Everton put the finishing touches to their pre-season preparations on Saturday. The Blues entertain Serie A giants Roma in what will be the club's final friendly at Goodison Park before moving to their magnificent new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next summer.
While the transfer movement has slowed down since Jake O'Brien became Everton's fifth signing of the summer - after Jack Harrison, Tim Iroegbunam, Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom - there has been a hive of activity surrounding the club's soon-to-be waterfront home.
That said it's still quiet on the takeover front. And Saturday's game with Roma will no doubt bring a case of 'what might have been' given the man who owns the Italian club - Dan Friedkin - was in talks to buy the Blues before an issue with 777 Partners' loan brought about an end to his group's talks with Farhad Moshiri.
We'll have any takeover and new stadium developments throughout the day and all the build up to the friendly with Roma.
And, of course, we'll be across any transfer news and gossip, with Manchester City and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips continuing to be linked to a move to Everton.
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Key Events
Injury update as new player suffers blow
Everton announce new landmark stadium deal
Anders Limpar on Dyche, Lindstom and Goodison
Paul Wheelock
Kalvin Phillips move
It isn't always easy to separate the wheat from the chaff during the transfer window. This week, alone, has seen Everton linked with a host of midfielders including Arthur Melo and Amir Richardson.
The former, we were told earlier this summer, was not on the Blues' radar, while the latter now appears destined for Fiorentina.
We've never had any kickbacks regarding Kalvin Phillips, however, and it's well known that Sean Dyche is a fan of the Manchester City midfielder.
You would imagine a permanent move would be out of Everton's price range but if Phillips was to be made available on loan again, that could well be something the club would be interested in.
Well, a GIVEMESPORT exclusive suggests that City are planning on offloading the out-of-favour England international this summer and that the Blues are indeed a contemplating a loan bid.
They report: "Manchester City would offload the midfielder on a permanent deal but, as a club, they are under the impression that it’s difficult to prove his value to would-be buyers, especially given his lack of game time in recent years.
"As such, reverting towards a loan move certainly has potential this summer – and signing Phillips, who has racked up just 31 appearances for the Etihad Stadium-based outfit since his £45 million-worth arrival, on a temporary basis is something Everton would look at, GMS sources insist.
"Especially with Amadou Onana’s recent exit, Toffees boss Dyche could be the calibre of manager to get Phillips back to the peak of his powers, while giving him another chance of proving his worth in the English top flight."
Paul Wheelock
Good morning
And welcome to your Everton live blog for Friday, August 9. Hope you are well.
Joe Thomas
A major new deal for the club as new stadium 'founding partner' confirmed
"We are delighted to welcome @Aramark as a Founding Partner. Their mission to set the standard for excellence and their alignment with our vision to create exceptional experiences for Evertonians really resonated with us." pic.twitter.com/wMbcULA3kW
— Everton Stadium (@EvertonStadium) August 8, 2024
Right, this is me done for today - I have just polished off a story about Seamus Coleman that I enjoyed writing and which will be with you first thing in the morning. The thrust is essentially what happened to the champagne bottle he received when he won man of the match in his first game at Goodison Park.
In the meantime, I will leave you with this - the biggest Everton story of the day: The club has announced a major new partnership with Aramark that will see the firm oversee the food and drink operation at the new stadium - and take on founding partner status there.
Impressively, it could lead to the creation of 1,200 jobs that the firm will work to fill with Everton in the Community.
Full story HERE
Hope you have a great night!
Paul Wheelock
El Bilal Toure wanted
We've had a flurry of transfer reports from Italy this week regarding Everton striker Beto.
At one stage he was moving to Atalanta in a €20m deal, then at another he was going to be involved in a swap with former Blues target El Bilal Toure, and then finally last night the Europa League winners had moved their attentions elsewhere because Sean Dyche wanted to keep Beto.
Keeping up? Well, according to L'Equipe, Bournemouth have now nipped in ahead of Stuttgart to sign Toure.
Don't you just love the transfer window.
KEY EVENT
Injury update as new player suffers blow
Michael Keane, a mainstay of the pre-season fixtures so far, has suffered a minor blow that could rule him out of the match against Roma on Saturday. Defender is expected to return to training in the coming days and so could still be available for the start of the Premier League season.
