28 Aug 2026 09:25:31
If we're going to sell, replacements Must be ready first.
I'm all for sensible player trading, but if Everton are going to let players leave at this stage of the window, we need their replacements lined up and ready to come straight in.
Iliman Ndiaye leaving would be a massive loss. He has become one of our most important attacking players, and losing him without having a replacement already secured would leave a huge hole in the squad.
Then there's the defence. Michael Keane is apparently available with late interest from West Ham, and if O'Brien were to leave as well, we'd suddenly be massively short at centre back. Potentially needing 2 or even 3 new centre backs just to get back to where we are now.
I also can't see Beto leaving at this point, which probably means we won't be bringing in another striker. That's not necessarily a problem if Beto stays, but it does make the situation with Ndiaye even more important.
One thing I'd strongly prefer is for Grealish to be a completely separate deal with Man City, rather than his arrival being tied into any potential Ndiaye transfer. If City want Ndiaye, we should be negotiating his value independently and getting the best possible deal for Everton.
And let's not forget, we still need a right back.
Moyes himself admitted after the Preston game that we're already short on numbers. If that's the case, selling several more players without replacements already secured could seriously damage our squad before the season has even properly got going.
Sell if the right offers come in — but replace first.
We cannot afford to go into the season weaker than we are now.
Incomings need to be signed, sealed and ready to go Before the exits happen. That's the only way this window makes sense.
28 Aug 2026 10:25:22
The merry-go-round system where we always seem worse done by.
Completely agree, Optimum, but I don't think it's that straightforward.
It'll be another 'late in the window' purchase and we will be held to ransom on the replacements / incomings as the other clubs will know we have money.
I'd like to see us have a backbone and walk away from the Ndiaye deal if it will screw us over.
28 Aug 2026 10:44:37
I'd sell Keane and keep O'Brien. Wonder if Jake & DM have had a fall out. Seems strange to me selling him unless we get silly money.
28 Aug 2026 10:46:53
I completely agree, mate. That's exactly my concern with it. If we sell Ndiaye first and then start scrambling around for replacements, every selling club knows we've got £80m burning a hole in our pocket and suddenly everyone wants another £10-20m.
That's why I'd much rather see the club have the replacements identified, negotiations well advanced and ideally deals ready to go before sanctioning the sale.
And yes, if the Ndiaye deal ultimately leaves us weaker overall, then we absolutely should be prepared to walk away.
£80m sounds fantastic on paper, but it means very little if we're left scrambling around on deadline day and end up replacing him with someone who isn't ready or isn't good enough.
We shouldn't be forced into a merry go round just because there's money on the table. If we're going to sell one of our best players, the squad needs to come out of it stronger.
28 Aug 2026 11:03:24
Absolutely, OS. Trouble is, we know that, but do the club?
28 Aug 2026 11:24:33
Moyes has said "we are not in a hurry to sell our best players.."
Let's hope that's the case. Brighton held out on Minteh and I can see him staying there. We should do the same if it's not beneficial for us.
Give Illy another season in the shop window and cash in for more next summer.
28 Aug 2026 11:51:52
80m sounds amazing until you think we splashed 50 on Dibling.
28 Aug 2026 12:06:14
We didn't.
28 Aug 2026 13:16:42
The deal for Dibling was £35m with £7m in addons and a 20% sell on clause. But the £35m is structured to be paid over the course of his 4-year contract, making it £8.75m per year.