Everton submit official bid for Monaco’s Folarin Balogun as Beto nears Fiorentina exit in frantic deadline push

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
09:40:03

This would be a good addition.
He knows the Premier League, and he is a good striker.

Not injury prone either.

But sorry, no need for Richarlison, then.

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
09:52:09

If Balogun signs, what’s the betting he gets a yellow card in his first Everton appearance but Trump calls the VAR team and gets it changed to a red?

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
09:54:09

MG will be happy.

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
10:04:37

Fingers crossed on this one, but if it comes off, even if Ndiaye goes, we don’t then need both Grealish and Richarlison.

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
10:05:44

Could we run with 3 forwards all expecting to be first choice ( I include Richarlison), accepting Richarlison could play out wide too?
Or is it Balogun or Richarlison?
Or Richarlison or Grealish?
A few twists and turns yet I fancy.

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
10:11:01

Stop saying “we don’t need”! The concept of ‘first choice’ is not useful either, especially in forward positions. Every match should see 6-8 players see action in the front 4 positions.

Get as many goal scorers and creators as possible. Then rotate and make substitutions. It’s what good teams do.

If we lose N’Diaye but end up with Richarlison and Grealish we’ve done well. If we turn Beto into Balogun we’ve done well.

I can’t get excited about Tete though, he had the chance to join last year and didn’t want to. I’m not convinced he’s better than Patterson.

We also need to know what the hell happened with the Armstrong bid. Whoever accepted it has to be gone from our club.

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
10:17:54

What’s all this talk that if Balogun signs we don’t need Richarlison? Look at the top clubs, they have strength in depth. If Everton want to be a top club again, having Balogun, Richarlison and Barry fight for one striker spot is what you want. Richie can also play out wide. Then you also have Grealish (assuming he signs) and George out left, Back post Brennan and Dibling on the right. This is the idea. Hypothesizing here, but what happens if the clubs only striking options are ony Barry after new signing Balogun gets injured and the club decided not to sign Richarlison. Then your screwed. Look at the squads of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, even Spurs.

I hear all this talk on here that Everton are still one of the biggest clubs in the country (and we still are in my opinion), then go and prove it by getting a squad ready made with that ambition, within the parameters of SCR of course.

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
10:39:11

Completely agree with Mike (7) and Jamie (8).

This constant “if we get X we don’t need Y” makes little sense. We’ve had a threadbare squad for years. What we need is at least two players fighting to be first choice in each position plus a back-up for that same position.

Better to have ‘surplus’ players. It’s a long season, players’ form can come and go, and injuries are likely.

Obviously I’d like another two RBs and a LB!

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
10:49:49

The top clubs have European football and often go very deep in the Cup competitions, we don’t.
If we have Barry, Balogun and Richy then 2 of them will be very unhappy.

The days of Richy playing out wide are gone, imo, he’s not as mobile as he once was.

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
10:51:55

Yeah options are what’s needed.
You can have your best 11 but it doesn’t always work, players to change games is what we’ve lacked for years.

George, Grealish, Richarlison, balogun, barry, Dibbling
Any could start and all could make impacts from the bench.
Not a bad pool to pick 3 from if Ndiaye goes.

The American connections with the blues may help get balogun too.

 Posted
31/08/2026 at
11:16:47

David, the cynic in me says our owners want an American for marketing reasons.

Lee, 10, you’re right that the ‘top’ clubs have more matches, but even if we signed all of Balogun, Richarlison and Grealish (with N’Diaye leaving) there’s still plenty of football to go around in the forward positions.

At least 6 of them should see action every game, and they’ll all be fresher and keener for the competition. The issue is Moyes being more positive and daring with the formation, for example using KDH deeper and having more attacking players on the pitch.