1. Moses Odubajo
So the first of the six names I have come across is Odubajo. This one is the name I have heard most spoken about so far. The 21 year old is currently playing for Brentford as a right winger/right back having racked up 48 appearances with three goals since signing back in June 2014. Prior to Brentford Moses played for now League Two side Leyton Orient and in the 2013/14 season netted 12 goals in 57 appearances. Whilst in the team he won the Leyton Orient player of the year in 2012/13. He also won Football League young player of the month in April 2014. So far Odubajo has made two appearances for the England U-20 squad and has been called up for the 2015 Toulon tournament. Could he be the competition Seamus needs? Definitely would fill the void left by Atsu.
2. Moussa Dembele
Another name that's been filling the pages of the press linked to the blues is Dembele. The 18 year old forward is currently playing for Fulham, interestingly his first Premiership start came against Everton in a game that saw the Toffees win away 3-1. He had only one other appearance in the Premiership before Fulham were relegated and ten in the Championship. There have not been any goals to note in those league appearances but he has scored two goals in his one appearance in the league cup. Moussa has been playing in the French national team since his debut in the U-16 squad up to his present place in the U-19 side and has made 24 appearances and scored eight goals. As a young up and coming front man you do have to wonder what he could bring us that one of our current youth team would not bring, which leads me nicely to my next Everton hopeful.
3. David Henen
Forward David Henen has been on loan this season with Everton's youth squad. The 19 year old had come across the waters from Greek side Olympiakos. Whilst with the Everton U-21 team he has scored nine goals in 17 matches. So some would say we have been able try before we buy which would not be the case with some of the names linked to us in the media this week. David Unsworth has done a lot of work with Henen and told the Echo only a couple of months ago, "his willingness to run in behind and work for the team is fantastic so I am delighted for David". Not only is he showing his talent here on our soil but also for his country in his 25 appearances for the youth teams spanning U-15 to U-19 he has netted 10 goals, not a bad return rate. Maybe just the thing we need up front with Rom next season.
4. Scott Dann
So unless you have been living under a stone (or you have a life) you will have read the press about Dann being linked with EFC. As most will know the 28 year old centre back is currently playing for Crystal Palace following a promotion in each of his career moves. After joining Palace in January 2014 he made 34 league appearances with two goals in that time and three FA cup appearances with two goals scored. Before the move to Crystal Palace Scott was with Blackburn Rovers and in March 2013 he became Captain of the side. Whilst with Rovers he was not shy of 'breaking his balls' to score from his defensive position, as he proved when he netted his first goal for the side in December 2011 and ruptured his testicle leaving him out of action for six weeks. Ouch! My only issue with Mr Dann is his openness to being a fan of our neighbours on the other side of the park, maybe I need to get over it but we didn't see Jose Baxter pulling out the stops for the blues did we? His track record would say that he could be a good replacement for departing Distin and Alcaraz so let's wait and see.
5. Jonny Evans
The 27 year old defender has been linked in the last few days with Everton from Manchester United. He has made 127 league appearances for the Red Devils in a total of 192 appearances in all competitions for the side with seven goals in that period. Although he has been a member of the senior team since 2006 this time has included loan spells to Sunderland and Antwerp. Although his record has been a relatively consistent one my concern with Evans is his ability to behave himself. A potential liability? Maybe I'm being naive and a bit of fire is what we need in our well behaved side (well not quite as behaved as West Ham and er Liverpool) but three serious occasions of being sent off are not to be sniffed at. Especially when one was only this season, with his spitting incident the issue. The other two including a late tackle on last man Balotelli and a tackle that resulted in a Bolton Wanderers player being out for 22 months because of the injury he sustained. Another contender for the centre back role but for me the gain does not outweigh the risk.
6. Cheikh M'Bengue
Cheikh has some similarities with Evans in the sense that he has been suspended in both his Junior and Senior career for dangerous tackles. The 26 year old was French born but has qualified to play for the Senegal national team. His current role as a left back is with Rennes where he has been since 2013, in that time racking up 55 appearances. Prior to this move M'Bengue was with his birthplace side Toulouse from the age of seven, he totalled 141 appearances and scored one goal in this time. I am not sure why we would look to sign this player with the introduction of Galloway and hopefully the improvement of Baines' injury next season. Not to mention Oviedo being a key player in the squad.
There are two players I've heard mentioned in our transfer news (or rumours). Claudio Beauvre a 27 year old striker who scored five goals in the Europa League this season, although the link seems much stronger with Hull and Tottenham Hotspurs. Also the forward Nolito from Celta but it looks as though Althletico Madrid have nipped in their with a £7.1 million offer. Although of the two I would be bidding for the latter as well.
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