ins and outs

[histon]

Ins: Phil Jagielka (Sheffield Utd, £4m)

Outs: Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United, £1m), Richard Wright (West Ham, free), Alessandro Pistone (released).

[footyprogs]

Don't forget to add Defoe, Smith and Richardson to that list soon haha

[Beefy]

Are you an Evertonian Footyprogs

[jayp]

Lucho González is set to leave FC Porto after just two years with the Portuguese champions after attracting interest from across the continent.

Everton’s £11m bid is under consideration, but throughout the summer Porto have remained firm in their 20m euros (£13.5m) valuation of the dexterous Argentine midfielder, and there is continuing monitoring from Lyons, Juventus and Valencia. As two of these three sides will participate in the Champions League this season, rather than the Uefa Cup, it is thought González would opt for France or Spain should a bidding war break out.

González has shone for the Dragons since his arrival from River Plate, helping them secure back-to-back domestic league crowns, and his versatility has brought about interest from major clubs across Europe. Crisp passing and sniper-accurate shooting have wowed YouTube users, but González is as effective just in front of the defence playing in the holding role as he is on the right flank, surging up the wing and terrorising defences.

It was in 2004 when the 26-year-old really caught the eye. In July of that year, he scored twice in Argentina’s run to the Copa América final including one in the semi-final thumping of Colombia before winning Olympic gold in Greece a month later, again netting twice as Argentina won the men’s tournament without conceding a single goal.

If a battle for his name does commence, any club can offer 25 million euros (£17m) to trigger his buy-out clause

Born in Buenos Aires, González started all 30 league matches for Porto last season and scored an impressive nine times, maintaining his record of a goal every three matches for his current employers.


FACTBOX: LUCHO GONZÁLEZ
Full name: Luis Oscar González
Age: 26
Height: 1.85m
Position: Midfielder
Current club: Porto
Valuation: 20-25 million euros
YouTube Selection: Goal vs Hamburg | Goal vs CSKA | Compilation
Age dictates his peak years are imminent; something Europe’s top clubs have not failed to miss. Real Madrid have joined the trio of clubs already hunting his signature as it looks increasingly likely González will earn a promotion and an opportunity to demonstrate his awesome ability in one of Europe’s greatest leagues. If a battle for his name does commence, any club can offer 25 million euros (£17m) to trigger his buy-out clause – a sum well within the means of Valencia and Real Madrid, but perhaps beyond Juventus, Lyons and the ambitious Everton.

Porto paid 3.6m euros (£2.5m) for half the player’s registration in April 2005, meaning interested clubs must also deal with River Plate in order to secure González’s transfer.

What about the man in question? “I’m calm and if I stay at Porto I would be happy as it is not my intention to leave. I haven’t spoken to anyone,” he recently told a Portuguese radio station, Antena 1.

Highly desirable, it might take an exceptionally high offer to force Porto’s hand to dispense with their golden performer.