Full story HERE
Joe Thomas
Louis Saha on his former club
Former Everton striker Louis Saha has been speaking about his former club. He told CSDB.GG:
"Everton need to have a solid season and get their confidence back before they move into their new stadium because Goodison Park has always been a hard place to go and they won’t have that anymore.
"They need to give fans a reason to fill that stadium or there will be so much pressure on them when the move comes about. They need to solidify their place in the Premier League but having a season without any scares like the last three years. That’s what the club and the players need to work for this season."
Joe Thomas
Could Anthony Gordon end up at Liverpool?
Seemed to come out of the blue earlier this summer when this first came about and the rumours the Blues academy graduate could end up back in Merseyside - but on the Red side - are persisting. BetVictor have Liverpool at 5/4 to sign the England international.
The reason I bring this rumour into play is because as part of the shake-up, there is still a belief Dominic Calvert-Lewin might end up at St James' Park - he is priced at evens for that move.
Sam Boswell, spokesperson of BetVictor, says: “Eddie Howe’s side are rumoured to be losing a few stars and will want to strengthen their squad, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Aaron Ramsdale currently top of their list of potential incomings.
“If Gordon were to leave, they’d need to find a new spark in attack, hence they may be lining up moves for both Morgan Gibbs-White and Pedro Neto who are 2/1 and 3/1 apiece to make the move to St James’ Park.”
Joe Thomas
Latest on Aramark deal
A bit more here with Everton and Aramark on their new deal - the food service giant is set to oversee the food and drink operations at the new stadium in a move, heralded by the club as one of its biggest commercial deals ever, that will see the industry giant take 'founding partner' status at Everton Stadium. Full story - HERE
"We are delighted to welcome @Aramark as a Founding Partner. Their mission to set the standard for excellence and their alignment with our vision to create exceptional experiences for Evertonians really resonated with us." pic.twitter.com/wMbcULA3kW
— Everton Stadium (@EvertonStadium) August 8, 2024
Joe Thomas
'Whoever came to Goodison Park knew it was going to be a hard f****** game'
“When it comes to the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea’s finances, it’s so hard to compete, but never mind, we are strong enough and have characters. I always remember when I was playing, whoever came to Goodison Park knew it was going to be a hard f****** game, nobody looked forward to playing Everton away, not even Manchester United or Arsenal.
“I’d love to think that we could finish in the top six for Goodison’s last season but I’m really not sure and we’ll have to see how the new signings get on. It’s going to be tough, the Premier League is so competitive now. Back in the 1990s, you know there were certain teams you’d know deep in your heart that you’d be able to beat but these days anyone can beat anybody else. There are two or three giants in Manchester City, Arsenal and maybe Liverpool who are tough but the rest of them are all capable of beating each other but Everton should never, ever, ever go down.”
Read our chat with Blues FA Cup winner Anders Limpar - HERE
Paul Wheelock
Amir Richardson set for Fiorentina
We picked up reports in yesterday's blog linking Everton with 6ft 6in Reims and Morocco international midfielder Amir Richardson.
But it now looks like Richardson is Italy bound...
Paul Wheelock
Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher on Amadou Onana transfer
Amadou Onana's ability to replace Douglas Luiz at the heart of Aston Villa's midfield has been called into question following his £50m summer transfer from Everton, reports our sister title Birmingham Live.
The pick up quotes by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes made on The Overlap about the ex-Blues man.
Scholes said: "I don't really see the Onana thing either. I didn't see it while he was at Everton, I didn't see it at Belgium either. When they said £50m for him I just thought: 'ooh, that sounds a little bit too much'.
"Look, (Unai) Emery being the manager that he is, he might get something out of him. It might be a club that suits him - I don't know. But, where I'm stood now, £50m for him just seems like a lot of money."
Carragher agreed: "I was never really impressed with him much at Everton," he added. "I thought he was alright when I saw him for Belgium, maybe its a different style of football as well, but it will be interesting to see if he can replace Douglas Luiz in there."
