Transfer Rumour Axel Witsel

[blueblue]

what are you on about? we definitely would!

from our pov we agreed a fee with Zenit ages ago, and agreed in principle terms with Witsel.

As he's our no.1 target and we're willing to shell out the money to bring him here we're willing to wait as long as it takes, I imagine.

You missed my point.
My point is that regardless of who we are competing with we don't have the player and imo are unlikely to have the player. The summer is moving on, the first league game is fast approaching and we seem to be waiting on a player that has no notion of joining us.

I can well understand why the player would favour Juve. Unfortunately, I think we may be a stalking horse for the agent using our terms with the player as the template for negotiations with Juve.
Zenith will of course do business with the highest bidder, if Tranmere trumped our bid Zenith would accept that.

 

[BlueToff]

You missed my point.
My point is that regardless of who we are competing with we don't have the player and imo are unlikely to have the player. The summer is moving on, the first league game is fast approaching and we seem to be waiting on a player that has no notion of joining us.

I can well understand why the player would favour Juve. Unfortunately, I think we may be a stalking horse for the agent using our terms with the player as the template for negotiations with Juve.
Zenith will of course do business with the highest bidder, if Tranmere trumped our bid Zenith would accept that.

the reason we haven't got the player is because there's interest from Juve - one of Europe's biggest and most successful clubs...

as @The Esk has said many times, if he had no notion of joining us he would have declined our offer all together, thus forcing Zenit to force any offer that may come in from Juve

 

[bluestevon]

the reason we haven't got the player is because there's interest from Juve - one of Europe's biggest and most successful clubs...

as @The Esk has said many times, if he had no notion of joining us he would have declined our offer all together, thus forcing Zenit to force any offer that may come in from Juve

Personal opinion in this is that we will maintain our interest but are already actively pursuing other options, and should we get one fo those to the point of signing we will pull out and announce the 'replacement' for Witsel out of nowhere.

ATM being still in for him suits not only Witsel and his agents but also suits us in looking for a similar level player as we can basically leverage that interest against other clubs, players and agents when negotiating

 

[The Esk]

I can well understand why the player would favour Juve. Unfortunately, I think we may be a stalking horse for the agent using our terms with the player as the template for negotiations with Juve.

I don't understand the strategy of using ourselves just as a stalking horse. Our interest in Witsel has made life difficult for Juve who are very reluctant to bid anywhere near the levels we have.

Thus if he has no real intent of joining us, it actually assists him to make that clear to Zenit. Juve can then step in at a fee level they're happy with and Witsel no doubt would see some financial benefit from the reduced fee Juve have paid.

As has been said before the ball is in Witsel's court. His failure to commit 100% to us (despite being extremely close on 2 occasions) does not stop us from seeking alternative midfielders in the meantime. I doubt his indecision is affecting our activities elsewhere.

 

[tirion]

Personal opinion in this is that we will maintain our interest but are already actively pursuing other options, and should we get one fo those to the point of signing we will pull out and announce the 'replacement' for Witsel out of nowhere.

ATM being still in for him suits not only Witsel and his agents but also suits us in looking for a similar level player as we can basically leverage that interest against other clubs, players and agents when negotiating

we have withdrawn our bid for him basically told him and his advisors we are no longer interested. Zenith not happy. Carvalho not interested in us, we will continue to look elsewhere, however Koeman is prepared to go with what we have in midfield. Walsh has advised we should lower our sights in terms of targets until we are more established.

 

[bluestevon]

I don't understand the strategy of using ourselves just as a stalking horse. Our interest in Witsel has made life difficult for Juve who are very reluctant to bid anywhere near the levels we have.

Thus if he has no real intent of joining us, it actually assists him to make that clear to Zenit. Juve can then step in at a fee level they're happy with and Witsel no doubt would see some financial benefit from the reduced fee Juve have paid.

As has been said before the ball is in Witsel's court. His failure to commit 100% to us (despite being extremely close on 2 occasions) does not stop us from seeking alternative midfielders in the meantime. I doubt his indecision is affecting our activities elsewhere.

The only 'arguable' benefit from keeping us involved for Witsels people is we have made a very very lucrative contract offer for him which he can use as a 'match this or no deal' thing with Juve or whoever, we are no longer in the running, then yes Zenit may play ball with a lesser bid, but the bidding team can then offer Witsel a take it or leave it deal at a significant lower package than what we have done.

