Everton news and transfers - Jasper Cillessen 'bid', James Rodriguez claim, Jean-Clair Todibo issue

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We're flipping over to our matchnight blog now so head on over HERE for team news, commentary and goal updates from Fleetwood v Everton

'I do what I do for Liverpool' - Marcus Rashford sends powerful child poverty message to city

Red or Blue, Scouse or Manc, we can all agree @MarcusRashford is good people and deserves support and a massive ovation next time he plays in front of a crowd on Merseyside https://t.co/HLG2bzKK8j#ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY

— Dan Kay (@dankay) September 23, 2020

Slaven Bilic fined after Goodison outburst

[1/2] Slaven Bilić has been fined £8,000 after admitting a charge for a breach of FA Rule E3 and accepting the standard penalty. pic.twitter.com/m5NbGdVHrT

— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) September 23, 2020

Everton 'fall short' in bid for Jasper Cillessen

Everton have fallen short in a bid for Valencia goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, according to latest reports in Spain.

Marca (via Hitc) report that the Blues made an approach for the 31-year-old Dutch international shot-stopper but it was ‘far away’ from Valencia’s £32 million valuation.

'Los Che' have already lost some big names this summer including long-term captain Dani Parejo, exciting winger Ferran Torres and Spanish forward Rodrigo who joined Leeds United.

Cillessen is said to be Valencia’s highest earner and the club are reportedly open to letting him go with Bayer Leverkusen also said to be interested.

Everton TV fixture confirmed as Premier League make latest announcement

The Premier League have announced that the first fixtures in October will all be televised

Everton TV fixture confirmed as Premier League make latest announcement https://t.co/uwbD0c9B02

— Everton FC News (@LivEchoEFC) September 23, 2020

Everton 'fail in late attempt to hijack Semedo deal'

Nelson Semedo added to Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese contingent today by completing a transfer from Barcelona that could ultimately be worth up to £37million.

However, TeamTalk claim that Everton failed in a late attempt to hijack the deal.

They say:

We understand Everton had made approaches through intermediaries. However, their efforts have fallen short .

Happy Birthday Yerry

Many happy returns to Everton's first Colombian player Yerry Mina who is 26 today.

Stubbs junior set for for 'weird and wonderful' game with Everton

Fleetwood Town defender Sam Stubbs is set to line up against his boyhood club Everton where his father Alan was captain in tonight's Carabao Cup tie.

The 21-year-old Scouser joined Joey Barton's side from Middlesbrough this summer.

The Fleetwood Weekly News quote Stubbs as saying:

“I don’t think we’re allowed any family in, which is a shame. There are a few Scousers in there, so they’ll be in the same boat.

“My dad’s going to watch it with the family somewhere. It will be a bit weird seeing me playing against them.

“I think he’ll be cheering for Fleetwood – he’s always been like that wherever I’ve gone. It was like that last season when I was playing for Hamilton against Celtic (another of Stubbs senior’s clubs). He said it was a little bit strange then. I think he’ll be Fleetwood...

“There are more Blues than I thought here – everywhere else I’ve been there were more Reds.

“But regardless of it being Everton, it’s a Premier League side and I think everyone wants to try and get one over on them.

“It’s an opportunity for us to go and get a result. Obviously a lot of people will be backing Everton, and probably rightly so in terms of the quality that they’re bringing.

“But we’re confident in what we can do. Like the gaffer says, every time you’re lucky enough to be in that 11-man team you’ve got to perform and show why you’re in it.

“As much as it is a good occasion for the fans and for the club, it’s also work.

“At the end of the day, it’s about progressing to the next round.”

Tomori transfer update

Another outlet has claimed that Everton's interest in Chelsea's Fikayo Tomori has cooled even though a centre-back remains a priority for the Blues before the current transfer window closes next month.

