax
Kevin Ratcliffe gives his verdict on a transfer window that wasn't as groundbreaking as expected
By Kevin Ratcliffe
2 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
I've got mixed emotions at the end of another transfer window.
You can't help but feel that bringing in only a relatively unknown teenager on deadline day is a bit of an anti-climax.  What of all the money we were supposed to be throwing around?  In the end our net spend, somewhere in the £40million ball-park, doesn't feel quite so groundbreaking.
But then you've got to remind yourself that a lot of good work and investment has gone on. We just started early for once!  That's a good thing.  If we had done all the deals we did in the last couple of days of the window people would have been celebrating it.  But there is nothing wrong with getting in there early. It should bode well and give the young lads a better chance of settling.
The major problem is not getting striker.
It's the same old story in that respect really. What happened to all the scouting work etc?
As it is, they have quality but inexperience as the key words for their young strike force for now. Until January at least.  Dominic Calvert-Lewin has many attributes and Sandro Ramirez has had a tough start but he'll need time to settle in.
In regards to Sandro and Davy Klaassen, we still don't know quite what we've got. We're going to have to be patient.  Sandro could be a Goodison journeyman, like a Jermaine Beckford or Marcus Bent, or he could be something much better.  We will have to wait and see.  I'm sure some Blues weren't too excited when we brought in Idrissa Gueye last summer for a relatively modest £8m and he has become one of Koeman's best buys.  So that's why I'm mixed. Overall rating out of 10? If you asked me on the start I'd say 8.  As it is, it's a 7/10. 

Everton's Ross Barkley reveals truth behind Chelsea U-turn on deadline day
Everton agreed £35m fee with Chelsea but Barkley had a change of heart on move
By Phil Kirkbride
2 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Ross Barkley has explained why he made a dramatic deadline day U-turn on a move to Chelsea.
Everton had agreed a £35m fee with the reigning Premier League champions and Barkley is understood to have agreed personal terms.  But late on deadline day, the 23-year-old had a change of heart and decided against a move to Stamford Bridge.  Widespread reports claimed Barkley had undergone a medical before rejecting a move but, as reported by the ECHO at the time, that was not the case.
Barkley is currently sidelined with a torn hamstring and having undergone surgery is expected to be out for at least three months.  And now the England international has taken to Twitter to clear up what exactly happened.  He wrote: “Contrary to a number of reports in the press, I did not undertake a medical with any club at any point.  “I simply decided that due to my injury, it would be best to make a decision on my future and assess all my options in January when fully fit  “Thanks for all of the support.”
Chelsea are expected to push for Barkley's signing in Janaury but will face fierce competition from Spurs.

Everton failed in late Raul Jimenez loan bid, report claims
Blues were constantly linked with Benfica striker throughout window
By Phil Kirkbride
2 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Everton made a last-ditch attempt to sign Raul Jimenez on loan, it has been claimed.
The Blues were repeatedly linked with the Benfica striker throughout the transfer window as they chased a new targetman.  Everton failed to land a striker on deadline day but A Bola report the Blues offered €3m to sign Jimenez on loan for the season.  The reports goes on to say that Benfica swiftly rejected the approach for the Mexican striker who lists Atletico Madrid as one of his former clubs.
Everton are understood to have made Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud their first choice but were forced to abandon plans when the France striker decided he wanted to stay at the Emirates and fight for his place.

Everton under-23s sign seven new players but face season of 'transition'
David Unsworth on revamping his title-winning squad
By Phil Kirkbride
2 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Everton under-23s completed their summer revamp by making Dennis Adeniran their seventh signing of the transfer window.  The Blues sealed the acquisition of the 18-year-old Fulham midfielder late on deadline day for an undisclosed fee with the England youth international penning a four year deal.
David Unsworth has overseen a revamp of his Premier League 2 title winning squad with a host of new signings as well as key players being sent out on loan.
Everton signed Newcastle United defender Lewis Gibson in a deal that could be worth £6m and also raided Queens Park Rangers for winger Josh Bowler in a £4.5m package.  Boris Mathis, released by Metz, was signed and was joined by Dutch defender Nathangelo Markelo, Anton Donkor returned on loan from Wolfsburg before Adeniran followed late on the final day of the window.
“We’re a different team than we were last year,” Unsworth said.
“It’s new, young team. Last year has gone and this year is going to be a totally new experience for some players.  “This year is a developing year.  “If we rewind the clock back three years, it’s like the start of a new cycle of footballers at our club.  Anton Donkor in action for Everton under-23s against Arsenal at Haig Avenue in Southport last season.  “You’re looking at Gibson and Bowler, young kids who have come in and don’t yet know the way we play, so it’s a brand new team and it’s going to be a development year.”

Everton's Conor Grant taken to hospital after collision in Crewe match
Reports the on loan Blues player left 'out cold'
By Phil Kirkbride
2 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Conor Grant has been taken to hospital after suffering concussion playing for Crewe today.
The on loan Blues midfielder was stretchered off after 12 minutes of the Railway Men’s game with Grimsby following a “collision”.  Grant joined Crewe on loan until January earlier this week and was making his Alexandra debut at Blundell Park.  But the 22-year-old was left “out cold” in worrying scenes.
Crewe have confirmed the Everton Academy product has been taken to hospital but have not yet been able to provide any further update on his condition.  Grant was starting the fifth loan spell of his career away from Goodison after signing a new one year deal with the Blues this summer.

Ross Barkley intent on Everton exit despite deadline day U-turn
But delay means Blues asking price must drop in January
By Phil Kirkbride
3 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
It was the use of the word “technically” that was telling.
After Ross Barkley performed a dramatic change of heart on a move to Chelsea, Farhad Moshiri had the chance to offer hope that he could yet sign a new contract and stay at Goodison for the long-term.
Instead, live on television, the club’s majority shareholder said: “He is currently injured so I think technically he will be with us because he is under contract for another year.”
Moshiri was effectively saying he remains an Everton player in name only.
And so Barkley’s decision to turn down the champions on deadline day hasn’t changed anything – he is still set to leave.  What his U-turn has done is merely delay the inevitable, put off his exit until the New Year and though plenty of Evertonians would still love to see him stay, chances of a him changing his mind on this one are slim.  The 23-year-old is certain he wants to go – for a “new challenge” according to Ronald Koeman - but he wants longer to make up his mind about where to.  Understandably, he also wants to walk out of Goodison instead of with the aid of crutches he needs at the moment, after a torn hamstring forced him into a second operation of the summer.  Barkley wants to head to a new club fit and ready to play rather than going straight to the treatment table.
It’s a delay that will certainly force Everton into a re-think.
They’ll not be able to demand £35m from either Chelsea or Spurs in January for a player with only six months left on his contract but football insiders believe they are still likely to set the asking price at around £15-20m.  Moshiri will not have been amused by the dramatic change of course yet, philosophically, said: “It is a big surprise but that is football.”  In many ways, Spurs looks a neater fit for Barkley than Chelsea.  Mauricio Pochettino’s track record with young English players must surely appeal to him and by delaying his decision he has, as he said today in a series of messages on Twitter, more time to “assess all my options”.

Everton's Conor Grant discharged from hospital after suffering concussion
Blues midfielder was making his Crewe debut after sealing loan move
BY PHIL KIRKBRIDE
3 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Everton midfielder Conor Grant has been discharged from hospital after suffering concussion. The 22-year-old was making his debut for Crewe in a game with Grimsby having sealed a loan move to the League Two club earlier in the week. But Grant was stretchered off after just 12 minutes after a “collision” left him “out cold”. The Blues Academy product was taken to hospital in Grimsby yesterday afternoon but Crewe last night confirmed he had been discharged. Grant signed a new one year deal with Everton in the summer but sealed a fifth loan move of his Blues career this week when joining up with Crewe. Straight after Crewe;’s game with Grimsby, manager David Artell said: “We lost Conor.  “He was knocked outcold and went straight to hospital. “I’m not sure how he is now but we are in contact there.”

Everton youngster Kieran Dowell on Nottingham Forest, England and... getting his Sky fixed
The Blues teenager speaks about his non-stop start to life on loan
BY PHIL KIRKBRIDE
3 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Kieran Dowell is loving his hectic start to life at Nottingham Forest - but can’t wait to find time to sort out his Sky TV! The 19-year-old is seven games into a season long loan with the Championship club and is proving a hit at the City Ground. Dowell made his England under-21 debut on Friday night and since leaving Everton on a short-term deal, he hasn’t stopped. The Blues teenager has moved into a new flat but still hasn't had a chance to get his telly working properly. “It has been overwhelming really,” he told the Nottingham Post . “I have only just moved into my new apartment. “I have not had the chance to sort anything out at all, with all the games we have had. “I have been desperate to get my satellite TV sorted, but I have not even had the chance to do that.  “With all the games we have played – and we have had two, most weeks – and then coming away with England, it has been really busy. “But I have enjoyed every minute of it. Kieran Dowell is lighting up Nottingham Forest on loan “That is what you want at the end of the day though, isn’t it? “I came to Forest to play games and it is great to play so many, so early.”

Wayne Rooney rules out England return for 2018 World Cup in Russia
• Former England captain says his ‘mind is made up’ over retirement
• Jordan Henderson to retain armband against Slovakia on Monday
The Guardian
Sunday 3 September 2017
Wayne Rooney has insisted that he will not be tempted out of international retirement for one more shot at World Cup glory in Russia next summer. The former England captain called time on his international career in August, but Gareth Southgate had said there was a possibility he would invite Rooney to come out of retirement for the 2018 World Cup if England qualify. Rooney, who was charged with drink driving on Friday, appeared to rule out that possibility, saying it would be unfair on his former team-mates to return for the tournament alone.  “My mind’s made up,” Rooney told talkSPORT. “I’ve seen it a few times when players come out of retirement and gone to tournaments and it’s not right. “I think the lads now who are trying to qualify for Russia, if they get there then they’re the players who will deserve to play in the tournament, so my decision is made.” In an interview that will be broadcast on Sunday afternoon, Rooney also claimed that Fabio Capello and his backroom team cheered Italy on at England’s 2010 World Cup training camp. “At the World Cup in South Africa, Fabio and his coaches were watching Italy play and they were jumping up and cheering when Italy scored and he’s there as England manager,” Rooney said. England’s record goalscorer retired after scoring 53 goals in 119 games for his country and taking part in three World Cups and three European Championships. Rooney returned to Everton in the summer, scoring in his first two Premier League games back at his boyhood club, but controversy struck when he was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning and charged with drink driving. He is due to appear at Stockport magistrates’ court on 18 September. Jordan Henderson will lead England out for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovakia at Wembley on Monday, where manager Gareth Southgate wants his players to bring the crowd to their feet. Liverpool midfielder Henderson led the team in Malta on Friday, where a 4-0 victory belied a disappointing performance that was booed by some travelling fans. Victory would take England five points clear of Slovakia with two games to play, and the England manager wants the Wembley crowd to get behind his team. Southgate said there was “no point in changing” the captaincy, even though he has yet to appoint a full-time skipper following Wayne Rooney’s international retirement, so Henderson keeps the armband. “It’s a great opportunity for us, a home game. We are playing good opposition so we’ve got to make sure we are tactically prepared, which we will be, but also we’ve got to have belief in the team that we’ve got,” Southgate said. “It’s a great opportunity for the Wembley crowd to get behind us as well. We have a responsibility to get them on their feet,” he added. “This result can virtually get us to Russia so everybody wants that and it would be great if we get the level of support that I know that stadium can bring.”

