Looks like Deulofeu is a done deal. Straight loan, we pay 750k, and Barca still has the right to buy him back.

A player who isn't good enough for Everton isn't good enough for us.

He's miles better than Niang, and that's good enough for me (for now)

It's a loan with an option, win win for us

Either way if/when the money flows in from the new owners we'll be looking at more permanent solutions for that left side (Keita, Bernardeschi, Insigne and Berardi all being mentioned (don't know how realistic some of those are though)

Is this just a default comment because he's a Dutch U23 international with a foreign name? You've never watched him play. Or never paid attention to him when he played. He's 'by default' better than Niang but then, so am I.

We signed him, if anyone cares.

Under the circumstances, I think this is a good move. From what I have been reading he is a rather versatile player, which means his arrival will give us more options op front and in midfield. And it is just a loan, which means we are not going to get stuck with him if he turns out to be a disappointment. This summer we will (hopefully) have money for more serious investments, and (unless he turns out to be much better than we all seem to think) Delofeu will be gone.

Now if we could only sell Niang and bring in some cash ...

I think you just answered your own question right there...

I don't claim to know what Deulofeu can do as a player, I don't claim to have watched him play before either. I actually didn't even know who he was when we were first linked with him. My only thinking atm is that anyone is better than the bumbling, stumbling, clumsy Niang. Who aside from being a mediocre players who mainly relies on physicality and nothing else; he has a terrible attitude to boot. So yes, I think in this case I think anyone is an upgrade over Niang, who in a season where our coach has had tremendous success with the young players in the group, he's the one who still can't manage to take advantage of the situation presented to him.

Like I said, I can't claim to know much about this Gerard kid (Deulofeu is too hard to write from memory so I'll just call him that), but I'm happy that we managed to sign him. i don't know if he can be a proper solution for us but he'll give us options. He can play on the left or right of the wings from what I heard which will be useful for us if (god forbid) Suso is injured

Also, an update on the Niang situation. Some EPL clubs are interested (mainly WHU, Crystal Palace and Everton), they should definately be the priority as they have the cash to spend. If we can get something out of Niang it would be a miracle

Why is it so important to get something out of Niang?

Niang is reported to have said goodbye to the Rossoneri today with weird sudden rumours Liverpool have signed him.

That came from nowhere.

What concerns me is not only is he not good enough for Everton, but he's not good enough for a struggling Everton. What further concerns me is he's not only not good enough for Everton, and a struggling Everton, but one which has a Dutch manager who would be more likely to favour a Dutch player.

Beyond injury and ability I am also concerned about attitude. We seem to be in a really crummy market, taking Roma rejects, Everton rejects, players who simply aren't in favour at their current clubs. We got lucky with Romagnoli but of all our signings in recent years, other than Bacca and perhaps Bonaventura, who have we signed who was a serious first team player at their existing club and who wasn't a Genoa quality team?

Can't think of anyone. It's a diabolical market.

Deulofeu is also a right winger by trade, which is where we play Suso. If he's to be switched to the left, sure, I'm willing to give that a chance. But really, this current market is painful to witness. It's so un-Milan it's not even sad any more.

Your post is frank, honest, and appreciated, but it sums us up that we're so desperate for anyone to come in we accept unknowns and assume because they're new and shiny they must be better than what we have. Never mind the fact that Olivares was ghastly from day one, never mind what a shambles Acerbi, Armero, Mesbah, Onyewu were - they were new and shiny and presumably had to be good. Alas they were not.

I understand where you're coming from, but for me this is a desperate signing again. I'll give him a chance to prove me wrong, but if he couldn't do it at Goodison I'm unconvinced he will do it for us. Look where Taarabt ended up.

It's always a gamble. But we're in a situation where we must take these shots in the dark and try. Maybe some of them end up like Suso.

Please keep in mind that we are operating with zero budget on this transfer market. That will (hopefully) change this summer, so I would not look at our recent past as an indication of what will happen once we get new owners. However, until that happens, it is what it is.

As of right now, we needed someone that can play on the wing, and Deulofeu gives us that. From what I have been reading he is reasonably good (has played on Spain's NT up to U21) and is rather versatile (can play right, left, and even center as a "false 9"). I am not sure if I would dismiss him as an "Everton reject", at least not yet.

Random but Niang to Watford is a done deal.

Suso and Romagnoli are rare gems. We can't do that every time. I've never seen our bench worse than it currently is.