Transfer Rumour Axel Witsel

[Jusef Fadl]

Maybe he's going to Juventus .

 

[mill]

No you don't look at Leicester

One exception in the last 25 years.

 

[moyes cardy]

Witsel you're the devil - you're leading us astray!
You're twice as sweet as bitter and spunkier than tea - Witsel you're the devil drunk it sober.

Go and have a lie down mate.

 

[The Esk]

Not one to pester but this one is going into taking the mick territory, given that even a whole week ago the club's patience was said to be wearing thin. What makes you confident we'll actually sign him @The Esk ? Looks for all the world that he's not keen to sign.

I think it is fair to say that if Juventus were offering the same deal as we are to Zenit and Witsel he would go to Juventus.

However they are not. Juve are miles off on valuation €18m to our €30 million offer accepted by Zenit.

He's aware of our plans otherwise we would never have got to the stage now of effectively just requiring his signature.

Witsel has a reputation for being difficult contractually and that's self evident with the number of revisions made to previous agreements but we are the only offer in town that his club will accept.

 

[Tubey]

I think it is fair to say that if Juventus were offering the same deal as we are to Zenit and Witsel he would go to Juventus.

However they are not. Juve are miles off on valuation €18m to our €30 million offer accepted by Zenit.

He's aware of our plans otherwise we would never have got to the stage now of effectively just requiring his signature.

Witsel has a reputation for being difficult contractually and that's self evident with the number of revisions made to previous agreements but we are the only offer in town that his club will accept.

Which, if true, means we should have set a deadline and walked away if he didn't meet it. We seem too desperate for my liking on this one.

 

[Bullet]

I just think that, if it was on, we'd have him by now.

For me, of the quality signings we're interested in, Witsel is still clearly the most likely.
I've said for weeks that it's been patently obvious he wants to go to Italy and has been stringing us along while his agent exhausts every possibility there.
Napoli and Inter now appear to have receded leaving just Juve. It depends on Poga and how serious they are but we're still in with a good shout at this stage.

 

[Tin-Tin]

I think it is fair to say that if Juventus were offering the same deal as we are to Zenit and Witsel he would go to Juventus.

However they are not. Juve are miles off on valuation €18m to our €30 million offer accepted by Zenit.

He's aware of our plans otherwise we would never have got to the stage now of effectively just requiring his signature.

Witsel has a reputation for being difficult contractually and that's self evident with the number of revisions made to previous agreements but we are the only offer in town that his club will accept.

Cheers esk. If it just requires his signature (I know you and Davo said the hold up was some sort of bonus which is now agreed) then whats the hold up now? You would think that as soon as the deal is agreed then he would fly out to the UK, or Germany to take a medical and sign.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

I think it is fair to say that if Juventus were offering the same deal as we are to Zenit and Witsel he would go to Juventus.

However they are not. Juve are miles off on valuation €18m to our €30 million offer accepted by Zenit.

He's aware of our plans otherwise we would never have got to the stage now of effectively just requiring his signature.

Witsel has a reputation for being difficult contractually and that's self evident with the number of revisions made to previous agreements but we are the only offer in town that his club will accept.

Hardly smacks of a player desperate to join us, does it? Hold on long enough for a CL club to come after me, and if they don't, oh bugger I suppose I'll have to join Everton.

 

[The Esk]

Cheers esk. If it just requires his signature (I know you and Davo said the hold up was some sort of bonus which is now agreed) then whats the hold up now? You would think that as soon as the deal is agreed then he would fly out to the UK, or Germany to take a medical and sign.

It's a fair question. Juventus upped their offer from €15 million to €18 million yesterday which was rejected, so really there's no reason I'm aware of for it not to be completed when the squad return from Germany.

 

[AmericanBlue]

I think it is fair to say that if Juventus were offering the same deal as we are to Zenit and Witsel he would go to Juventus.

If we are not his first choice we should look elsewhere.

I am a patient guy but 2 weeks away from start of season and seeing the team last night? I am hoping he is just seeing who will be culled. There were shouts of 'this summer you will see Everton unlike ever before on the transfer market, if we want top player x, we can have him.' Well, no we can't actually. Even if we do sign a bunch of top players next week, why wait so long when important things are about to start. Not aiming that at you Esk, just finding myself a bit surprised by the lack of signatures at this stage when we still have a pretty mediocre first eleven.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

It's a fair question. Juventus upped their offer from €15 million to €18 million yesterday which was rejected, so really there's no reason I'm aware of for it not to be completed when the squad return from Germany.

My thoughts are that Juve will just use the Pogba money when he finally completes his transfer and I imagine Witsel is thinking the same, do you find this likely?

 

[The Esk]

If we are not his first choice we should look elsewhere.

I am a patient guy but 2 weeks away from start of season and seeing the team last night? I am hoping he is just seeing who will be culled. There were shouts of 'this summer you will see Everton unlike ever before on the transfer market, if we want top player x, we can have him.' Well, no we can't actually. Even if we do sign a bunch of top players next week, why wait so long when important things are about to start. Not aiming that at you Esk, just finding myself a bit surprised by the lack of signatures at this stage when we still have a pretty mediocre first eleven.

It will happen. We will get our players, I have no doubt. It's probably been more difficult than we thought but we'll do it, we have a highly attractive offering in the highest profile league in the world.

 

[The Esk]

My thoughts are that Juve will just use the Pogba money when he finally completes his transfer and I imagine Witsel is thinking the same, do you find this likely?

No mate, I expect Juventus to start looking elsewhere, they're never going to bid what we've bid for him regardless of the Pogba sale.

 

[KevMirallas]

If we are not his first choice we should look elsewhere.

Unless we are Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, we will never be any player's "first choice".

Witsel is good enough to play for pretty much anyone, certainly for Juventus. I can understand him waiting if he has been told there is interest there. But at some point, Everton and Witsel need to make a call and put an end to it because no party is being helped by the current situation.

 

[boris]

Which, if true, means we should have set a deadline and walked away if he didn't meet it. We seem too desperate for my liking on this one.

We're stuck in this though aren't we?? We can't offer a deadline as we seem to really want this fella and a deadline plays into the hands of Juve who will then be the only offer on the table.

All we can do is look elsewhere whilst the saga is ongoing and continue to work on convincing him were right for him whilst hoping other alternatives of similar quality Are more convinced by what's going on here or Juve find an alternative. Maybe Zenit are the ones who could apply some pressure if anyone does.

That's just the way it is, I've seen first hand at academy level, which is admittedly slightly different, but who you support or what you want is irrelevant, it's all about what's best for you personally and I think a lot of Evertonians would choose Juve if they were in his position never mind a player with no links or ties.

Right now one of the 4 best clubs in Europe or back to back bottom half finishing Everton?? Once we get one over the line, were away and the rest will come.