Can these Everton outcasts revive their Blues careers?
What next for Joel Robles, Oumar Niasse and others?
BY PHIL KIRKBRIDE
3 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Everton reshaped their squad with nine signings worth over £150m this summer. And Ronald Koeman’s spree has pushed a number of players even further out of his plans. Koeman has shown his ruthless side since joining the club in June 2016 and looks set to wield the axe until he gets the squad he wants. Here we take a look at a number of Everton outcasts and ponder what’s next for them.
Joel Robles
The Spanish goalkeeper wanted to leave Everton this summer after being pushed back down the pecking order. Jordan Pickford arrived in a £30m deal from Sunderland and was instantly installed as No1 but had to wait until August for his competitive debut. Maarten Stekelenburg was picked to face Ruzomberok in the Europa League third qualifying round first leg leaving Robles in limbo. He has travelled with the squad for all games so far this season but has, so far, not played a single second. Deportivo La Coruna and Getafe were interested in taking Robles on a permanent deal but Everton were insistent on receiving a fee for the 27-year-old, who is in the final 12 months of his contract. Nottingham Forest were credited with a deadline day enquiry to take the keeper on loan but Robles stayed at Goodison and now faces, until January at least, on the sidelines. He was named as part of Everton’s 25-man Premier League squad on Saturday but, as it stands, his only chance of a recall to the matchday 18 is if Pickford or Stekelenburg pick up an injury.
Oumar Niasse
Oumar Niasse looks dejected during his loan spell at Hull City
Niasse’s Everton misery looked like coming to an end on deadline day when Crystal Palace made a move. But the striker’s transfer collapsed late on, reportedly over a dispute over agents’ fees, and so the paperwork was not filed on time. Niasse is said to have stormed out of Palace’s offices in frustration as he faced up to, at least, another four months at Everton. The 27-year-old, also named in the Blues’ 25-man squad this weekend, is likely to play for the under-23s as he did last season, where his goals in the first-half of the campaign played a part in their Premier League 2 title success. Everton had been looking to sell Niasse for £10m on deadline day but must accept a lower fee when they try to offload him again in January.
Shani Tarashaj
Tarashaj has endured a torrid time since joining Everton in the summer of 2016 - and now he’s not been named in the Blues’ squad for the season. Signed by Roberto Martinez in the January for £3m, he never got the chance to work with the Catalan who was sacked before the season was out. He played in two of the first three pre-season fixtures of the Ronald Koeman era but was allowed to leave for Frankfurt on loan on deadline day. The Switzerland international made 15 appearances for the Bundesliga club but his season was curtailed because of illness. And Tarashaj is now recovering after undergoing knee surgery in the summer with his long-term prospects at Everton continuing to look bleak.
Luke Garbutt
Garbutt was expected to seal a loan move away from Everton before the close of the transfer window. But the 24-year-old remains at Goodison yet was not named in their squad list, which was released on Saturday. Talented left-back Garbutt has made appearances for the under-23s this season but may look to secure a short-term move in January to help kick-start his career.

David Moyes seeking return to management despite Sunderland nightmare
Former Everton boss believes his record 'stands up to anybody's'
By Neil Jones
4 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
David Moyes believes his record stands up to scrutiny as he plots a return to management in the near future.The former Everton boss is without a club having resigned from his position at Sunderland back in May.Moyes’ time on Wearside ended miserably, with the Black Cats relegated from the Premier League and the Scot embroiled in a row after being caught on tape threatening to slap a BBC reporter.Coming on the back of ill-fated spells with both Manchester United and Real Sociedad, the Sunderland struggles have further tarnished the reputation Moyes built at Everton.The 54-year-old, however, believes that is not the case. “I think that would be wrong,” Moyes said. “I think my last game was 499 games as a Premier League manager. I’ve maybe got 880 or 890 as a manager in total.In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Mail, Moyes revealed he chose to resign from Sunderland without a pay-off out of respect to 70 staff members who were made redundant after relegation.David Moyes, Manager of Sunderland looks on prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Goodison Park on February 25, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) He expressed regret for the incident with BBC reporter Vicki Sparks - “it was a difficult point and I regret it and I apologised to the reporter. I should have done better and I should have spoken better.” - and addressed claims that some of his Sunderland players had refused to play for him in the final game of last season at Chelsea.“They didn’t refuse to play,” he said. “But there were players who didn’t play. But I could also say there were players at other times of the season who didn’t playEverton manager Ronald Koeman greets former Blues boss and current Sunderland manager David Moyes (Image: James Maloney) “It was more to do with attitude. I wouldn’t name the players. Players were injured, or not available for that game. But nobody refused.“But there were other games when players, for different reasons, weren’t playing. That was more at the start of the season. I think you’re disappointed. I think then you start to think “this is wrong”. But people only see what happens on a Saturday.”His time in the North East was a miserable one, but despite that Moyes also spoke of his desire to get back into management.“There’s a sense of wanting to get it right,’” he said. “I want that winning feeling again.”

Kevin Mirallas 'really sad' at Olympiakos snub
Everton forward says he really wanted to rejoin his old club
ByDavid Prentice
4 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
Kevin Mirallas has expressed his “sadness” at Everton’s refusal to let him join former club Olympiakos on transfer deadline day.And in a bizarre twist scores of Olympiakos fans have taken to social media to wish ill-fortune on Everton for their stance!Mirallas has told DH Net: “I really wanted to join Olympiakos. I’m really sad. Everton didn’t want to let me go.“I would like to thank all Olympiakos supporters for the many messages they sent me.“And they must know that I love their club and, as I said before, one day I will come back to them.”Everton, however, are puzzled by the player's comments as they did not receive a formal bid from Olympiakos for the player. Mirallas played for the Greek side between 2010 and 2012 before joining Everton.He signed a new three-year deal with Everton in May when he declared: “I’m very happy and that’s why I signed a new contract.“My family is so happy here, it’s the right club for me and I hope this season we can win a trophy.”Kevin Mirallas says he is "sad" But since then his mood has dramatically changed.Mirallas started two Europa League games against Ruzomberok and Hajduk Split but was left out of the squad entirely for the Premier League visit to Chelsea with boss Ronald Koeman citing issues with the player’s attitude.“If somebody is showing that he is disappointed and his attitude is not the same then I have to make decision,” explained the Blues boss.After failing to bring in a striker during the transfer window Everton rebuffed interest from Olympiakos in re-signing their former forward - and supporters of the Greek club have been deeply unimpressed.One messaged the Echo’s Everton Facebook page saying: “F*** you everton. You dont deserve mirallas F*** everton we wish u the worst.”Another wrote: “Let kevin miralas leave to go to Olympiakos because he is not happy here.”While another declared: “You are the most useless group.”Olympiakos qualified for this season’s Champions League and have been drawn in a group with Barcelona and Juventus.There is a possibility that they could meet Everton in the Europa League later this season.irallas has scored 38 goals in his 177 Everton appearances since signing for £6m in the summer of 2012.

Joey Barton reveals Ross Barkley reasons for deadline day about-turn
Here's what Joey Barton heard about Barkley about-turn
By David Prentice
4 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
BANNED footballer and now radio pundit Joey Barton has revealed why Ross Barkley changed his mind over a deadline day move to Chelsea.  The Everton midfielder agreed personal terms with the Stamford Bridge club after Everton had agreed a £35m transfer fee, but then changed his mind and returned to Merseyside from London.  Amid erroneous speculation he had undergone a medical, Barkley tweeted “Contrary to a number of reports in the press, I did not undertake a medical with any club at any point.
“I simply decided that due to my injury, it would be best to make a decision on my future and assess all my options in January when fully fit.  “Thanks for all of the support.”  But Barton told Talksport this morning: “I heard a really interesting thing about what happened with the Ross Barkley transfer. Conte turned his phone off and Barkley’s representatives were trying to contact him.
“He wanted to say ‘look, where am I going to play’, and Conte turned his phone off. That is why Barkley got cold feet and never signed.  “He thought, ‘well, if the manager isn’t answering the phone to me he clearly doesn’t want me’, and that is why he went back to Everton.”  Barkley is currently recovering from a hamstring injury and is not expected to be available until the end of the year.

Peter Shilton's glowing Jordan Pickford tribute
England legend Shilts "likes what he sees" in young Blues keeper
By David Prentice
4 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
LEGENDARY England goalkeeper Peter Shilton sees “something of himself” in new Everton number one Jordan Pickford - and he has urged the Blues’ keeper to push on and become “world class.”
During a remarkable career Shilton won 125 England caps, holds the joint-record for clean sheets at World Cup finals (with Fabien Barthez) and famously played more competitive matches in world football than any other player.  Pickford was handed his first full England international call for the World Cup qualifiers with Malta and Slovakia but had to withdraw with a hamstring injury.  But Shilton has already seen plenty that he likes in the young Everton goalkeeper.  “I see something of myself in Pickford, in particular the way he directs from the back,” said Shilton in his Daily Mail column.
“I always felt it helps to be vocal. You are in a position to see the picture in front of you and I see him shouting and calling and generally looking in charge.  “He has confidence and agility, a developing technique, and I think he is ready to take that step up and hopefully prove me right. I like what I see.”
Ronald Koeman made Pickford the country’s most expensive English goalkeeper in the summer when he offered Sunderland £25m, possibly rising to £30m.  But the Blues boss has already been pleased with what he has seen.  “That was the reason we paid that money for him. We think he will be the best in the future and he is on a good way,” said Koeman.  Shilton believes that Pickford and his young English rival at Stoke City, Jack Butland, can push each other on in the same way that Liverpool legend Ray Clemence and Shilton inspired each other.  Shilton would have won even more than his record-breaking 125 caps but for a spell when he was forced to alternate the England shirt with Clemence before Ron Greenwood finally made the then Southampton goalkeeper his number one in 1982.
Shilton believes that Pickford and Butland are now ready to seriously challenge Joe Hart and replace the West Ham keeper as England’s first choice.  “Joe is what he is and until now he hasn’t been challenged for his place with England,” added Shilton.  “He’s a good goalkeeper, like Tom Heaton, but nothing more than that. And now his place should be under serious threat.
“He was very lucky to keep his place in Malta, where he had little to do. I expect he will have more action tonight against Slovakia when his performance will come under scrutiny.
“He needs a clean sheet, because he has Jack Butland breathing down his neck. And Jordan Pickford, too, although the new Everton goalkeeper is currently injured.
“We need to see both in action for the national team before the World Cup.
“If you are not in the team, then you are not even being given the chance to make judgments and eliminate errors.  “Both can become better goalkeepers than Hart. I am excited by the pair of them and they need to push each other to become better and better.  “Watching them in the Premier League, they are the two English eye-catchers.  “Butland and Pickford should push each other to become world class, but there is still a lot of hard work needed.”

Everton new boy Nikola Vlasic reveals why he's smiling all day
Croatian teenager believes he and Blues can achieve 'great stuff' together
By Chris Beesley
4 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Having experienced Goodison Park as an opposition player last month, new signing Nikola Vlasic can’t wait to run out in front of the Blues supporters as an Everton player.  The 19-year-old winger caught Ronald Koeman’s eye playing for Hajduk Split in the Europa League play-off round and completed a £10million move on transfer deadline day.  Due to the current international break, Vlasic is having to wait to get acquainted with his new team-mates but with less than a week to the visit of Tottenham Hotspur, the prospect of being involved in the Blues squad thrills him.  He said: “I can’t describe how excited I am. All day I’m smiling. I just can’t wait to meet all the guys, to meet the manager and all the people in the club.  “To play for this big club it’s a big honour to me and I know how big a club Everton is.
“The guys who play here are big names – big stars.  “The players that came this summer, the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Rooney and Michael Keane, I’m very excited to play alongside them and for the manager who is a big name in football and I think it will be very good here.”
Vlasic – who won his first full cap for Croatia in a 2-1 win over Mexico in Los Angeles in May – was one of his home town club Hajduk Split’s stand-out performers in their two matches against Everton.
Although the Blues triumphed 3-1 on aggregate with a 1-1 draw in Dalmatia following their 2-0 win at Goodison Park, opposition chiefs were sufficiently impressed with his displays to make a move and when they came in, Vlasic reveals there was no doubt in his mind as to his destination.
He said: “After the first game I heard something about reports in England that they were pleased with my performance but after the second match it was a real thing and I was very proud when I heard about it.  Everton's Morgan Schneiderlin and Hajduk Split's Nikola Vlasic battle for the ball during the UEFA
“There were some other clubs interested but Everton were definitely the biggest and I wanted to go.
“It’s the best league in the world and Everton are one of the top five clubs in England.
“It’s a big honour for me and when I heard about Everton I just knew. Whenever anyone called my father I was like ‘no, just Everton.’”  Despite his tender years – Vlasic still has another month as a teenager – he has relatively considerable experience having turned out 120 times at club level.
Vlasic admits that this is a big step up for him but insists he is ready and added: “I’ve played a lot of games already but the Premier League is something else.  “Football in England is a bigger stage, it’s number one.  “The ambitions of the club is to ultimately play in the Champions League and I want to help the club to reach that goal.  “I believe in myself and in this team. I think we can do a lot of stuff together – great stuff.”