This is Futbol quote David Ormstein of The Athletic as saying:

"We do know that Everton wanted to sign a top central defender this summer – they were close on Gabriel [Magalhaes], who ended up joining Arsenal – and whether that happens now might depend on if they’re able to get their top target, I just don’t know who that is.

“We know there were talks over a Tomori loan, but I’m not sure that Frank Lampard was ever overly keen on that. In terms of the Everton interest in Tomori, we’re also hearing that that has cooled.”

Coleman backs campaign to support Special Olympics athletes

Special Olympics Europe Eurasia has launched #FacesofFootball, a unique digital activity hub and campaign to encourage footballers with intellectual disabilities to stay active and engaged in the face of evolving of Covid-19 restrictions.

Unprecedented engagement from athletes across Europe has resulted in almost 1,000 participants from over 40 nations already signed up and in training – including Special Olympics GB!

Today, marks the first day of Special Olympics European Football Week 2020 #EFW2020.

Now in its 20th year, European Football Week is usually celebrated in May. Every year, 40,000 participants across 50 countries take part in hundreds of events. However, as with everything else this year, European Football Week 2020 is far from usual.

This year, it has gone online in the form of #FacesofFootball, a pioneering new digital hub for footballers with and without intellectual disabilities across Europe, their coaches and supporters.

The campaign has caught the attention Everton and Ireland captain, Seamus Coleman who has thrown his weight behind it.

He said:

“Faces of Football gives football players with and without intellectual disabilities across Europe the opportunity to come together, train and compete in the game they love without ever leaving their own home or garden.

"Everyone is welcome and everyone is included. Even though we’re not physically together on the pitch or in the stadium, to me, this is the perfect example of the inclusive power of sport.”

The sense of isolation experienced by many as countries went into lockdown earlier this year is nothing new to those with intellectual disabilities.

Marginalisation and exclusion are common experiences that many live with on a daily basis. However, Covid-19 and the accompanying restrictions exacerbated these feelings and brought with them worrying new challenges for Special Olympics athletes – many living in already vulnerable situations.

The new #FacesofFootball campaign is meeting these challenges head on and uses digital technology to empower athletes to keep training, competing and, most importantly, connected with fellow players, coaches and supporters no matter what restrictions are in place.

• Anyone can sign up, generated a unique Football Card and support by clicking here

Ancelotti faces new signing decision

Some of the ECHO's football writers have been picking their starting line-ups for Everton's trip to Fleetwood Town tonight.

Adam Jones reckons the Blues need to be ready for a tougher test than presented by Salford City a week ago.

He writes:

Everton eventually went through with a comfortable victory last week, but certain periods of the game still left a lot to be desired. A better side might punish the Blues more often, and that needs to be taken into account here.

In that sense, I wouldn't be expecting ten changes again, although some should certainly get the impress once again this time around.

Arias heading to Leverkusen

James looks 'inspired' at Everton

James Rodriguez looks "inspired" at Everton according to a former Premier League star.

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov told Betfair:

James Rodriguez looks like a new man at Everton.

When you join a new club, you are often extra inspired, and he was like this when he went to Madrid first, and looks like the same for Everton.

Bear in mind it has only been two games, but so far, he is amazing.

His left foot is magic, and right now everything is going in his favour.

I don't necessarily think Madrid did too much wrong, sometimes these things just happen.

Like Bale, it just gets to a point where the players aren't coming back from where they got to and they need to move on.

Carlo Ancelotti is the right man for James to go to, and the two can succeed together.

No matter how big you are, the team you leave will go on existing and probably succeeding, no one is bigger than any one club.

Real Madrid will be fine, it is a new chapter in the life of James.

Bale is more interesting as he is on loan, and stranger things have happened than for him to do well and Madrid to want him back.

Everton feel asking price for defender is too high

Everton believe Barcelona’s asking price for Jean-Clair Todibo is too high, according to a report.

Inside Futbol cite Mundo Deportivo as claiming Fulham have tabled a bid for the defender and are now waiting for the player to decide whether he would be open to a move to west London.

