Koeman’s January transfer window strategy

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has talked about his plans to develop the Toffees squad, starting with the upcoming transfer window that opens in just over a day.

He started by saying that he had no bids for players in the squad.

“There is no offer and we like to keep everybody in. But if there is a player who is not happy about his situation then we will talk to player and we will find a solution.”

A few fringe players have not had opportunities to play under Koeman, specifically Oumar Niasse, Darron Gibson, and Arouna Kone, and should a team make an offer it is very likely they will be moved on.

“Normally in every club there are players who like to fight to win something. Okay we play the games now, but in the long term you want to make the squad stronger than it is now.

“It is all about performances from individual players. Finally you make choices about what will happen now and to the end of the season.”

Koeman also sounded critical about the past regime at the Blues letting players get too comfortable with performances that were not up to mark, but insisted that would not fly under his watch.

“It is true. But I don’t know how things were here before.

“We like to improve and to make the teams stronger and then finally you go for the best players.

“If you have that quality in (already), then you keep that but in several aspects we need to improve and we will do that.”

Finally, he talked about the difficult of finding good quality players in the winter window.

“First of all it is always difficult in January. More difficult than in the summer, for sure.

“But we aren’t signing just to get new players in. We are signing players in positions where we need better quality or more competition. That’s clear.”

After his comments a few days ago about he and Director of Football Steve Walsh being much better prepared for the upcoming window, the fans will be eager to see if the Toffees can get their transfer business sewn up in a timely and efficient manner.