As i said earleir - currently for both parties it does kind of make sense for the this to be kept alive (and for Zenit too obviously)

Theres down sides to all for it being alive as well, but only time will really show whose playing what games here mate


Devils advocate post by me there btw

 

[bluestevon]

we have withdrawn our bid for him basically told him and his advisors we are no longer interested. Zenith not happy. Carvalho not interested in us, we will continue to look elsewhere, however Koeman is prepared to go with what we have in midfield. Walsh has advised we should lower our sights in terms of targets until we are more established.

Go on will bite, you know this how exactly?

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

we have withdrawn our bid for him basically told him and his advisors we are no longer interested. Zenith not happy. Carvalho not interested in us, we will continue to look elsewhere, however Koeman is prepared to go with what we have in midfield. Walsh has advised we should lower our sights in terms of targets until we are more established.

Where have you got this from like?

 

[DW88EFC]

we have withdrawn our bid for him basically told him and his advisors we are no longer interested. Zenith not happy. Carvalho not interested in us, we will continue to look elsewhere, however Koeman is prepared to go with what we have in midfield. Walsh has advised we should lower our sights in terms of targets until we are more established.

 

[Toffeeslam]

we have withdrawn our bid for him basically told him and his advisors we are no longer interested. Zenith not happy. Carvalho not interested in us, we will continue to look elsewhere, however Koeman is prepared to go with what we have in midfield. Walsh has advised we should lower our sights in terms of targets until we are more established.

Have we really withdrawn our interest in Witsel ?

If that was the case I think he would have been a Juve player as Zenit would have taken what's offered rather than lose him for nothing surely ????

Think the club are also looking at other targets TBH which is what you would expect, but I do expect some quality to arrive this summer whether its in the shape of Mata or Witsel we shall see, but it will go to the wire on deadline day.

that's just my feeling.

 

[blueblue]

I don't understand the strategy of using ourselves just as a stalking horse. Our interest in Witsel has made life difficult for Juve who are very reluctant to bid anywhere near the levels we have.

Thus if he has no real intent of joining us, it actually assists him to make that clear to Zenit. Juve can then step in at a fee level they're happy with and Witsel no doubt would see some financial benefit from the reduced fee Juve have paid.

As has been said before the ball is in Witsel's court. His failure to commit 100% to us (despite being extremely close on 2 occasions) does not stop us from seeking alternative midfielders in the meantime. I doubt his indecision is affecting our activities elsewhere.

But, @The Esk , I see two separate issues here. The first is the deal between the selling and buying club which Witsel and his agent are not involved.
The second is the contract the player will end up with at whichever club he joins.
It appears that our terms are generous. It may be that Juve may not match them, but it may mean they will be forced higher than if the competition did not exist.

I have no problem accepting our offer was genuine and that the deal was nearly closed on a couple of occasions. I am saying that I think at this stage with each passing day the chances of him coming to Everton are less.

I know that we could of course go after other candidates, but it is obvious Witsel was/is the prime target. While the chance of landing the main man exists I think it might lessen the enthusiasm to go after others.

 

[bluestevon]

Where have you got this from like?

Certainly not from what Koeman said post game yesterday when it was abundantly clear he was unhappy with the midfield and planned changes.

at a guess he would have to know someone privy to Koemans thoughts, Walshes thoughts, and connected to both the Witsel and Carvalho bids, judge for yourself really if you believe him from what you know of the poster and his history really. I know my opinion on what he's said like

 

[tirion]

Where have you got this from like?

doesn't matter where it is from, that is the state of play as we speak, and in other news, Ashley Williams has been offered a new contract at Swansea, he will sign new deal announced tomorrow

 

[Zatara]

How will adding Witsel or Carvalho (neither renowned for their goalscoring prowess) increase our goal threat? Same midfield as past 3 seasons more or less and we scored plenty. That argument isn't valid mate sorry.

Of course it is...we currently play with 2 DMs and now have added Gueye.

If we had one superstar such as Carvalho we could then just play one DM and one CM further forward. Carvalho is also a very good passer and top notch positionally so could recycle the ball very quickly and get us attacking rapidly leading to goalscoring opportunities....

Likewise we dont have a box to box player and there is a gap between the DMs and barkley, with witsel he fills the gap leading to us getting the ball up the pitch more efficiently leading to more goalscoring chances as @kithnou said.

 

[Paul Dean]

we have withdrawn our bid for him basically told him and his advisors we are no longer interested. Zenith not happy. Carvalho not interested in us, we will continue to look elsewhere, however Koeman is prepared to go with what we have in midfield. Walsh has advised we should lower our sights in terms of targets until we are more established.

So you have info on transfer targets, Koemans thoughts on the current squad and Walsh's advice to the management

LOL