Bradley Lowery honoured in tribute match at Goodison Park
Heart-warming moment as Bradley's uncle scores at Gwladys Street End
By David Prentice
4 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
This was the heart-warming moment when a crowd of more than 13,000 football fans were left with a lump in their throats at Goodison Park.  Thousands of people descended on the home of Everton Football Club on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the life of Bradley Lowery in a celebrity charity match.
And midway through the second half Bradley's uncle, Andrew Summerbell, scored down at the Gwladys Street End after coming on as a substitute in the star-studded match.  Little Bradley Lowery won the hearts of football fans around the world during his brave battle against neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer, before his sad passing in July aged six.  And the match was staged to raise funds for the Bradley Lowery Foundation and Everton in the Community.  Prior to kick-off the crowd, celebrities and the Lowery family paid their respects with an emotional minute of applause.  Managed by TV personality Katie Price, ‘The Lowery Legends’ - wearing the strip of Bradley's beloved Sunderland - ran out 7-3 winners against Peter Reid's Blues, wearing the Everton strip of Bradley's adopted second team.
Ex-Spurs midfielder and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Jamie O’Hara bagged a hat-trick for ‘The Lowery Legends’, with Love Island’s Chris Hughes, Jez Lynch from the F2 Freestylers and Andrew Summerbell fittingly roudning off the scoring.  Singer Olly Murs netted from the spot for Peter Reid’s ‘Bradley Blues’ as well as Soccer AM’s Tubes and Coronation Street actor Shayne Ward.  Former Everton and Sunderland players turned out for both teams on the day including Graham Stuart, Tony Hibbert, Alan Stubbs, Micky Gray and Alex Rae.  Gemma Lowery, Bradley’s mother, wanted to thank the supporters who turned out to watch the match including those who watched online as well as everyone who donated to the Bradley Lowery Foundation.  Prior to the game Gemma said: “Thank you so much for everything that everyone has done, it has made an unbearable time a little more bearable. Knowing that we are getting so much support encourages us to move forward with our lives and continue all the good work with the Bradley Lowery Foundation.”  The rain on Merseyside did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of fans inside the stadium who were treated to pre-match and half-time entertainment from the likes of Simon Webbe from Blue, New Power Soul and Liv ‘n’ G.  The charity game was arranged in conjunction with the Lowery family and the Bradley Lowery Foundation and, with the assistance of celebrity football organiser Sellebrity Soccer, will see the funds raised from the match and fundraising activity, pre-during-and post-match, benefit the Bradley Lowery Foundation and Everton in the Community.

Ross Barkley's messages leave us none the wiser
Everton star's bid to clear the air have simply clouded the issue even further
By David Prentice
4 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Ross Barkley used to post social media messages frequently.
Anodyne, routine - “Important three points today, now onto the next one” - kind of stuff. But regular nonetheless.  Then they stopped. Abruptly.  It was easy to spot why.  Footage emerged on April 10 appearing to show the Everton midfielder being punched in a Liverpool city centre bar.  Five days later, after playing an influential part in a 3-1 defeat of Burnley, he tweeted “Another important win today...”
Then nothing.  Cyber space silence.  All except a moody photo of him leaving the Emirates pitch, uploaded to Instagram, then later deleted.  Then a random tribute to Roger Federer on July 16 after the Swiss maestro had won his record eighth Wimbledon singles title.  Just one tennis related tweet in more than four months.  But Barkley broke his silence on Saturday.  He took to Twitter again.  Three times in fact - presumably in a bid to clarify his transfer deadline day conduct  But it did anything but.  Just 48 hours earlier Everton’s majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, had spoken to Sky TV.  He said: “Well the two clubs (Chelsea and Everton) agreed a deal of £35m.
“Personal terms were agreed, but after the medical we heard from Paul Martin, Ross Barkley’s agent, that he changed his mind.  “And he wanted to reconsider his position during the January window ...
“It is a big surprise but that is football.”
Every news medium eagerly lapped up the story.
It was the Peter Odemwingie tale of this transfer window - a player apparently pausing on a treadmill having experienced a Road to Damsascus conversion.  But Ross didn’t believe he had been fairly portrayed.  So he took the direct route, or somebody representing him did, and tweeted: “Contrary to a number of reports in the press, I did not undertake a medical with any club at any point.
“I simply decided that due to my injury, it would be best to make a decision on my future and assess all my options in January when fully fit.
“Thanks for all of the support.”
Except the messages didn’t really clear up anything, other than underline that he hadn’t actually undertaken a medical at Chelsea.  Which given that he is currently recovering from a serious hamstring injury was hardly a startling revelation.  But if Barkley was hoping to end idle speculation over that element of his deadline day movements, he simply prompted a whole lot more.  Like if the plan all along was to assess his options in January, why bother travelling to London in the first place?
Why have his agent negotiate - and agree - personal terms with Chelsea?
And why raise Everton’s hopes that they could bank £35m from his transfer?
With Barkley now into the final year of his Everton contract, we can safely assume that any sum negotiated in January will be considerably lower than that.  Everton’s best hopes of achieving anything like Barkley’s market value is to hope that confirmed suitors Chelsea and Tottenham become embroiled in an auction for his services.  Everything about the last 12-months of Barkley’s Everton tenure has been enigmatic.  A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma - tied with a pretty ribbon of obfuscation.
We’re still no closer to knowing what is going on in Ross Barkley’s mind.
The fear is that when his Everton career ends, sooner rather than later, it will be a messy divorce.
And no amount of social media messages will clear up that mess.

Not getting Olivier Giroud transfer wrapped up early could cost Everton
Blues shouldn't have let Romelu Lukaku go until they'd found a replacement
BY MICHAEL BALL
5 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
With the transfer window now having slammed shut it was disappointing that we didn't get the striker that Ronald Koeman said we needed and if, as we've been told, Everton were in for Olivier Giroud then letting that drag out has probably cost us. If Everton put a bid in while he's on the beach in his flip flops and Arsenal accept it, he'd feel that he wasn't wanted and would come to Goodison. When you're away on holiday you can forget what it's like to be at a club. As soon we got into pre-season then he'd be feeling at home again. Giroud got his opportunity and scored in the first game of the season against Leicester. After that Arsene Wenger told him he could stay if he wanted and he felt loved again and was ready to fight for his place. Allowing Giroud to get settled back in ensured Everton missed out but I feel we could have got him if we'd have acted quicker. Obviously it was a busy time and they were getting the likes of Wayne Rooney in plus a lot of others but they knew there was going to be a big hole at centre-forward with Romelu Lukaku going and in hindsight we probably shouldn't have let Rom go until we'd brought a replacement in. The emergence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin could have been a factor in the management ultimately not bringing in a high-profile centre-forward. He's come to the club a season ago and has enjoyed a good year of development. Dominic has come back full of confidence from scoring the winning goal for England in the Under-20s World Cup final and Ronald is obviously a fan of him given that he wants him in his 11 and has played him in all sorts of positions. The boy will do the best he can wherever he's selected but he proven already that his best position is up top and he's done the business when he has been given the opportunity there and at the moment he's ahead of the new signing Sandro Ramirez. We saw a similar situation at Manchester United where young Marcus Rashford moved ahead of a few others in the pecking order and he hasn't looked back since. Hopefully Dominic can build on his early season momentum and follow suit. If he kicks on then great. He has shown some decent form for both club and country this summer and now has the chance to step up and although there's no other traditional number nines now, there is competition to play there from other strikers in the squad. I hope we can find a way of making it work because if we fall behind I'm struggling to see how we can get back into games with the personnel we've currently got. Blues could pay the price for not finding Baines cover As well as centre-forward, we're also short of cover in my old position of left-back now that the window has shut and it always surprises me why for one reason or another, clubs leave things so late. They blame agents and players – Everton certainly weren't the only ones to try and do last minute business – that lot across the road missed out on targets and even the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona did too. Why they leave it so late I don't know. Okay it can be like a merry-go-round and you have situations like Alexis Sanchez's proposed move from Arsenal to Manchester City not going through and as soon as one club says no it's like a domino effect. Not getting deals done could hurt us between now and January but if you can't find the right player there's no point wasting your money on someone you're not committed to for the long time. You've just got to bide your time and wait for the right opportunity. I thought it was important not just to get a number nine but someone who can cover for Leighton Baines on the left side of defence. With us having Europa League group matches now, there's the added games and the travel that comes with that. Fingers crossed Leighton can stay injury free because it come back to bite us on the backside because we don't have cover in that area of the top quality that we need. We've brought in a lot of new faces though and have also boosted the Under-23s squad which is good because it shows that the club have a long-term strategy and that Farhad Moshiri is looking at the bigger picture. It's difficult to attract the top quality players when you're not in the Champions League but we're going in the right direction. The window is closed so we've got to back the squad that we've got. Ronald has been in charge for three transfer windows and has really reshaped the squad and the majority are his own men now. If we have a successful run between now and January then we might land some big names in January. You've got to have that desire to play - even if you feel unwanted It wasn't just incoming deals that didn't get done at Everton, there are still a clutch of players at the club still hanging around who don't look to have a future under Ronald Koeman and they need to take a look at themselves. You just want to play football. Not playing is very difficult and it hurts your morale. It's a strange situation if you feel unwanted but you've just got to roll your sleeves up. You've just got to have a desire to play and prove the doubters wrong. Sitting around without a squad number for over a year is not what you want to be doing. If you're not part of the manager's plans then you've got to be a man and stand up and try and do something about your long-term future. No matter what I did in training, I could have been playing like Maradona, I wouldn't be playing at the weekend. It was because of the contract situation because they knew they'd have to make a payment after my next appearance. The manager and chairman wanted to play me but they couldn't afford it. David Murray, the then Rangers chairman, pulled me in and said: “Look, let's sort this out, we need you to play, we can't go any more games without you. What can we do?” I ended up paying £4,000 a game but it was worth it because if I'd have stayed in Scottish football for another two years without kicking a ball my career would have been over, I'd have maybe had to go down to League One. I had a big decision to make but at the end of the day I wanted to play football and it put me back in the shop window. It worked out for me because we won the last game of the season, caught up with Celtic, and I ended up winning the double. Luckily enough those performances earned me a move to Eindhoven with Guus Hiddink's PSV. It paid off because I've now got those medals and those great experiences and after a tough few months I got the smile back on my face. Barkley situation seems strange Finally we had the situation of the Everton player who wanted to go but then turned down a big move. Ross Barkley not going to Chelsea was a strange one. It's hard to have an opinion when you don't know both sides of the story but it's obvious there's something not right there. Ross needs to figure out whether he's bothered about England and the World Cup next summer because in my mind it doesn't look like he is. While he's injured now he'll require a run of games to try and work his way back into the squad and go to Russia. It's not about finance for him – you'll get money wherever you are in the Premier League – there's something else in the can that isn't sitting right for me. Personally I hope he stays but I can't see a U-turn on this one and Koeman won't want to be undermined by any player.

