Hello and welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's Saturday live blog for all your very latest Everton news, rumours and transfer gossip.
The ECHO will provide breaking stories, reaction and comment to all the big talking points from Goodison Park as well as keeping tabs on transfer market gossip from around the world.
Roma have reportedly placed Everton defender Yerry Mina on their shortlist as Jose Mourinho targets reinforcements. Elsewhere, the Blues are said to be monitoring an Aberdeen prospect who is catching the eye with his performances in Scotland.
We will also be building up to today's Premier League clash between Fulham and Everton at Craven Cottage.
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Everton eye young Aberdeen talent
Everton are interested in Aberdeen teenage talent Lewis Pirie and have already sent scouts to watch him, according to reports.
The Daily Record are reporting that the Blues will face competition for his signature from Brighton, Leeds United and Sheffield United.
Scouts are said to have watched him in an U16s game against Dundee United, in which Pirie scored four goals.
How will Everton line up this afternoon?
Joe Thomas - McNeil deserves his chance in attack
The talking point for Fulham is whether to bring back Nathan Patterson now that he is in the squad, as confirmed by Frank Lampard on Thursday. He started the season impressively, negotiated the switch from a back five to a back four perhaps better than expected and his loss to injury forced a reconfiguration of the side just as it was gathering momentum.
Coleman has come in and done well, however. He was solid at Southampton and excellent against Crystal Palace as he nullified danger man Wilfried Zaha. Few players were on top form at Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United. I think this might be a game too soon for Patterson. Lampard tends to be cautious with recovering players and Patterson has now had two significant injuries this season. The defensive unit worked well against Palace and I’m keen to see Vitalii Mykolenko given another chance to be the full-back that pushes forward, as he did so effectively last week. Patterson is in my first-choice side but I’m sticking with Coleman today.
Instead, the change I would make is bringing in Dwight McNeil for Demarai Gray. Gray has struggled a bit in recent weeks and McNeil’s cameo against Palace was encouraging, even if the game was won. I think with Dominic Calvert-Lewin now back, McNeil gives Everton an additional way of hitting him. McNeil would make the attack less predictable and I like the idea of that.
Read the rest of our writers' team for this evening's game, here.
Everton's wonderful gesture ahead of south coast doubleheader
A statement on Evertonfc.com reads:
"Everton is ensuring supporters will pay nothing to attend the fourth-round Carabao Cup tie at Bournemouth, on Tuesday, 8 November.
"The gesture is in recognition of the loyalty of Evertonians, who will be making the first of two trips to the south coast club in the space of four days, with the Blues also scheduled to face the Cherries again in the Premier League on Saturday, 12 November.
"Having sold-out the allocation for the fixture, all fans attending will be reimbursed for the value of their ticket. A credit-balance will be added to the account of the lead purchaser for the clash at The Vitality Stadium.
"The credit, for the value of the match ticket, can be used against future Everton ticketing purchases. Supporters will not need to provide the Club with any additional information."
Read the full statement, here.
Roma weighing up a move for Yerry Mina
Jose Mourinho could pursue a move for out-of-favour Everton defender Yerry Mina if he fails to land his first-choice defensive targets at Roma next summer, according to reports.
Italian publication Calciodangolo states that the Italian giants will rival Arsenal for the signature of 23-year-old Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka. However, the Europa Conference League winners could explore the option of signing Everton's Colombian centre-back upon the expiration of his contract.
Mina has been at Everton since the summer of 2018 when he signed from Barcelona, but a plethora of injuries and a battle for consistency has marred his team at Goodison Park. Having limped off in the Blues' contest with Chelsea on the opening day of the season, manager Frank Lampard later signed Conor Coady on a season-long loan from Wolves.
The former Molineux captain has been a revelation for the Toffees and has formed an impressive partnership with fellow summer addition James Tarkowski at the heart of the Blues' defence.
Dele Alli claim made by new Besiktas manager
New Besiktas manager Şenol Gunes believes if on-loan Everton midfielder Dele Alli performs at 50% of his former level then he will be a success in Turkey.
The 26-year-old made the move to the Superliga in August but has been unable to replicate his best form for the Eagles, finding the back of the net just once in six league outings.
Gunes, who returned to the club as manager earlier this month after former manager Valerien Ismael left, discussed Alli's form his inaugural press conference back at Vodafone Park
“Alli, whom I know, was one of the best players at Tottenham. 50 per cent of him is enough here”, said Gunes (via Turkish outlet A Spor). “If he can’t do that, we have to find a solution.
“You can get very good players, but will they play very well?”
Good morning, Blues
Hello and welcome to today's Everton live blog.
We will be bringing you the latest news on the Blues throughout the day, including live coverage of today's Premier League clash with Fulham.