It's said that Everton are also interested in the youngster, but do not want to pay the price Barcelona want.

The Catalan giants have set an asking price of €15m and although centre-back is a priority position for the Blues right now they feel that is too high for in the current market.

Richarlison excited for Everton's future after Neymar hands him trophy

Manchester United 'stunned' by Everton's Calvert-Lewin asking price

According to a report, Manchester United decided against a move for Dominic Calvert-Lewin after Everton demanded £80million for him.

The Metro claim Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a huge admirer of the forward and felt that his aerial presence could offer the Red Devils something completely different to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

Their article states:

However, United were taken aback by Everton’s £80m valuation of the striker and ended their interest in Calvert-Lewin.

Taken aback? I'm taken aback that United were supposedly "taken aback" by such a price tag.

Even before his four-goal blitz so far this term, Calvert-Lewin was Everton's joint top scorer last season, he's just 23 years of age and only signed a new five-year deal at Goodison Park in the spring.

Let's not forget that United paid Everton £75million plus add ons for Romelu Lukaku back in 2017 only for Neymar's move to Paris St-Germain to make that look under-valued), I'd argue that given his potential, Calvert-Lewin is actually now worth even more than the figure quoted.

Gordon demanded Ancelotti explanation

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Anthony Gordon demanded an explanation for why he was overlooked for Everton’s start to the Premier League campaign and that he reassured the teenager he represents the future of the club.

The teenager is set to feature against Fleetwood Town tonight in the Carabao Cup having been excluded from the matchday squads for the league wins over Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion.

When asked what he made of Gordon's questions, Ancelotti said:

"I love, I love this. It means they are really interested to do a proper job."

Everton have been the real winners in Lookman sale

With RB Leipzig's Ademola Lookman linked with a loan return to the Premier League with Fulham, Everton have been hailed as being the "real winners following his £22.5million switch to the Bundesliga.

Football Fancast write:

It’s been over a year since Marcel Brands sanctioned his exit to the Bundesliga outfit, raking in a whopping £22.5m for his signature.

Since then, the Toffees have signed Allan for £21.7m, Abdoulaye Doucoure for £20m and even nabbed James Rodriguez on a free transfer.

You’ve got to give it to Brands, he’s got away with daylight robbery here. Over the course of 48 appearances, Lookman only managed to provide four goals and two assists, per Transfermarkt.

Whilst over in Germany, it’s really not gone to plan having not featured off the bench at all this season and failing to deliver a single goal or assist from 13 appearances last term. He started just twice all campaign.

The 22-year-old, signed from Charlton, came to Goodison Park with so much promise – he was a regular at England youth level right up to the U21s – so it clearly has gone horribly wrong for him in his career.

Barton: Fleetwood won't be 'lambs to the slaughter'

Lifelong Evertonian Joey Barton is hoping to get one over his beloved Blues tonight as his Fleetwood Town side host Carlo Ancelotti's men in the Carabao Cup.

An Everton team showing 10 changes from their 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the Premier League opener breezed past League Two Salford City 3-0 in the previous round a week ago, but Barton's outfit, who play a division higher, are determined to make it a rougher ride this time out.

Barton told the Gazette:

"If we lose a game to Everton I don’t think that’s going to be any disgrace. We’ve got an opportunity to kill Goliath.

“If we get beat, everyone will go, ‘Yeah, Everton should beat Fleetwood in the cup’, so it’s a chance to create a bit of history, a chance to do something you will remember for your whole career. And if you don’t do it, no-one’s going to hold it against you. It’s not like you’ll regret not knocking Everton out.

They’re going to be overwhelming favourites and will have the lion’s share of

possession.

“We will have to defend our goal on multiple occasions, but if we’re disciplined, do it properly and are structured, we have players who can cause them problems. We can cause them problems from set-plays and on the counter-attack.