Ross Barkley's Chelsea move could be revived in January - but is Antonio Conte to blame for its collapse?
Latest Everton transfer news includes an interesting claim from The Times about Barkley's failed deadline-day move to London
BY NEIL JONES
5 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Well, this year there were two. Diafra Sakho was delaying showdown talks with West Ham so he could watch a horse race, while Everton's Ross Barkley was allegedly changing his mind on a move to Chelsea DURING his medical. That last part isn't actually true, of course, as the ECHO reported on the day and as Barkley and his camp have been swift to point out since. But there's an interesting line in today's Times from Matt Hughes which sheds a bit more light on the whole situation. It is claimed that Chelsea deliberately kept Antonio Conte out of negotiations for Barkley, for fear that he would cost them the player's signing as he had Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's. Sounds a bit weird, right?
The fear, Matt Hughes writes, was that Conte would not offer the necessary reassurances about playing time and position, and that it was best that the Italian was kept out of things. Oxlade-Chamberlain, of course, snubbed Chelsea in favour of Liverpool, with the suggestion being he preferred what he heard from Jurgen Klopp than Conte. Anyway, that same Times report claims that Chelsea will revive their interest in Barkley in January, and that they hold no grudge over his late change of heart. Nice of them. Mind you, Spurs will surely have something to say?

Wayne Rooney meets Ronald Koeman for first time since drink-driving arrest
Everton forward returns to training after a few days off
BY DAVID PRENTICE
5 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Wayne Rooney came face to face with Everton manager Ronald Koeman this morning for the first time since his arrest for drink driving last week. But reports of the Blues striker having been fined two weeks' wages are premature. Koeman, a known disciplinarian, is sure to take a dim view of his player's conduct during a spell when squad members not involved in internationals were given a few days off. Rooney was arrested by police for being at the wheel of a female officer worker's VW Beetle near his Cheshire home following a lengthy drinking session. Wayne Rooney arrives at Finch Farm, shortly after boss Ronald Koeman Pic: Daily Mirror
But with Rooney charged with drink driving and due to appear at Stockport Magistrates Court on September 18, the Blues will not prejudge the outcome of those proceedings. Rooney is due to return to Old Trafford for a televised clash with Manchester United the day before his court date. Koeman, meanwhile, has talked up the role of one of his "captains" at Everton, left-back Leighton Baines. "I am really happy with Leighton’s performances," Koeman said. "He has shown really good fitness from the start of the season and he is playing well.  "He is quiet, but he is doing his role, fulfilling his function in the team as our attacking left full-back.  "I have been really pleased with the level he has been showing in the opening weeks of the season." Ross Barkley's Chelsea move could be revived in January - but is Antonio Conte to blame for its collapse?
Baines has started all seven Everton matches this season - wearing the captain's armband in both legs against Hajduk Split and the home leg against Ruzomberok - and the failure to land left-back cover during the transfer window means he is now integral to Koeman's plans. Phil Jagielka is still club captain but Koeman said: "Leighton knows he can be one of the captains. If Phil is not starting, then he is our deputy now Gareth Barry has left for West Brom.  "It is normal for him – it is not more pressure. He is a boy from Everton who has been at the club for a long time. He has done it before and he has the experience to be the captain for us. It is really good to have that."

Atalanta v Everton tickets: Bumper allocation for Blues Europa League trip
Blues fans set to take over Mapei Stadium in Italy
BY DAVID PRENTICE
5 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
Everton have secured a bumper allocation of tickets for their return to the Europa League group stages in Italy next week. The Blues look set to take a large travelling support to Atalanta, with club officials having negotiated an allocation of 4,000 tickets for the 23,717 capacity Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia. Previous Everton Europa league excursions have passed into folklore, with almost 7,000 making the trip to Nuremburg in 2007 and almost 10,000 crossing the channel for the match in Lille in 2014. Ronald Koeman’s side will take on Atalanta BC next Thursday (kick-off 6pm UK time) and the club is running an official day trip travel package which includes direct flights to Parma and transfers to the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia. The club points out that fans will be flown into Parma airport and have transfers to the stadium, while some unofficial packages are flying into Bergamo, which is over two hours away from the stadium which will stage the match.  The game was moved from Atalanta’s home in Bergamo. Atalanta have lost their opening two matches of the 2017/18 season, 1-0 at home to Roma and 3-1 at Napoli before the international break. Supporters are advised to book their place through the Thomas Cook Sport website. A match ticket is not included in any travel booking and supporters wishing to travel must be in possession of a match ticket obtained from the club. Payment details for travel will need to be provided at the time of the booking but no monies will be taken until fans have purchased their match ticket through the club.
Match tickets are priced at £23.50* each for Adults, children and concessions and are on sale from today, available under the following criteria:
Season Ticket holders – Tuesday 5 September from 8am
General sale – Wednesday 6 September from 8am
To book travel and tickets, supporters must provide a customer number at the point of sale. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis. Tickets will be available to purchase online, over the phone on 0151 556 1878 or in person at the Park End box office.
*Booking fees may apply.

Why Sandro Ramirez believes he's in prime condition for Everton's 'massive' test
New Blues striker makes fitness pledge ahead of Tottenham's visit
BY CHRIS BEESLEY
5 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
Everton new boy Sandro Ramirez insists he’s in peak condition for the Blues stern test against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The fixture will be Ronald Koeman’s side's third consecutive Premier League match against one of last season’s top four having played away at the Etihad Stadium and Stamford Bridge in their previous two outings. After a credible 1-1 draw at big-spending Manchester City, Everton suffered their first defeat of the campaign, losing 2-0 to defending champions Chelsea. Spanish Under-21 international Ramirez was sidelined for both the Blues Europa League play-off encounters with Hajduk Split plus the trip to City but returned to the starting line-up in London for his fourth appearance since his summer move from Malaga. The 22-year-old was hauled off just after the hour mark on what was a frustrating day for the visitors but after staying back at Finch Farm during the current international break, Ramirez believes he is now fully fit for the visit of Mauricio Pochettino’s side who were runners-up last term. Sandro said: “I wanted to use these two weeks to prepare and keep improving ahead of the Tottenham game. “I have worked hard to prepare for the Spurs game which for us, in front of our fans, will be massive. I feel very positive about the team going into this match. “The week before the Chelsea game I was not really resting, because I was training and preparing myself. “I had two weeks of problems with my heel but I was looking forward to playing again when we went to Chelsea. Now I feel one hundred per cent and I want to be ready for the Spurs game.” Let go by Barcelona in 2016, Ramirez got his big break with Malaga last season, netting 16 times in 31 outings for the Andalusian club. Although the Blues picked him up for a bargain £5.2million fee because of a low release clause in his contract, his impressive scoring ratio in La Liga ensured that big things are expected of Ramirez at Goodison Park. While he’s still finding his feet in the Premier League – Ramirez’s only goal in an Everton shirt to date was in a friendly against fellow Spaniards Sevilla – he believes that his on-field attributes will prove effective in the English game. Sandro said: “I think playing in England suits me - it gives me the chance to make runs in behind and attack the spaces. “One of the reasons I came to the Premier League was I knew I was coming to one of England’s biggest clubs. “So far it has been very good. Of course, there are so many things we need to improve and we are working every day on the training ground to get better.”

Henry Onyekuru has no regrets about snubbing Brendan Rodgers for Everton
On loan Everton striker has quick opportunity to show Celtic what they're missing
BYDAVID PRENTICE
5 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Everton’s on loan striker Henry Onyekuru says he knows Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was pursuing his transfer this summer - but that it was “his destiny” to sign for Everton. Ronald Koeman captured the 20-year-old Nigerian international for £7m from KAS Eupen, but then instantly loaned him to rival Belgian club Anderlecht to continue his development. Brendan Rodgers was also keen on taking Onyekuru to Scotland but the striker said: “I knew of the interest from Celtic but it was my destiny to join Everton. I’m really happy that a club like Celtic were interested in me.  “But I still need to improve as a player and I can do that at Anderlecht before hopefully playing in the Premier League. “I want to have an excellent season in Belgium before returning to Everton.” Onyekuru will have a quick opportunity to show Rodgers what he missed when Anderlecht entertain Celtic in the Champions League on September 27. Both clubs are regarded as the minnows of Group B, alongside heavyweights PSG and Bayern Munich. Onyekuru admitted: “The Champions League draw has been very tough for us. It’s one of the more difficult groups. PSG and Bayern are obviously the favourites to qualify but Celtic is also a complicated opponent for us. Anderlecht’s results have been up and down recently but this squad is prepared to fight in Europe.” Onyekuru, who scored 30 goals in 60 total appearances for Eupen, has yet to find the net in five outings for Rene Weiler’s Anderlecht against Zulte Waregem, Oostende, Charleroi, St Truiden and Gent. Anderlecht visit Bayern Munich in their first Champions League clash next week before hosting Celtic. Onyekuru added: “I won’t have extra motivation for the matches with Celtic. “For me, I treat every match like a cup final and I’ll be searching for my best performance against them.”

Everton Europa League squad includes Ross Barkley
Wantaway midfielder named in squad for Europe
BY DAVID PRENTICE
5 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Ross Barkley has been included in Everton's Europa League squad for the Group stages of the competition. The confirmed squads for all 48 Europa League contenders were announced by UEFA this afternoon, and The Blues have named 27 players in their squad for the competition which starts in earnest next Thursday in Italy against Atalanta. Despite being currently injured and expected to leave in January, Barkley is named in Ronald Koeman's squad. Seamus Coleman, who is also recovering from a broken leg, is also included - as is new signing from Hajduk Split Nikola Vlasic, who played against the Blues in the Play-Off round. Callum Connolly, currently on-loan at Ipswich, is also included. Barkley changed his mind about a move to Chelsea on transfer deadline day after Everton had agreed a £35m fee with the London club and the player had agreed personal terms. Ross Barkley celebrates scoring Everton's first goal of last season
Should Chelsea revive their interest in January Barkley would not be cup-tied for the Champions League - unless Chelsea sign two players who have already played Europa league football. Champions League squads can be updated again before 1 February, ahead of the Round of 16. According to the UEFA website: "Players may have played in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League, but only one of them can have played in the UEFA Europa League group stage. Players cannot represent two clubs in the UEFA Champions League from the group stage onwards." Arsenal, meanwhile, have named a 42-man squad for their Europa League campaign - including a number of youngsters which suggests Arsene Wenger may be looking to rotate his side.
Everton squad in full
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford, Maarten Stekelenburg, Joel Robles.
Defenders
Leighton Baines, Michael Keane, Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka, Cuco Martina, Seamus Coleman, Mason Holgate, Callum Connolly, Jonjoe Kenny.
Midfielders
Morgan Schneiderlin, Ross Barkley, Kevin Mirallas, Aaron Lennon, James McCarthy, Idrissa Gueye, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Davy Klaasen, Muhamed Besic, Tom Davies, Nikola Vlasic, Ademola Lookman.
Forwards
Sandro Ramirez, Wayne Rooney, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Everton include Ross Barkley in Europa League squad after failed deadline day move to Chelsea
The England international is recovering from a hamstring tear which is likely to keep him out for another month at least
Tuesday 5 September 2017 The Independent
Ross Barkley's future at Everton remains uncertain Getty
Everton have included Ross Barkley in their Europa League squad despite the midfielder currently being injured and having an uncertain future at the club. The England international is recovering from a hamstring tear which is likely to keep him out for another month but after his aborted move to Chelsea on deadline day, it is debatable how much he is in manager Ronald Koeman's plans anyway. His refusal to sign a new contract at the end of last season angered the Toffees boss, who said as the player was entering the last 12 months of his contract he would be sold. Everton thought they had achieved that on the last day of the window after accepting a £35million bid from the Londoners but despite agreeing personal terms and travelling south Barkley had second thoughts - much to the surprise of the Merseysiders.
Defender Seamus Coleman, who is recovering from a broken leg, is also included as is new signing from Hajduk Split Nikola Vlasic, having featured against Everton in the play-off round.

