Liam Delap

[Paddockoldie]

Get a whiff of James Beattie for me

[Shogun]

He's also 22 and didn't pull up any trees in the championship.

[Evertonian418]

Get a whiff of James Beattie for me

Good comparison. And I don't like his face!

[Cozzie]

He's also 22 and didn't pull up any trees in the championship.

Neither did Harry Kane in fairness in his three loan spells there.

Then he just exploded into life and didn't look back.

[TheRam]

When Blackburn signed shearer he scored 23 goals in 128 games for Southampton.

He’s 22 and has gotten better season on season.

You pay the fee and pay the wages for the player you think he will become over the years.

[Fynci]

It's got Chelsea flop and Fulham loan written all over it hasn't it?

Would prefer that over a James Beattie-esque signing for us.

[Matt1878]

When Blackburn signed shearer he scored 23 goals in 128 games for Southampton.

He’s 22 and has gotten better season on season.

You pay the fee and pay the wages for the player you think he will become over the years.

Good comparison to Shearer, also a fair comparison to Beattie to be fair. There is always a suspicion of strong, physical British centre forwards carrying that overpriced %%% markup that comes with home grown talent. He'd be a gamble, but who isn't? Anyone can flop or get injured first game in, in this league.

I would say that the one area Moyes never got it quite right in his 10 years here was centre forward. Saha, Johnson, Yak, Beattie had their moments, but I can't think of a forward's value increasing in that time, it was never an area he went all in on, to be honest, couldnt afford too, really, so never broke the bank. In all other areas of the pitch, he unearthed plenty of gems, so it will be really interesting to see what he comes up with.

[777Kidnappings]

Neither did Harry Kane in fairness in his three loan spells there.

Then he just exploded into life and didn't look back.

Based on kanes career you can make an argument for every below average youngster.

[777Kidnappings]

When Blackburn signed shearer he scored 23 goals in 128 games for Southampton.

He’s 22 and has gotten better season on season.

You pay the fee and pay the wages for the player you think he will become over the years.

Agree but the people that are against it are against it because they don't believe he'll become that player. No one is saying we shouldn't pay anyone 150k a week. Just that delap isn't that player

For every kane and shearer there's 50 who don't explode

[Paddockoldie]

I think we'd be a great step up for him in terms of progression, than a 'big team' where the pressure can crush you. However, I think he believes his hype will want to try. Fair play to him if that's the case, but it prices us out if so.

[Matt1878]

Agree but the people that are against it are against it because they don't believe he'll become that player. No one is saying we shouldn't pay anyone 150k a week. Just that delap isn't that player

For every kane and shearer there's 50 who don't explode

Comes down to who is the right fit for him and what we're offering. Strikes me as a player who wouldnt mind taking 75% of what a champions league club would offer him to come off the bench, in order to be first choice at a club that is a step up from where he is... which we are and there is the stadium move, which adds a bit of spice.

For me I'd be happy to see us land him but its all about the price, wages and what it means for funding other signings. Plenty of players we need to buy and I dont see it happening under DM but I'm easy either way.

[Toddacelli]

Haha isn't it? I'm pretty sure that's the definition of a no lose situation

Not if we ‘lose’ him to another bidder! Then we would take the L and be pwned as us youngsters are oft want to utter - if you’ll pardon my parlance!

[Dchans]

Clearly we have identified him as our number one target on that role - so if he chooses to play elsewhere I’m confident that we have a couple of options lined up

[Toddacelli]

Clearly we have identified him as our number one target on that role - so if he chooses to play elsewhere I’m confident that we have a couple of options lined up

Welcome friend! This must be your first day supporting Everton! Glad to have you aboard.

[Bluebridge]

I think the James Beattie comparison hits the nail on the head, at £150k per week that’s too rich for us, and I suspect Man Utd too. I’d take a punt at £100k, but that’d be the max, unless he absolutely smashed it, then we’d renegotiate or sell on.