HERE ARE THE good, the bad, and the unlikely football moves being talked about today…
Everton boss Ronald Koeman is looking to sign Curacao international Cuco Martina for the second time in 12 months as he seeks to provide competition for Ireland’s Seamus Coleman at right back. Koeman brought Martina to Southampton from Dutch club FC Twente last summer and is now hoping the 26-year-old will follow him to Goodison Park.
Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has reportedly landed in England for a medical ahead of his proposed move to Manchester City. Joe Hart may play for Pep Guardiola’s side tonight but his days at the Etihad look numbered. Everton were thought to be interested in signing Hart but have reportedly pulled out of the deal due to his wage demands.
West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic is weighing up a move for out-of-favour Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony as he looks to strengthen up top following injuries to Andy Carroll and Andre Ayew. Italy international Simone Zaza is another believed to be in Bilic’s sights to fill the void.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is believed to be focusing his attention on AC Milan centre-back Alessio Romagnoli as his approach for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly is being met with deaf ears. But the Italy U21 player won’t come cheap as Chelsea will likely have to offer £30m (€35m) to take him away from the Rossoneri.
West Brom are on the verge of signing Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez on loan, according to reports.
Daryl Janmaat is reportedly on his way back to the Premier League after Watford agreed a £7.5m (€8.8m) fee with Newcastle for the Netherlands defender.
Manchester United are expected to reject Arsenal’s advances for defender Phil Jones as Jose Mourinho is refusing to do business with Arsene Wenger.
Heung-Min Son could be leaving White Hart Lane as Wolfsburg are reportedly prepared to offer £17m for the Tottenham attacking midfielder.
Inter Milan are expected to make an offer for Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko amid increasing interest from Everton and Tottenham.
It looks like Hull City are finally ready to make a move in the transfer market with news that they are hoping to bring Aston Villa’s Micah Richards to the club.
Retro Deal of the Day
THE TITLE OF cult hero gets bandied about more than it should these days but there is no doubting Duncan Ferguson attained that status at Everton.
For spells at least, the Goodison Park faithful saw Ferguson in much the same light that illuminated Eric Cantona’s career at Old Trafford. They were undoubtedly very different players but they were both unpredictable front men who inspired those in the stands and those around them in equal measure.
Powerful, emotional and prone to indiscpline, Ferguson’s no-nonsense approach struck a chord on Merseyside, and they happily forgave his misdemeanours for what he provided on the pitch.
The physical Scot had two spells at the club, which were bookended by an injury-plagued stint at Newcastle, scoring 73 goals in 273 games.
Ferguson, then 23 years old, was first brought to the club from Rangers on a three-month loan deal in 1994 by Everton boss Mike Walker. But it was Walker’s successor Joe Royle who made the arrangement permanent later that year.
The 6ft 4in striker endeared himself to the fans almost instantaneously thereafter, scoring the first goal in a 2-0 derby win against old foes Liverpool at Goodison Park.
For all the ups, an FA Cup win in 1995 included, there were plenty of downs during that time; suspensions, injuries and a jail term kept him off the field for long spells. But the adoration of the Everton fans rarely wavered.
They grieved when he left for Newcastle in 1998 and even gave him a rough reception upon his return to Goodison with the Magpies. But they didn’t really mean it, for when it was announced that ‘Big Dunc’ was coming back to the club on 17 August 2000, he was welcomed with open arms.
Again he found himself plagued by injuries, with leg, back and pelvis issues causing him problems. But the enigmatic Ferguson again delivered on occasion, reminding the Everton fans why they held him, and still hold him, so dear.
Ferguson is still working at Everton in a coaching role under Ronald Koeman, having stayed on following Roberto Martinez’s departure.
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