Do Everton now have the spending power to outmuscle big rivals?
Blues have made more £20million plus signings than both Arsenal and Tottenham
BY CHRIS BEESLEY
6 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Everton are now ahead of both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur when it comes to the number of high-priced players recruited but does such a statistic actually suggest a shift in spending power? “Twenty’s Plenty” remains the mantra of The Football Supporters Federation when it comes to ticket prices for away fans but such is the amount of money awash at the top end of the Premier League, a £20million plus price tag has now become the going rate for most decent players. Some seven years after their inaugural eight-figure signing (Aiyegbeni Yakubu, £11.25million from Middlesbrough in 2007), the Blues first broke the £20million barrier back in 2014 with the £28million purchase of Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku which smashed the amount for their previous club record buy, the £15million they paid Standard Liege for fellow Belgian Marouane Fellaini in 2008. Since then, a combination of transfer fee inflation due to lucrative television deals and the deep pockets of Everton’s new majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri have ensured that transfer packages for Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane and even the currently injured Yannick Bolasie could all eventually eclipse that figure while the amount paid to Swansea City for Gylfi Sigurdsson already doubles the £20million amount and could reach £45million. The Blues have now made seven £20million+ purchases and all but Lukaku have come under Moshiri’s watch with Morgan Schneiderlin and Davy Klaassen also within the bracket. As football365.com pointed out, such a figure puts Everton ahead of both north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal who have shelled out comparable fees just six and five times respectively. Roberto Soldado became Spurs’ first £20million + player when he arrived at White Hart Lane from Valencia for £26million in 2013 and since then they’ve snapped up Erik Lamela, Heung-min Son, Moussa Sissoko (who of course was a Ronald Koeman target for Everton), Serge Aurier and Davinson Sanchez with the latter’s £37million price tag making him their current record signing but still short of the amount the Blues parted with for Icelandic ace Sigurdsson. In contrast, Arsenal are still ahead of Everton – just – when it comes to an individual fee following Alexandre Lacazette’s £47million move from Lyon in the summer but curiously the Gunners have never bought a single player in the £20-29million price bracket. Arsene Wenger’s seeming reluctance to buy his way out of trouble, much to the frustration of many a patron of the Emirates Stadium is seemingly backed up by the fact that despite spending two consecutive decades in the Champions League – Everton of course have just a solitary play-off round to show in Europe’s elite club competition during this period – Arsenal have only ever purchased five £20million+ players in their history. Perhaps it’s telling that other than the aforementioned Lacazette, the other quartet are all in the lucrative £30million+ category – Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka and the man David Moyes allowed to leave Goodison for nothing, Germany World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi. However, considering that Mr Moshiri sold his shares with Arsenal to invest at Everton, Gunners fans could be forgiven for being miffed by the Blues recent spending spree under the stewardship of their former stakeholder. It could be argued of course that Everton are having to play catch-up, with the bulk of their spending coming over the past 18 months and that if they are to make the great leap to dislodge one of the division’s established elite then they need to splash the cash. Arsenal are only just getting to grips with life outside the Champions League but with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain having already departed and major question marks remaining over contract rebels Sanchez and Ozil, the chequebook might be coming out a few times in the coming months in the search for fresh blood. It must be noted that at a time when the world record fee is now Neymar’s £200million switch from Barcelona to Paris St Germain, a £20million price tag is a mere 10% of such a total compared to the era between 2001-09 when it would represent just under half of the then world record £45million that Real Madrid had paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane. While it remains a huge fortune to the rest of us, are such figures still big money in relative terms considering that Bournemouth became the latest team to join the £20million club this summer? For the remainder of the teams battling for Champions League places in recent years, snapping up £20million+ players has been regular business for a significant period of time. Since purchasing Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid for £26.5million a decade ago, neighbours Liverpool have crossed the £20million threshold on a further 14 occasions but the outlay is not always a guarantee of quality with the likes of Alberto Aquilani and Lazar Markovic proving to be high-priced flops. Manchester United, who splurged £28million on Juan Sebastian Veron way back in 2001 have made 21 £20million + acquisitions – three of which came from Everton – Wayne Rooney, Marouane Fellaini and Lukaku. Chelsea, the 21st century Premier League’s original big spenders have broken the £20million mark on 24 occasions since they bought Didier Drogba for £24million in 2004 but unsurprisingly it’s Abu Dhabi United Group-backed Manchester City who lead the way with no fewer than 28 £20million plus buys since their initial £32.5million statement of intent on Robinho back in 2008. With a net spend of over £138million this summer (Everton’s figure was £54.2million), City continue to set the benchmark for financial muscle. Recent results between the sides have shown that the Blues’ imaginative recruitment policy can narrow the gap in individual encounters but while the uneven playing field may no longer be akin to “taking a knife into a gunfight” that Moyes described, there’s still a gaping chasm in resources that somehow has to be breached.

Gylfi Sigurdsson scores twice for Iceland against Ukraine
Everton's record signing makes difference for Iceland
BY DAVID PRENTICE
6 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Everton's Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson warmed up for his home debut against Tottenham on Saturday with a match-winning brace for his country against Ukraine in Reykjavik. The Blues £40m record signing announced his arrival at Everton with a spectacular strike in Split against Hajduk with his right foot - and he followed up with two more, this time with his left foot to underline his two-footedness. Sigurdsson broke the deadlock two minutes after half-time with a poacher's goal from six yards after the ball broke kindly, then in the 66th minute he smartly drove in his second from 15 yards. The victory leaves Iceland neck and neck with Croatia at the top of their World Cup qualifying group after eight matches Iceland go to third placed Turkey in October for a Group I decider, before wrapping up their group with a home clash against Kosovo three days later.

John Motson's best - and worst - Everton and Liverpool moments
National treasure Motty calls time on his BBC career
BY DAVID PRENTICE
6 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
National treasure John Motson is to hang up his mic - and his sheepskin coat - at the end of the season and call time on his BBC career. The broadcaster, popularly known as 'Motty', is in his 50th consecutive year with the corporation. But he insists he is not retiring from commentating completely. "I'm hoping to keep my association with football and with broadcasting - I'm not retiring from everything, I'm retiring from the BBC," he said. Motson narrated the first official video history of Everton FC in 1988, then when the official package was updated in 2007 he was recruited again to present the story. He also narrated the "History of Liverpool FC " video which was released in the mid eighties and commentated on countless Everton and Liverpool matches. Undoubtedly his most contrived commentary was the toe-curling conclusion to Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cup final upset of Liverpool when he pronounced: "And there it is, the Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club!" But there have been plenty of commentaries more memorable for the right reasons. In 1982, when Ian Rush scored four goals at Goodison Park, his famed love of statistics came to the fore. He said: "Dalglish, look at that. Rush is through. This could be history here for Ian Rush if he scores ..... he's hit the post. He might score now ... he has! And it's the first hat-trick in a Merseyside derby since 1935... in a league game anyway." While Everton fans loved his description of Graeme Sharp's first Anfield matchwinner for 14 years in 1984. "And he got behind Lawrenson there did Sharp. And what a fantastic goal. An unbelievable finish from Graeme Sharp. And the Evertonians have gone berserk. I haven't seen a goal quite like that in a Merseyside derby for years." Motson was the commentator of Liverpool's epic 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest in 1988, afterwards described by Tom Finney as the greatest performance he had ever seen in English football. Motty appeared to be playing catch up last year when Chelsea beat Everton 5-0 and he added: “This was the best 90 minute performance I have ever seen in the Premier League. “I put it above anything I saw from Arsenal when they were at their best, I put it above anything I saw from Manchester United because this was football on another planet.  “Producing football like that, I’m not going to look any further for the champions,” he added. Of course Liverpool's annihilation of Forest was four years before the Premier League came into being! Now 72, Motson said: "I've absolutely loved my time commentating for BBC Sport. "I've been fortunate enough to witness some of the biggest moments in football history mere yards away from the action, so I've really been very lucky."

Coleen Rooney mocks media for rumours spread by 'so-called friends'
She tweeted sarcastically that she wanted to meet all the "friends" quoted by the press
BY TOM BELGER
6 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
Coleen Rooney took to social media to mock media stories spread by her “so-called friends”. The 31-year-old poured cold water on rumours about her relationship with husband Wayne, spread by anonymous sources reported to be close to her.  She tweeted: “Would love to meet all these so-called friends of mine who know me so well.” In a follow up message, she pointed out: “I was being sarcastic towards all these great sources the press have... who I have probably never met in my life! I have the best friends.” Coleen’s declaration comes after increasing media furore around the couple and their future, after the Everton star was charged with drink driving. Cheshire Police confirmed Wayne Rooney had been charged with “driving whilst over the prescribed limit” after being stopped near his home in Prestbury, Cheshire, last Thursday. Scousers threw their support behind Coleen earlier this week as she hit out at photographers for following her and her three children in the car. She wrote an impassioned plea on Twitter: “Please can photographers have respect and stop following me with my three children in the car... it’s dangerous and I’ve had enough.” The tweet has racked up more than 90,000 likes as people backed her, and ECHO readers shared their sympathy. Jean Breeze wrote: “Nobody, no matter who they are, deserves to be followed and hounded by the gutter press. Everyone is entitled to some privacy.” Laura Maloney said: “She was with him when she was a kid in school, I don’t think in a million years she thought the man she fell in love with would be one of the best football players, people just jealous she’s a nice girl and what she decides to do is her business.”

How Dennis Bergkamp welcomed Davy Klaassen to Everton
Everton's Dutch midfielder reveals Bergkamp's message
BY DAVID PRENTICE
6 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Davy Klaassen has revealed the special two-word message he received from a Dutch legend which convinced him his move to Everton was the right one. Linked with Tottenham towards the end of last season, and before that Arsenal and Manchester United, Klaassen eventually became Ronald Koeman’s first signing of a busy summer transfer window. One of the first messages he received was by text from striking great Dennis Bergkamp, his assistant manager at Ajax. It read simply “Good choice.” Bergkamp knows all about Everton, having played - and scored - against them several times during his sparkling Arsenal career. But knowledge of the Toffees in Holland is not quite so wide. In a wide-ranging interview in the October edition of FourFourTwo magazine, Klaassen explained: “In Holland, maybe Everton are not that big - people think they are sixth or seventh in the Dutch league. But it’s a big difference. When you come here, you see just how big Everton are. “I think we can reach the Champions League but it needs time. You can’t expect us to win 38 games this season but we want to finish higher up than last year.” Another Dutch legend, Johann Cruyff, is referenced in the interview, when he compared Klaassen to both Xavi and Toni Kroos. Cruyff said: You must have strong positioning, the ability to control the ball at speed and the technique to deal with the speed of it. Xavi, Toni Kroos and Davy Klaassen can do it. All three have perfect anticipation and they can play left and right excellently. You watch when Klaassen plays from that position for Ajax, the tempo increases immediately. He rarely loses possession.”

Romelu Lukaku was cheap at £90m says Jose Mourinho
Manchester United manager explains "we were very clever"
BY DAVID PRENTICE
6 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
Jose Mourinho believes he signed Romelu Lukaku on the cheap - despite breaking the British transfer record to land the Everton striker on July 10. Manchester United agreed to give Everton up to £90m for the Belgian - with a complicated deal seeing £75m offered up front, £15m in add-ons and including a £10m valuation of Wayne Rooney who moved in the opposite direction. But in an exclusive interview with today’s Times, Mourinho explains that moving early - before Paris St Germain agreed to meet Neymar’s £199m release clause at Barcelona - saved United around £50m for would change the market forever. Normally the last part of the market is less expensive, but this season, after Neymar, everything changed - and changed for the worse in terms of prices. “I think Lukaku on August 31 would have been £150million. Matic would have been £60million or £70 million. Neymar changed everything. If the biggest transfer in history had still been Pogba I think Philippe Coutinho would now be in Barcelona at £101million.”