Paul Wheelock
Former Blue is on the move
KEY EVENT
Everton announce new landmark stadium deal
Sick of that late first-half dash to the concourse to try and get ahead of the queues for a pie and a drink? And of the crowds that come back late in the second half because of those queues? Whether you're in them or frustrated by having to make way for those who are, that could be a thing of the past at the new Everton Stadium. The club has secured what it says is one of the biggest commercial deals in its history with Aramark due to oversee the food service operation at the new waterfront home.
It will also create 1,200 jobs - which Aramark will work with Everton in the Community to fill.
Full details - HERE
Joe Thomas
Calvert-Lewin 'desperate' for a new shirt
Interesting one here from Neil Warnock, on the Dominic Calvert-Lewin situation. The striker has entered the final 12 months of his deal and is yet to sign fresh terms that have been offered to him. Speaking on Talksport today, Warnock - and I'm not sure how informed he is, but he has been around a long time - had this to say:
“As the manager? Let him go. They can’t be too greedy on the fee. I know they’ll try to make as much as they can but he’s served his time. He needs to start again somewhere else.
“He’s a good player but he’s not been able to show it. If you’re not happy as a player, it doesn’t come out on the pitch. I think he’s desperate for a new shirt now.”
Paul Wheelock
Kieran Maguire on Everton takeover
It's all quiet on the Everton takoever front after the Friedkin Group ended their attempt to buy out Farhad Moshiri.
And football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes even if a new buyer doesn't come forward, it will take a lot longer than two months to complete, which leaves him with concerns.
He told TBR Football: "I think getting a deal over the line in eight weeks is unrealistic given that we don’t even have a preferred bidder at the moment.
"I do agree that Everton will have some cash flow challenges as we get into late autumn. That is where my concerns lie.
"To date, we have had both 777 and the Friedkin Group come in as preferred bidders and be so confident of getting a deal over the line that they have lent the club substantial sums of money.
"I think any potential owner will not necessarily be as keen to go down that route having seen the last two failures as a cautionary tale."
KEY EVENT
Anders Limpar on Dyche, Lindstom and Goodison
Good morning, Joe Thomas stepping back into the hotseat after a day off on Wednesday. I do so with news of a story that has just been published on our website - a big chat with Blues FA Cup winner, Anders Limpar. Chris Beesley has spoken to him ahead of the special Cult Heroes event at Goodison Park later this month - Limpar will be appearing alongside the likes of Thomas Graveson and Daniel Amokachi for what should be a special night. Details and tickets are available - here.
And HERE is Chris' in-depth interview with him.
Paul Wheelock
Armando Broja interest
We picked up a story from TEAMtalk last night that suggested Everton have shortlisted Chelsea's Armando Broja, Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah and Almeria's Largie Ramazani given the ongoing speculation over the futures of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Neal Maupay.
And now MailOnline report that Everton, and Wolves, are indeed interested in Broja, who is said to be set for showdown talks with new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca over his standing at Stamford Bridge.
Broja was left out of Maresca's squad for the 2-1 friendly defeat to Real Madrid and afterwards Maresca said: "It was just a decision.
"He was not injured, luckily for him and for us. We will see what happens."
The report adds that for Broja to join Everton, Calvert-Lewin would have to leave.
Paul Wheelock
Good morning
And welcome to your live Everton blog for Thursday, August 8.
Joe Thomas is back with us and he will guide you through today's Blues news inclduing the very latest transfer and takeover updates.
But let's start by picking up some of the headlines spotted from overnight.
Paul Wheelock
Thank you and good evening
That's all from me on today's Everton live blog. We'll be back tomorrow. Take care.
Paul Wheelock
Does this end Atalanta's reported interest in Beto?
We will see, but it's certainly a development, as Retegui is a forward...
Paul Wheelock
Francis Jeffers on Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Speaking of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Francis Jeffers believes is old club is in a "very difficult situation"...
This is very difficult situation. Ultimately if a deal isn’t going to be reached and DCL is going to leave on a free, then the club do need to get a decent fee for him, given the club’s situation and they can go and re-invest some of the funds in another striker.
Read the full story HERE.
Paul Wheelock
Everton draw up three-man striker shortlist
According to TEAMtalk, Everton have drawn up a three-man striker shortlist in case Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Neal Maupay leave.
Calvert-Lewin is in the last year of his contract and was in talks to sign for Newcastle United earlier this summer.
