Slightly related to this, I wonder what that means for their interest in making the Martins-Indi deal permanent...? Good player up for grabs there. With the craziest eyes, ever.
I'm in the need of a bit of a life, as i do watch a fair bit of Spanish football. Loved watching him at Villarreal. That's what I'm basing my thoughts on! Hasn't had much of a chance at Atletcio.
Can play - and has played - across the front 3. I remember him at Villarreal most fondly, forced Atletcio into shelling almost £30m on him. He's a talent for sure.
Had a feeling we were looking to replace Jay, this would be a good signing. I remember before he got his big move to Atletco he was really highly rated, think he was at Villarreal. He's a good age, quick as **** and tricky.
I think it's fair to say that we would have needed to look at replacing Fonte sooner rather than later if he was still here. I don't think anyone can deny that we got the best out of him, he's on the way down now.
If Stephens progresses this season as much as he did last season, then we're onto a winner. Could save us a fortune.
Les Reed.
To be fair, they've done a mixture of both. Young players with big potential and experienced winners to supplement it. Will be very interesting seeing how they get on.
The expectations at Everton are going to be huge this year, lots of pressure for the players and coaching staff to handle. They're a deluded bunch at the best of times.
This has been so sad to follow over the last year, but he has had one hell of a ride in a positive sense - getting close with his Sunderland players, leading England out - so many amazing lifelong memories for his family to carry away from something very tragic, no one should ever have to deal with what he went through - especially not someone that young.
RIP little dude.
I think that's the only way you can really look at it to be honest. History tells us that replacing 1 key player with 'many' to make up the numbers isn't a guarantee. Will be interesting to see how it all turns out.
I notice they finally realised that VVD was out of their reach.....there was talk of them being all over him in January.