Jurgen Klopp sends special message to young Everton fan
Noah Cunningham has just undergone an operation to fuse his spine
BY SOPHIE MCCOID
6 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has sent a get well soon message to an Everton fan who suffers with a rare condition. Noah Cunningham, 13, suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy which means he needs to use a wheelchair to get about. Yesterday he had a ten hour operation to fuse his spine and is expected to be in intensive care for a few weeks. Klopp met Noah’s auntie by chance in a Formby petrol station last night and took the opportunity to send him a video message. In the video Klopp said: “Hi Noah, we’re here in Formby at the petrol station, and your auntie told me in this moment that you’re not in the best shape, but that will change soon I’m sure.  “I’ve heard you are a huge Evertonian, so hopefully you enjoy this little video anyway, so all the best and see you at the latest Derby.” Then Noah’s auntie interupts saying “When we win” to which Klopp laughs and smiles - saying “yeah, of course not.” In the past 24 hours the video has been liked and retweeted thousands of times. Noah’s auntie Alison Ruston said: “I was just filling up in Formby and Klopp was at the next pump, I asked him for a selfie and he suggested he did a video instead, he was such a lovely man. Noah Cunningham, 10, who is set to receive the world's first touch-free smartphone. His family are also trying to raise funds to convert their garden for his wheelchair and hot tub for therapy sessions
“We showed Noah the video when he came round from his operation and he can’t speak, but he was smiling his head off and did lots of thumbs up. “We’ve had lots of messages through on the back of the video and Noah’s mum Vicky is reading everyone out to him and it’s lifting his spirits. “Noah really needs his own hydrotheraphy pool, because it will help his recovery immensely, so we’re fundraising for that at the minute - every little helps.” Last year Noah, from Southport, celebrated his 12th birthday by watching his beloved Everton FC beat Dagenham and Redbridge 2-0. Everton fans from all over the world sent Noah cards and gifts for his special day - which were then presented to him at Goodison.

Everton transfer frustration will give Dominic Calvert-Lewin chance to flourish
The club’s search for a striker proved unfulfilled as the window closed
BY KRISTIAN WALSH
6 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
Everton’s transfer deadline day frustrations can be turned into a positive – by handing Dominic Calvert-Lewin a prolonged chance in the first team. The club’s search for a striker proved unfulfilled as the window closed, despite Ronald Koeman stating his desire to boost his options up front. Wayne Rooney returned to Goodison while Sandro Ramirez came from Malaga, but efforts to sign Olivier Giroud and Diego Costa were unsuccessful. Despite that, one of the club’s greatest ever goalscorers, Graeme Sharp, believes the glaring space in the squad can be filled by Calvert-Lewin. The 20-year-old has started two of the Blues’ three games, setting up both of Rooney’s goals, and Sharp believes he can stake his claim for a regular first-team spot.  “The manager said he wanted another striker in the transfer window but Dominic has a great opportunity now to stake his claim,” he said. “He has come back full of confidence after winning the World Cup for England Under-20s over the summer and he’s hit the ground running. “People have to remember he is only a young lad and there will be times when his form naturally dips, so we have to be patient with him. “But, from what we’ve seen so far, he’s impressed and long may that continue.” Calvert-Lewin enjoyed a decent maiden campaign under Koeman following his move from Sheffield United, making 11 appearances for the senior side, including a league debut against Arsenal. He also impressed at the Under-20s World Cup, scoring the winning goal in the final for England against Venezuela.  “There might be a bit more pressure on him now, but you’ve got to be careful with him,” he added. “The manager knows that as well - and he’ll know the right times to play him. “He’s a confident boy. It’s the hardest league in Europe to play in, so it’s asking an awful lot to come in after coming from Sheffield United only this time last year. “He’s probably got his opportunity quicker than even he’d have thought. You have to take your hat off to him. “He’s got a fantastic leap, he’s good in the air. He’s also very quick and he can run the channels well. Obviously, there are parts of his game that he’s still developing but that will come in time.” It has not been plain sailing for the Sheffield-born star, receiving criticism for some of his earlier performances in royal blue. That is something which Sharp himself can identify with, and has tipped Calvert-Lewin to enjoy success at the club in the future. Sharp said: “A lot of people wrote me off when I first came, saying I couldn’t do this or that and I won’t be in the team because I wasn’t strong enough. “But it takes time to adapt. Only time will tell how Dominic does, but I know the boy will work extremely hard to be a success. I think he’s got a good future ahead of him.”

Tom Davies' England display earns host of new admirers
Everton youngster impresses on England Under-21 debut
BY DAVID PRENTICE
6 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
Tom Davies celebrated his England Under-21 debut last night with a 3-0 victory over Latvia, a sparkling assist - and a host of new admirers. Davies was an unused substitute when team-mates Jonjoe Kenny, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Kieran Dowell and Ademola Lookman all started in Friday's 1-1 draw in Holland. He was the only starter from Everton in last night's comprehensive defeat of Latvia at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium, but he was enormously influential. His driving run helped spark the move which ended with Demarai Gray firing England into a 13th minute lead, then his superb jink, run and cross down the right flank was unconvincingly palmed into Kasey Palmer's path by rattled goalkeeper Vladislavs Kurakins to seal the 3-0 victory.
Onlooking England fans were very impressed.
It was a fine introduction to England Under-21 football for Davies, who captained his country's Under-19s to the Euro Finals last season, but was left out of the trip to Georgia where Keith Downing’s side went on to win the title having played the entire second half of Everton's Premier League campaign. "I was in touch with a lot of the lads in the summer, especially at the Under-20s World Cup with the Everton boys like Jonjoe Kenny, Kieran Dowell and Dom Calvert-Lewin," said Davies. "I remember watching the games and seeing them do so well, I was made up for them. "Of course, I would’ve liked to have been there with them and then when the U19s went on to win too, it’s just spurred me on to do it myself and I’m looking forward to the chance to hopefully play and win a tournament with England. "A lot of the lads from the U20s have come up from winning the World Cup and there’s the older lads who did well at the U21s Euros who are still here. "There’s a lot of experience of winning in this group and that’s a good thing so hopefully they can guide us on to doing it again with the U21s. "For me, that’s good as I’d love to win something with England." Davies recharged his batteries Down Under where he visited family. He added: "I did a bit of travelling out there and had a good break. "I went with my family to see my cousin, who has been out in Perth for about ten years now and then stayed out with a few mates for a bit longer and went on to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. "I then went to Bali on the way home, so it was nice. "I just wanted to be ready to go again for the new season because it’s going to be my first full year playing with the first team. "I had a lot of games at the end of last year and I didn’t want to burn out, so I think it was a good decision for me in the end and hopefully I won’t regret missing out, but I’m sure with the team we’ve got, we have a chance to go on to win stuff. "It’s something to look forward to and something I want to achieve."

The World Cup headache Everton and Ronald Koeman could face next summer
With the latest round of qualifiers now complete, the shape of Russia 2018 is starting to emerge
BY KRISTIAN WALSH
6 SEP 2017  Liverpool Echo
Everton could have as many as EIGHTEEN players representing them at the World Cup next summer – although only one has booked his flight so far. With the latest round of qualifiers now complete, the shape of Russia 2018 is starting to emerge. But only Kevin Mirallas, with Belgium, has secured his place – yet there is no guarantee he will still be at Goodison come June, let alone in Roberto Martinez’s squad. It will be important for Ronald Koeman, of course. A summer off for some of his stars would be welcome after what is anticipated to be a busy 2017/18 season, particularly given the final is on July 15 – the latest it has been held on since 1994. That might not be possible, however. Taking the squad as it is right now – so not accounting for those who could leave between now and next summer – and adding an element of realism in terms of who could still challenge for a call-up, here are the Blues who could be busy come the World Cup.
ALREADY QUALIFIED
Kevin Mirallas (Belgium): A routine qualification for one of the pre-tournament favourites. Under Mirallas’ old club manager Martinez, the Red Devils have won seven and drawn one of their first eight games, comfortably sealing top spot ahead of Bosnia and Greece.
ALMOST ON THE PLANE
Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane (England): Though neither featured in the Three Lions’ wins over Malta and Slovakia – with Pickford dropping out with injury and Keane an unused substitute – both can expect to be in Gareth Southgate’s squad should England qualify. They’re well-placed to do so, five points ahead of second-placed Slovakia.
PASSPORTS AT THE READY
Ashley Williams (Wales): The Welsh captain has led his side to an unbeaten campaign so far, although they still sit just second, four points behind Serbia with two games remaining. Four points over Georgia and Ireland should be enough to secure a play-off berth. James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman (Republic of Ireland): McCarthy is in direct competition with Williams for a play-off spot, with the 1-0 home defeat to Serbia dealing a big blow to the Irish’s hopes. Despite that, it looks like it could all come down to the final game in Cardiff to decide who will get a second chance of glory. If Ireland were to get there, what better place for Coleman to return to international football than the grandest stage of all? Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland): Cometh the hour. Sigurdsson’s double saw off Ukraine to see Iceland – the heroes of Euro 2016 – leap into second. He is undoubtedly the country’s main man and, with two games remaining, they sit level on points with Croatia, and two ahead of both Ukraine and Turkey. Another major finals could soon beckon. Mo Besic (Bosnia): Though Besic was not included Bosnia’s latest squad, he had not long fully recovered from injury. Qualification would, surely, see him back in contention. The midfielder will hope second-placed Bosnia can see off the threat of Greece, who sit one point behind them with two games remaining. The play-offs could beckon for them once more. Davy Klaassen (Netherlands): Dutch football is enduring a real slump at the moment, evidenced by their absence from Euro 2016. Their struggles to qualify for this World Cup are also well-documented, with Netherlands three points behind second-placed Sweden. They meet the Swedes in the final game but could require a huge victory to earn them a play-off. Idrissa Gueye (Senegal): A last-minute equaliser against Burkina Faso knocked Senegal off top spot and into third, but they remain just a point off the pace with Cape Verde also in contention. South Africa are fourth on four points, meaning just two points separate all four sides. All to play for as the group winners advance to Russia. Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo): A maiden World Cup campaign – under its current guise - remains a distinct possibility for DR Congo, with Bolasie potentially giving them a huge boost if they were to reach Russia. Formerly Zaire, who participated in 1974, DR Congo are just three points adrift of Tunisia with two games remaining.
HOPING FOR A CALL-UP
England duo Leighton Baines and Ross Barkley will hope to play their way into contention this season, although the latter is likely to come at a different club. Tom Davies is an outside hope having just featured for the Under-21s, but has the ability to be a shock inclusion. Oumar Niasse will be hoping to head to Russia with Senegal, with a January move his best hope of impressing. Sandro Ramirez might find it difficult to break into the Spain squad but will endeavour to catch the eye of Julen Lopetegui, while Nikola Vlasic will hope to add to his solitary Croatia cap if they manage to qualify. France are still favourites to win their group and Morgan Schneiderlin will have aspirations of returning to the midfield, and on-loan Henry Onyekuru will seek to impress enough for Anderlecht to represent Nigeria, who sit three points clear in their group.