As reported extensively on this blog today, Beto appears to have interest from Atalanta, while it's well known that Maupay wll be allowed to leave if a good offer comes in.
It's against that backdrop that TEAMtalk are keeping their eyes on three frontmen.
They are Chelsea's Armando Broja.
Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah.
And Almeria's Largie Ramazani.
There's further transfer claims in the story, too.
Paul Wheelock
Lucas Digne staying put
News now on the future of former Everton left-back Lucas Digne...
Paul Wheelock
John Barnes warns off Jarrad Branthwaite from signing for Manchester United
Manchester United have made two bids for Jarrad Branthwaite this summer. Everton rejected both. Let's hope that's the end of the matter.
But new signing Leny Yoro suffering a long-term injury, the fears remain that United may come back in for Branthwaite.
But Liverpool legend John Barnes would tell the England centre-back to ignore their advances if a third offer was made.
Barnes, speaking to MyBettingSites.co.uk, said this...
So what United have to do is to get that right before they're talking about signing players for £70million and young players who are inexperienced. He can’t go to United like Jadon Sancho went there for a big fee and the harmony isn’t right.
So yeah, I think that for any player they have to think hard, hard about going to United. Particularly young players who are inexperienced."
They have to think about whether they’re going to United at the wrong time. It's a great club, but it just may be the wrong time. And if they're looking for young players to come here to change that situation, that's not what's going to happen. The unity within the club from top to bottom has to change, fans included.
Going to a club like United with the disunity, the harmony not being right in the collective and the spirit within the club won’t be a good move for anybody at this moment in time. Particularly if he’s now getting into the England squad. He’s not going to go there and automatically change things at United.
If they're going to be a unit and they're going to be playing well in the harmony and everybody together then he would be an excellent signing but it's hard for a young player to go there as it was for Jadon Sancho.
Paul Wheelock
Joel Matip to Everton is a no go
I wrote earlier about the reports linking Arthur Melo to Everton.
Well, you might have seen that Joel Matip - who, unlike Arthur, was a huge success at Liverpool - has been mentioned in the gossip columns as a possible arrival at Goodison Park following his summer exit from Anfield.
Fulham have also been tipped as possible suitors for Matip.
But according to Kicker, the former Cameroon international centre-back isn't interested in staying in the Premier League, and Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen remain an option for his services.
Paul Wheelock
Tottenham Hotspur join Everton in Amir Richardson race
We posted earlier that a reported from France suggested that Everton were chasing Reims' 22-year-old midfielder Amir Richardson, who is currently playing for Morocco at the Olympic Games in Paris.
And Graeme Bailey for HITC writes that Tottenham Hotspur join the Blues, Brentford, Leicester City in the fight for the 6ft 6in midfielder, who is the son of NBA legend Micheal 'Sugar' Ray Richardson, which I didn't know!
Bailey says: "The seven-cap Moroccon marauder possesses many of the attributes Sean Dyche looks for in the engine room. Richardson looks well suited to filling the void created by fellow giant Amadou Onana following his £50 million move from Everton to Aston Villa."
Paul Wheelock
Harrison Armstrong and the Everton Academy
Sorry for the radio silence there but I've been writing a piece about impressive teenager Harrison Armstrong and the Everton Academy.
If you'd like to read it, you can do by clicking HERE.
Paul Wheelock
Must watch
Some dinner-time viewing? This is not to be missed...
Paul Wheelock
Beto update
Another Beto update.
We covered in this blog yesterday how reports from Italy suggested that Europa League winners Atalanta wanted to swoop on Everton for the second time this summer after the signing of Ben Godfrey by bringing in Beto.
Now, while a new report from Calciomercato have backed up those initial reports, they suggest that Everton have no intention of letting the Portuguese go.
Paul Wheelock
Agent speaks out on Liverpool flop links to Everton
If, like me, you like the tittle-tattle and rumours that the transfer window brings, you may noticed that the name Arthur Melo has been continually linked to Everton.
And now an agent has spoken about the future of the Juventus midfielder, who spent a forgettable season on loan at Liverpool in 2022-23 before rebuilding his reputation with a good season on loan at Fiorentina last time out.
Full story HERE.