A Key Transfer Window - Everton

Last year Roberto Martinez exploited the loan system extremely well making three acquisitions that were instrumental to Everton’s success last season. They were: Gareth Barry, Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu. With the new Premier League season on the horizon, people may wonder whether Everton will struggle to satisfy the high demands of playing Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, the demands that qualification for the Europa League brings. It is imperative that Everton use this transfer window to their advantage.

Everton boast one of the best youth academies in England and have forged a reputation for developing local lads into first team players. Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley are prime examples of this and Roberto Martinez has already named five young academy players who he feels have the potential to feature in league, cup and European games, people he has identified as being the next Ross Barkley or the next John Stones.

Everton’s transfer window so far has been pretty disappointing, and Everton fans have took to social networking sites to voice their discontent at the lack of first team arrivals this summer, so far the only bit of business Roberto has done is retaining the services of, Manchester City-Reject, Gareth Barry who was key to Everton’s success last season.

In Transfer windows gone by Everton have often had to sell some their bigger players to fund the transfers for other players: Rodwell to Manchester City, Joleon Lescott to Manchester City, Wayne Rooney to Manchester United, the list goes on and on and often the speculation has been more focused on which of Everton’s players will be leaving to one of the ‘big four’. (One of the more recent ones I have heard is Ross Barkley to Liverpool for £38million! Ridiculous!) But this year, Martinez has promised Evertonians, it will be different and no big name will be leaving the club.

Having already signed Gareth Barry, Martinez has come out and said that he has identified that he needs 3 attackers and 1 further midfielder and wouldn’t rule out any other potential incomings. Here are but a few players that I think the blues should be after.

Muhamed Besic – Nicknamed ‘Messi’s Shadow’ (for his superb handling of the four-time balon d’or winner). The German born, Bosnia-Herzegovina International shone at the world cup with his superb displays in the Bosnian midfield attracting interest from top clubs around Europe. The Besic transfer has been hanging in the balance for weeks upon weeks now and if twitter is to be believed, he’s had roughly 14 medicals for Everton, been spotted in Liverpool 3 times and has been edging closer and closer for weeks.

CONFIRMED - Besic will travel as part of the Everton Squad when they travel to Thailand for a pre-season friendly against Leicester City

Romelu Lukaku – It seems Lukaku has been Martinez’s No.1 transfer target since the start of the transfer window and any further business hinges on whether Martinez’s attempts to sign him are successful. The Belgian enjoyed a successful loan spell at Goodison park last season scoring 16 goals and it looks as if Martinez wants him back for good.

David Henen - Martinez has recently confirmed rumours of an interest in the Belgian youngster who has sometimes been dubbed as the ‘Belgian Ronaldo’. Henen spent last season on loan at AS Monaco B where he enjoyed a successful season scoring frequently. As you can probably guess, this isn’t really a signing who is going to have an immediate impact; he’s one for the future.

Carlos Bacca – If a move for the Belgian ‘Monster’ fails, Everton will go after the Colombian ‘Monster’. Carlos Bacca was recently identified by Martinez as a plan B for Everton (Romelu Lukaku being plan A) and would cost a fee in the region of £14million. The Sevilla striker bagged an impressive 21 goals last season (which was his first in Spain) helping his side to Europa league glory and a coveted spot in Colombia’s world cup squad.

Divock Origi – I’ve had frequent conversations with my friends and fellow writers about this one. I’ve had long conversations debating whether Origi is a good target for Everton at the right price or is he too much of a gamble but I decided to put him in the article anyway.

Although Liverpool seem favourites to land the Belgian youngster, I believe that Everton would be a better fit for both him and the club he would develop better at Everton and not waste his career sitting on the bench for a Liverpool side he’s going to find it difficult to break into. At £9million, I think that that’s an absolute bargain! His mixture of pace, dribbling and flair make him an attacker that Everton quite simply don’t have. His ability to take on a man and go past him is second to none and quite frankly if he’s lining up for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, Everton should be scared.

By @joelymo444