Lack of Everton strikers a worry but priority is now to find players with better attitudes
The jury give their take on the transfer window and Spurs
By Everton jury
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
TERRY McALLISTER (Aintree)
A lot of big names throughout the Premier League are causing headaches for their managers with efforts to secure transfers away from their clubs.  Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal, Diego Costa at Chelsea, Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool and Virgil Van Djik at Southampton to name a few.  Everton meanwhile are having to deal with disgruntled strops from Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley. Did I miss the memo when these two became such big deals?  The aforementioned players are all key parts of their squads and would be a huge loss if they did move on from their current teams. Mirallas and Barkley have nothing in common with these players. They are both similar only to each other in that they have about three good games a season and are both superstars in their minds only.  They would both do well to get a game at Everton before injuries and the behaviour from both these fringe players is laughable.  Whatever the reasons Barkley has for doing the club out of millions of pounds, that is exactly what he is doing.
Apparently because he doesn't like being told that he's playing badly, often when he is.
Mirallas is at war with the club after a return to the minor European league we bought him from didn't materialise on deadline day. I suppose we didn't think we had anyone else in the squad capable of beating a man on the halfway line, carrying the ball to the 18 yard box and passing it back to a centre back.  Hopefully the club will move them both on in the next transfer window and replace them with better players with better attitudes.
SAM CARROLL (Walton)
Transfer deadline day came and passed in a rush of bright yellow ties, forced exclusives and the switch at the back of Jim White's head being flicked from 'Human' to 'Ridiculously Excitable Twitter Rumour Circulator'.  Evertonians would have been forgiven for getting the popcorn in and settling down for a big night. Diego Costa's loan signing would surely be sealed and perhaps the forgotten Barca benchwarmer, Thomas Vermaelen, would pull up outside Finch Farm a la Peter Odemwingie, begging Moshiri to finalise a deal.  But once again the excuses were rolled out, and we stopped just short of re-signing Denis Stracqualursi and Royston Drenthe and instead plumped for the excitingly named Nikola Vlasic. In comparison to the signings of Costa and Vermaelen, Vlasic's arrival felt like going to a mystery 'Meet an Everton Legend' night only to be greeted cheerfully by Lei Wei Feng and Per Kroldrup.  But never fear! As the ink was still drying on many signatures that fateful night, Wayne Rooney was landing himself in yet another catastrophic situation, adding the petrol to the bonfire of excitement that Evertonians had been waiting for.  Rooney, in his own inimitable style, quickly destroyed many of the bridges he had spent years rebuilding with his boyhood club.  The manager, the fans and the club itself welcomed him back with a fanfare. His retirement from international football - and two goals in the first two games - seemed like an indication Rooney was back to give his all for Everton.  Sadly, he has gone to extraordinary lengths of stupidity to put himself at odds with the club and the fans after just two months back in blue.  Maybe we should have signed that striker. Is Arouna Kone still available?
Everton's Europa League Squad
CONNOR O'NEILL (City Centre)
Just when you thought Wayne Rooney had come again and started to let his football do the talking, he goes and does something stupid to put himself on the front pages again.  Rooney had been a breath of fresh air since his summer arrival. He has arguably been our best player in the Premier League games we've played and looked to have his hunger and desire back.  His latest antics, though, have left a lot people, including myself, scratching their heads saying: 'why?' The answer we'll probably never know.
But one thing is for certain though: he won't be doing it again any time soon, otherwise he could well see his dream homecoming come to an abrupt end.
This weekend sees Spurs come to Goodison and it's vital we get back to winning ways.
Everything about the Chelsea game was poor. The scoreline, performance and Koeman's tactics.
If we're going to challenge for the top four this season then we can't afford too many days like the Chelsea one.  Another transfer window and a fresh batch of frustration. While this window has clearly been our best ever in terms of player recruitment, the lack of a top class centre forward let a sour taste in the mouth.  There is no question that the squad we have now is stronger than this time last season - but failing to replace our top goalscorer is frustrating.
LEE MOLTON (St Helens)
The proper footy is back after a boring international break. Let’s hope Pickford is fit to play on Saturday, we need him in our goal.  A good game to start back too as Spurs come to town. We need to start quick and get into Spurs faces. Spurs don’t travel particularly well especially against the big team, so if we can create chances we could catch them cold.  They have not started the season too well, it could be a good time to play them. We will have Schneiderlin back so that will be a big bonus.
Our striker Rooney has brought some unnecessary bad publicity on us over the weekend. I hope Koeman is going to discipline and warn him that this is unacceptable behaviour, I am sure he will. He now owes the manager and club a good performance this weekend.  The Europa League group stages start next week and the Blues travel to Italy. If we can start with a win, it sets us up nicely for the other group games.  It will be a bit of an unknown quantity, if we can win our home games and pick up a couple of draws away or even a win we will be able to top the group.

Gana Gueye faces unexpected extra match after FIFA order South Africa-Senegal replay
Match referee banned for life for match-fixing
By David Prentice
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Everton's Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye must play an unexpected World Cup qualifier in November - after FIFA ordered a clash between South Africa and Senegal to be replayed after the referee was found guilty of match-fixing.  The original tie, played in November last year, saw South Africa win 2-1 - after Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey had awarded South Africa a penalty for handball when subsequent replays showed the ball clearly hit Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly on the knee.
The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) made a complaint to FIFA who investigated and banned Lamptey for life in March for “unlawfully influencing match results”, a decision upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport this Wednesday.  The game will be replayed in November, on a date already set aside for international fixtures.  FSF vice-president Abdoulaye Sow said in March: “Today there are many reasons to be happy about this decision - a decision that will be remembered as being significant but will also warn everybody that they are being watched.  “All cheating and stealing will be punished according to its gravity.”  Senegal and South Africa are currently third and fourth in their four team group, behind Burkina Faso who top the group and Cape Verde Islands.

300 up for Leighton Baines against Tottenham
Landmark figure for Everton's long-playing left-back
By David Prentice
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Leighton Baines is all set to join an exclusive 300 club on Saturday.
Only one Everton footballer has started 300 Premier League matches for the Blues, goalkeeper Tim Howard, but Baines is set to join the American when he steps out, as expected, against Tottenham at Goodison Park.  Howard made 354 Everton appearances, while counting substitute appearances Baines is already on 315.  But Saturday will be his 300th start.  That has already elevated him into the top 20 of Everton’s all-time league appearances, just a handful behind club legends Colin Harvey and Graeme Sharp.  Given reasonable freedom from injury this season, the supremely consistent left-back could catch Gordon West and John Hurst and move even higher up that chart.  Team-mate Morgan Schneiderlin is in line to make only his 21st Everton appearance on Saturday, but he has loved what he has witnessed from his long-playing team-mate so far.  “He’s always fit, always doing well, you always see in training that he is working hard and he always has good spirit,” said the Frenchman.
“I remember watching Everton when him and Steven Pienaar were in the team. They made a hell of a partnership and it was beautiful to watch them.  “Even now, with other players in front of him, I think it’s a joy for everyone to have a left-back like him, he’s so clever and determined.  “Three hundred Premier League starts is a good landmark for him but we all hope there will be many more games for him here.”  Only six Everton players have managed 400 or more, with the greatest of all-time, Dixie Dean, stranded on 399.
While Neville Southall’s 578 will surely never be topped.
Other landmarks claimed by Baines include the status as full-back with the most appearances in Everton’s 139-year history, surpassing Tommy Wright’s total of 375.  But typically he dismisses any kudos for long playing.  “While I am playing, I tend not to stop and dwell on any achievements for too long,” he said.  “But it depends where you are coming from. I was a kid on the street playing football, so in that respect, every day is a success.  “I watch my son play football on Buckley Hill and at Walton Hall Park. They are the places I grew up playing, the same fields, hundreds of kids with all their hopes and dreams. So, when you look at it that way, I was one of those kids… and I ended up here.  “If you take a moment to look at it like that, it is pretty special.”  Now 32, Baines says he will listen to his body as to how long he will continue to perform.  His current contract runs to 2019 and he added: “I guess you just pay attention to your body and how you are feeling.  “Ultimately, those decisions are made by other people.  “They will probably let you know when you are not required. You keep giving yourself the best chance, look after yourself… and just relax about it.  “It’s only nature, people are going to get older and it comes to everyone. You have to enjoy it while you can.  “Honestly, I am happy with the way things are set up now – and that I can give everything to this football club.  “Whatever is left in me to give, I am more than happy to give it to Everton.”

Failed Commonwealth Games bid is NO reason for Everton fans to worry
The Blues and the council have been quick to allay fears over the new stadium plan
By Liam Thorp
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Liverpool’s failure to land the 2022 Commonwealth Games will have NO effect on plans to build a new Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.  The planned new arena formed a central part of the city’s Commonwealth Games bid - with a vision to fit a temporary running track inside the stadium a key aspect.  But both the council and the club have insisted that today’s news that Birmingham will be the UK’s chosen host city for the 2022 event will have no effect on the new stadium plan.  Everton has made it clear that while it fully supported the games bid and was working closely with the council and others on the vision, its plans for Bramley Moore were well in place before the option of a bid was even on the table and remain unchanged following today’s result.  The club said the land has already been purchased for the stadium and while it is accepted that a successful games bid may have accelerated the project - it will now proceed as planned.  Last month the ECHO reported that a stadium finance deal between Everton and Liverpool City Council is close and that talks are continuing between the two sides.
And speaking after today’s Commonwealth Games setback, Blues fan Mayor Anderson said that remains the case.  He said: “This doesn’t change a thing regarding the Bramley Moore stadium.
“We will still be working with Everton Football Club to deliver on that.  “We are still very confident that we will reach an agreement with the club and we will work with them now to accelerate that process.”
Worried Blues fans have been contacting the Mayor on twitter to ask if the project will be affected by today’s result - but he has been quick to allay any fears  In March, the council’s cabinet agreed that the authority would effectively act as a guarantor to any stadium finance deal.  The council would set up a company called a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that would lease the stadium and then sub-lease it to the club itself.  It’s now up to Everton FC to actually find the money and get the stadium built. But the club believes that having the council’s clout and financial security behind the stadium will make it a more attractive investment.

Wayne Rooney to start for Everton against Tottenham despite Ronald Koeman's 'disappointment' at striker's situation
Blues boss says matter will be dealt with internally after talks between Rooney and chairman Bill Kenwright
By Neil Jones
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Wayne Rooney is set to lead the line for Everton against Tottenham after holding talks with both Ronald Koeman and Bill Kenwright this week.  The Blues forward has been in the news for the wrong reasons following his arrest last week.  Rooney is due in court later this month after being charged with drink-driving and Koeman, speaking publicly for the first time since the story emerged, admitted the situation had left him “very disappointed.”  Reading from a prepared statement prior to his regular pre-match press conference, he said: “Obviously I am very disappointed by this situation regarding Wayne Rooney.
“We have spoken on Tuesday and the chairman Bill Kenwright spoke also to Wayne about this situation.
“In line with any disciplinary matter this will be dealt with internally at an appropriate time and that is all I have to say about the case of Wayne Rooney.”  Asked whether the former England captain would be considered for selection for Saturday's game, Koeman added: “He will play this Saturday. If I see that Wayne is not in a physical or mental condition to play then he won't play.”  The situation, of course, is further complicated by Everton's failure to land a frontline striker during the summer transfer window.
Rooney has scored twice in his first three appearances since returning to Goodison Park, and is the senior forward option in Koeman's squad. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, 20, and Sandro Ramirez, 21, will compete for starting berths.