“We’re not coming into it like lambs to the slaughter. We have a plan, an idea of how we want to go about it and it will be interesting if the lads can execute it under pressure."

On this day...

Three years ago today, Oumar Niasse showed what he had in his locker by coming off the bench to net both goals in a 2-1 comeback win over Bournemouth and give manager Ronald Koeman a (temporary) reprieve.

Calvert-Lewin Golden Boot odds slashed

Having scored in both of Everton's Premier League victories so far - including a first hat-trick of his career against West Bromwich Albion last time out - the odds on Dominic Calvert-Lewin finishing the season as the Premier League's top scorer have been slashed.

The second game week of the Premier League has shaken up the top goalscorer market, with the race for surprise contenders for the Golden Boot emerging.

Following a scintillating performance against the Baggies, Blues number nine Calvert-Lewin has been cut from 100/1 into just 16/1.

That makes him the biggest market mover in the race for top goalscorer, and he’s been the most popular with punters over the last 48 hours.

In that time period, a whopping 31% of all bets in the market have backed the Sheffield-born striker.

Another man that’s been enjoying a plethora of punting attention is Spurs' Heung Min Son, after scoring four goals against Southampton.

The South Korean has been cut from 80/1 into 25/1 to finish the season as top scorer, whilst his teammate Harry Kane remains 9/1 third favourite.

The current market leader is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, currently the 4/1 favourite at the bookmakers.

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang is the second favourite with all firms offering odds, currently priced at 5/1.

Chelsea new boy Timo Werner is inside the top five favourites at 12/1, followed by last year’s winner, Jamie Vardy, who is 14/1.

Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson said:

“With the European Championships fast approaching, this would be a very timely season for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to truly shine in the Premier League.

"The Everton man has started this campaign like a freight train, and with so many excellent creative players at Carlo Ancelotti's disposal, you can expect DCL to continue receiving plenty of first-class service from his teammates."

• Click here for the full list of odds for the Premier League top scorer from Oddschecker.

Everton legend Southall says Davies 'has to move on'

Southampton have been linked with a potential loan switch for Tom Davies and Everton legend Neville Southall has already declared that he believes that the Blues home-grown hero "has to move on."

Writing in a chapter on Pressure in his new book Mind Games, Southall says:

"It's easy to see why the English media and English fans hype up young English footballers.

"What they're doing is selling a dream. They're not just hyping you up, they're pushing the idea that you could be the answer for the country and will finally take England back to where they think the team belongs.

"Then when you inevitably fail to live up to that unrealistic hype, you get flak.

"Take Tom Davies of Everton. He comes into the team at the age of 18 and tries his b******s off, so everyone says, 'Oh, he gets it, he's a breath of fresh air, he's the future.'

"Then when he suffers a period of patchy form, like every young player does, or the team isn't performing so well, it's, 'He's s**t, get him out of the team.'

"By the age of 21 he's already gone through the entire cycle and now has to move on.

"Judge Tom Davies on the situation he was put into, the lack of help he got from senior pros in the team, the changing managers, the fact that he's a bloody kid.

"How hard is that for him to deal with? He's still learning and developing as a player and person, but now he has so much piled on top of him and he's having to do it all in the public eye.

"How strong do you have to be to manage that and come out level-headed the other side?"

Semedo set for Wolves switch

Could Wolves' big money capture of the Barcelona right-back free up Santiago Arias for Everton?

Nuno's side have also been linked to the Atletico Madrid man but it seems unlikely that they'd splash out on two international right-backs.

Further reading

In case you missed the rumours and speculation from yesterday catch up HERE and make sure you're signed up for our daily Blues newsletter HERE

Todibo on Everton shortlist as Ancelotti eyes loan signing

Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo is on a list of centre-backs Everton are considering as they look to secure a loan signing before the transfer deadline - read Phil Kirkbride's full story here

Morning Blues

Hello everyone and welcome to today’s Everton Live Blog