Everton may be in the middle of an international break, but Thursday has produced plenty to discuss.
January transfer plans, Harrison Armstrong’s England promotion and an improving injury picture have all featured, while Manchester City’s financial case has again provided plenty of Everton-related talking points.
Here’s the Everton news and talking points round-up for Thursday.
Everton expected to move on from Balogun
A January return for Folarin Balogun now appears unlikely after Everton’s £40m deadline-day attempt to sign the Monaco striker collapsed.
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter Giulia Bould believes another move is “highly unlikely”, with Everton expected to look elsewhere when the window reopens.
That led us back to Joshua Zirkzee. Everton offered to take the Manchester United forward on loan on deadline day, only for United to reject the approach because there wasn’t enough time to find a replacement.
With Zirkzee still waiting for his first Premier League start this season, we asked whether Everton could return for him in January. There is no suggestion of a fresh approach, but the circumstances behind the original interest haven’t disappeared.
Armstrong earns England U21 promotion
Harrison Armstrong’s international break has taken another step forward after the 19-year-old was promoted into the England Under-21 squad.
Armstrong replaces Lewis Miley after already appearing twice for England Under-20s during the break. He now joins fellow Blues Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George in Lee Carsley’s group.
Brennan Johnson and Jake O’Brien are also set for senior international action tonight, with Johnson’s Wales facing Norway and O’Brien away with Republic of Ireland.
Injury picture improving
Christian Norgaard is back in first-team training at Finch Farm as he works towards his Everton debut, while Merlin Rohl is expected to return following the international break.
Our updated Everton injury and fitness tracker also has Armstrong firmly back in the fit column after his minor training problem last month.
Neither Norgaard nor Rohl has yet been confirmed as available for the trip to Hull City, but David Moyes could have more options when the Premier League resumes.
Everton experience returns to focus
Manchester City’s guilty verdict has inevitably brought Everton’s own experience of the Premier League’s financial rules back into the conversation.
Prime Minister and Evertonian Andy Burnham reiterated his belief that the Blues “weren’t fairly treated” during their PSR cases.
We also looked at how Everton’s successful appeal against their original 10-point deduction could offer some guidance when City begin their own challenge.
And, from a purely football perspective, there was another uncomfortable question. Everton finished one place outside European qualification four times during the nine seasons covered by City’s serious financial breaches, leading us to examine how often the Blues might have reached Europe had circumstances been different.
Fleetwood finds the Friedkins
Finally, Tommy Fleetwood managed something Moyes has recently found rather difficult: getting himself alongside Dan Friedkin.
The Everton-supporting golfer was pictured with Dan and Ryan Friedkin during practice for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
There is nothing particularly significant to read into a photograph at a golf tournament, but it provided some welcome light relief after another day dominated by financial rules and legal arguments.
Perhaps Moyes just needs to pack the clubs next time.
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Everton’s quiet international break may be exactly what Moyes needed
Everton’s quiet international break may be exactly what Moyes needed
Harrison Armstrong promoted to England U21 squad after Miley withdrawal
Harrison Armstrong promoted to England U21 squad after Miley withdrawal