Oumar Niasse handed sensational Everton lifeline after transfer failure
Niasse returns to first team for first time in over a year
By David Prentice
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Oumar Niasse is back in Everton’s first team fold - for the first time since May 2016.
The Senegal international was an unused substitute in the humiliating 3-0 defeat at Sunderland which sealed Roberto Martinez’s fate.  Ignored by caretaker manager David Unsworth for the visit of Norwich four days later - and then dumped by Ronald Koeman after 45 minutes of a pre-season friendly in Austria against FK Jablonec - he hasn’t featured in a Blues senior squad since.  Forced to train and play with the club’s Under-23 squad where he famously didn’t even have a locker, he later went on loan to Hull City.  But today he was dramatically recalled to first team duties at Finch Farm.
“Niasse is back in the first team,” said manager Ronald Koeman.
“He did a training session today.
“It gives us another option for the striking position.
“It’s not necessary to speak any more about what happened last season I found that now is the right time to bring him back to the first team.  “He’s an Everton player and sometimes in life you need to give some opportunities.”  Asked whether Everton’s failure to land their priority target of a replacement for Romelu Lukaku during the summer transfer window had influenced his change of heart, Koeman candidly replied: “That’s one of the reasons. Yes.  “Last season was a different season. Maybe we had other strikers so we found it difficult to find a position for him. But his behaviour was perfect he played games for the Under-23s and I think now is the right time to bring him back to the first team.
“He needs to fight like every player for his opportunity.”  Koeman also revealed that he had spoken to Kevin Mirallas regarding his post-deadline day assertion that he was “very sad” not to have signed for Olympiakos.  “I spoke to Mirallas and he wasn’t happy about his situation. He was looking for something else but nobody agreed something with Everton,” explained the Blues boss.  “Kevin stays and he needs to work hard and he needs to give competition to all the players.”
On Everton’s unsuccessful pursuit of a centre-forward - with Olivier Giroud believed to be the Blues’ prime target - Koeman explained: “Overall I am happy. We did not 100 per cent do the business because everybody knew we tried to find a striker - and that striker was really our priority.
“But okay, I think we were a little bit unlucky with our option one and our option two.
“I thought myself we would get one of the two in. Finally we didn’t and it’s always a problem if you go for your option three or your option four or option five!  “The players weren’t available in that time to make this team stronger.  “And of course we have Dominic (Calvert-Lewin) and Sandro (Ramirez) and Wayne (Rooney) can play number nine as well.”

Everton boss Ronald Koeman delighted at Premier League transfer window rule changes
Koeman expressed his dissatisfaction with the existing system
By David Prentice
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Premier League clubs have agreed to close the summer transfer window the day before the start of the 2018-19 season.  And Everton manager Ronald Koeman is delighted.  Just minutes before the Premier League clubs voted to stop the registration of new players after 5pm on Thursday, August 9, 2018, Koeman expressed his dissatisfaction with the existing system.  "Let’s hope we can change this," he said.
"If we do it in the Premier League and the rest of Europe doesn’t, we still have a problem.
"But the current system is crazy.  "Vincent Janssen of Tottenham was going to leave Tottenham on transfer deadline day and on that day played for Holland against France.  "That’s crazy because then you don’t have that focus for the national team.  "There are a lot more examples like the Janssen situation.
"That’s crazy. It’s unbelievable that can still happen.  "I don’t know why we can’t change it so everybody knows the squads they will have."  Minutes later the system was changed.
Clubs will still be able to sell players to clubs in leagues where the window is still open, as is currently the case.  In a short statement, the league said: "Premier League clubs have today agreed to a rule amendment that will see the summer transfer window in any year end at 17:00 on the Thursday before the start of the season.  "This is for Premier League clubs only and has no bearing on other leagues and competitions."  Thursday's vote, which was not unanimous, followed weeks of debate about the uncertainty caused to managers and players by three weeks of transfer activity and speculation at the start of a new campaign.  The fact that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool only five days after playing for Arsenal in a 4-0 defeat at Anfield was raised as an example of the extended window's potential threat to the integrity of the league.  Not every club has been convinced of this argument, though, with several understood to be concerned about closing the window much earlier than other European leagues.  At the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester on Wednesday, LaLiga president Javier Tebas made it clear he did not think starting a season with the window still open was a major issue for his clubs.  The decision means Premier League clubs will be unable to replace players they lose to foreign teams in the last few weeks of the window.  Those clubs in favour of shutting the window early were given some comfort this week when UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said he supported the idea of shortening the time available for signing players each summer.  English Football League clubs are also understood to be keen on closing the window before the season starts and EFL chairman Shaun Harvey told reporters at Soccerex on Tuesday that the league will vote on it at a meeting on September 21.  Transfer windows have been a fixture in the football calendar since 2002 when FIFA made them compulsory after lengthy talks with the European Commission on the game's transfer system.
They were intended as a compromise between the clubs' desire for contractual certainty on the one hand, and the players' rights to freedom of movement on the other.  The actual dates of the windows varies from country to country - and a transfer window is open somewhere in the world every day of the year - but in Europe they tend to be from the start of June to end of August, with a shorter mid-season window in January.  Since the windows were introduced, Premier League clubs have spent £10billion on players, with this summer's spend a record £1.4billion.  Brighton manager Chris Hughton welcomed the decision.  Hughton, who signed Sporting Lisbon defender Ezequiel Schelott but missed out on Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen on deadline day, said: "That is good news.  "I think most managers would say the same. You have a hectic enough time as it is preparing for the season.  "It would make it uncomfortable going into the first week but most of us would prefer to have it then than what we have now, going into the early weeks of the season."

Koeman reveals Barkley Everton talks after collapsed deadline day move to Chelsea
Everton agreed a £35m fee with Chelsea for the midfielder
By David Prentice
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Ronald Koeman revealed he sat down with Ross Barkley this week and spoke about the player’s startling transfer deadline day U-turn - but the Blues boss insisted that their discussions will remain “private.”
Everton agreed a £35m fee with Chelsea for the midfielder who is in the final year of his Everton contract, and the player’s representatives agreed personal terms with the London club.
But Barkley changed his mind and returned to Merseyside - later clarifying via social media that he had not undertaken a medical as some media sources suggested.  “Of course it was a strange last day of the transfer window,” said Koeman.  “But I don’t think that was only for Everton, but for most of the Premier League clubs too.  “Ross came to see me on Tuesday and he explained to me why he turned down to go to Chelsea.  “That is a private talk with Ross and I am not the right man to explain to you about his decision or the reason of that decision.  “He was open to make a move to another club and what I heard from the board there was an agreement between Chelsea and Everton.  “But finally the decision was by the player and that is what happened at that time.”  Barkley has been named in Everton’s Europa League squad this season and Koeman suggested that the midfielder could still figure for the club, as soon as he overcomes his hamstring injury.  Asked if Barkley’s Everton career was now over, Koeman declared:. “No, no because he is still an Everton player and he has a contract until the end of this season.  “At this time he has injured and it will be another two-and-a-half months before he is available. I don’t need to take that decision now. I can wait and see what happens and we will see what that decision is at that time.”

Seamus Coleman joins Wayne Rooney in Everton training as Blues gear up for Tottenham clash
Coleman pictured at Finch Farm, while Rooney is set to start for the Blues against Spurs
By Neil Jones
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
The cameras have been at Finch Farm this week seeking only one man.
And on Thursday they got what they wanted. Pictures of Wayne Rooney back on a football field.
Ronald Koeman confirmed at his press conference that Rooney would play for Everton against Tottenham this weekend, the pair having held face-to-face talks at Finch Farm on Tuesday.
Later, Rooney was part of the Blues squad which was put through its paces ahead of Saturday's game.
Rooney was joined by new boy Nikola Vlasic, signed from Hajduk Split in a £10m deadline-day deal. Koeman had earlier spoken highly of the 19-year-old winger, who is in line for a debut against Spurs.
Jordan Pickford was also spotted by the cameras, having shaken off the injury which forced him to miss England's recent World Cup qualifiers, while Kevin Mirallas was present having seen a possible move to Olympiacos fall through late in the transfer window.  The Irishman has been sidelined since March following that horrific double leg break, but is stepping up his recuperation with the club's medical staff, even though a return to competitive action is still some way off.  Great, though, to see the popular full-back out on the training field, working his way back to full fitness.

Why Everton's Nikola Vlasic signing has got Ronald Koeman excited
Teenager is in line to make his Blues debut against Tottenham this weekend
By David Prentice
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
One of the “biggest talents in Europe” will be in Everton’s squad for the visit of Tottenham on Saturday, confirmed Blues boss Ronald Koeman.  Everton snapped up Hajduk Split teenager Nikola Vlasic for £10m on transfer deadline day.  And Koeman revealed that the 19-year-old would go straight into the Blues’ squad for the Goodison clash with Spurs this weekend.  “He will be part of the squad this weekend, yes.”
Koeman added: “Nikola Vlasic was on our list because he is one of the biggest talents in Europe in my opinion.  “Of course we had two games against Hajduk Split and in those two games he impressed me with his qualities.”  Everton have recruited a number of young players this summer.
In addition to Under-23 signings Nathangleo Markelo, Josh Bowler, Anton Donkor, Boris Mathis, Lewis Gibson, Dennis Adeniran and striker Henry Onyekuru - who was instantly loaned out to Anderlecht, a number of Everton’s senior players also have youth on their side.  Koeman declared that the future was bright for the Blues.  “The boy (Vlasic) is 19,” added Koeman.  “We have a lot of young players, the goalkeeper Pickford, Klaassen, Sandro Ramirez ...  “The future is bright for Everton but of course you need time with them.”

Why Ronald Koeman was left surprised by Ross Barkley's deadline day drama
Blues boss unable to explain why midfielder's future was not resolved before the end of the transfer window
By Neil Jones
7 SEP 2017 Liverpool Echo
Ronald Koeman shrugs his shoulders as he seeks the answer to his own question.
It's a fair query, too.  The Everton boss is wondering about Ross Barkley; specifically, why the England international was left rushing around on transfer deadline day, when it has been clear all summer that his future lies away from Goodison Park.  Persistently linked with Spurs, who made no official offer, Barkley had the chance to move to Chelsea last week, only to snub the chance.  There was no London medical, despite Farhad Moshiri suggesting otherwise live on Sky Sports, just a decision from the player and his representatives, based on what he had seen and heard from the Premier League champions.
Barkley is now back on Merseyside, recovering from a hamstring injury.
“He's an Everton player,” Koeman pointed out in his Thursday press conference, though he admits he is surprised that that is still the case – and that he has a decision to make on whether to play the midfielder once he is back to full fitness.  “I don’t know, it will be strange,” Koeman said. “And of course it’s in one side a strange situation because everybody knew that he did not sign a new contract at Everton (so) it surprised me all that stuff came in the last day of the transfer window.  “Because if you know a player will not sign a new contract you have the whole summer if you want the player. And that’s strange in my opinion.  “But okay, we will wait until Ross is back fit again. I don’t know, maybe by that time there is something more clear about his future. I don’t know.”  Koeman expected Barkley to move to Tottenham this summer  Koeman seemed particularly perplexed by Spurs' refusal to submit an acceptable offer for a player they have long coveted. Barkley, it is understood, is enthused by the idea of working with Mauricio Pochettino, but only Chelsea were willing to meet Everton's asking price this summer.  “I know because I have experience with Tottenham when I was managing Southampton,” Koeman pointed out. “In the first season we had a situation with Morgan Schneiderlin and Tottenham. And in my second season the same happened with Victor Wanyama and Tottenham.  “Maybe that is the way they do business, I don’t know. My experience with the two players of Southampton was that it is very difficult, because if there is interest and they like the player but there is not really a bid in to the club, then what happens in Southampton?
“I'm not saying that's how it is now (with Barkley) but I have to deal with a disappointed player in my team. And that makes it difficult.”  Barkley took to social media last weekend to clarify reports he had decided against joining Chelsea during a medical with the Londoners – a claim that had been repeated by Moshiri on national television.  He and Koeman held face-to-face talks at Finch Farm on Tuesday, in which the player explained why he opted against a move to Stamford Bridge – though the Dutchman would not reveal the exact nature of the conversation.  “He has explained me why and that’s secret between me and him,” he said. “If he likes to talk this and explain it to the media then he is free to do this.  “It’s not right, or fair, if he explains to me and I go straight out to the press. What he told me is private between him and me.”