Man City starlet, free transfer, £33m striker - Everton marquee signing verdict delivered

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It's a fresh start for Everton with the club departing Goodison Park for their new Hill Dickinson Stadium. But with David Moyes looking to implement a major overhaul of the squad this summer, who would be your ideal marquee signing to spearhead the Blues' new era?

Everton have missed out on Liam Delap but have brought in Carlos Alcaraz and he is expected to be first of a number of recruits. Experienced Manchester City pair John Stones and Jack Grealish have both been linked with moves to Merseyside along with up-and-coming players like Thierno Barry of Villarreal.

And as the transfer speculation continues to swirl, members of the ECHO sportsdesk have had their say on the one signing they would like to see the Blues make...

Chris Beesley

Like with Liam Delap, who Everton pursued rather more publicly than most of their targets under David Moyes, the Blues would seemingly be outsiders in the pursuit for Jonathan David but as Leo Burnett once said: “When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won’t come up with a handful of mud either.”

Time magazine named American advertising executive Burnett as one of the most 100 influential people of the 20th century with his notable creations including the Jolly Green Giant; Pillsbury Doughboy; Tony the Tiger for Frosties; and perhaps more controversial for modern tastes but no less iconic, Marlboro Man.

All of these figures became ubiquitous with their respective brands and Everton could do with the sporting equivalent of one as they move from Goodison Park, the first purpose-built football ground in England and the pre-eminent club venue in the country for most of its existence, but a home that had become tired, dated and no longer economically viable by the end, to their stunning new Hill Dickinson Stadium on the Mersey waterfront.

This is a pivotal and unique moment in the Blues’ history and there is an opportunity for someone out there to become the main man and poster boy of a new bigger and brighter Everton going forwards. So that should be the sales pitch being put out to Canada international David, a player who has netted double figures in all seven seasons of his senior career, or any other potential marquee signings, no matter how big the competition for their signature might be.

Matt Jones

To be honest, I'm not really sold on the idea of a 'marquee signing'. I'd much prefer Everton to make sensible transfers after years of reckless spending and punts on past-it players.

But I suppose sensible can still be exciting, can't it? And with that in mind, there's plenty of business the Blues can do that would get pulses race.

So to Manchester City we go. Not to sign John Stones, nor Jack Grealish. But what about James McAtee?

The 22-year-old made a handful of appearances for City last season - 27 in total, although only six were starts - chipping in with seven goals. However, given the riches available to Pep Guardiola this summer, consistent minutes look unlikely for the England youth international.

Given his age and his squad status, it's no great surprise to see McAtee linked with a move away from City this summer, with loan and permanent transfers mentioned. Everton have been tentatively linked with midfielder.

When he did play last season, McAtee was used primarily from the right flank too, which is a priority area for Everton to strengthen in the coming months. His technical ability, eye for a pass and nose for goals would also give the Blues something different in attack and potential create room for a rampaging right-back if Everton sign one.

McAtee may not be a lucrative name, but symbolically he would send a message. Young, versatile, talented and with plenty of resale value, whether the transfer goes well or not.

Paul Wheelock

With Beto seemingly set to stay, and the possibility that even Dominic Calvert-Lewin could remain, a striker may not be the top of David Moyes' lengthy shortlist, as it stands. I would say a new right-back, a new right-winger and another centre-midfielder would be more of a priority.

But if we're talking marquee signings, it's got to be a centre-forward surely? I get the romantics call for Richarlison, I really do. But if the Blues are going to shell out big money this summer, any players they bring in must have re-sale value.

And it would appear VfB Stuttgart frontman Nick Woltemade has exactly that. He is just 23, has just made his debut for Germany, and is coming off a breakthrough season in the Bundesliga that saw him net 12 goals and add a further five in the DFB-Pokal.

Stung by missing out on Florian Wirtz, Bayern Munich have been linked with the 6ft 6in Woltemade and, with back up needed for Harry Kane, may not fancy losing another top young German talent to the Premier League.

But what could be telling is Brighton & Hove Albion's interest. The Seagulls have arguably been one of the best recruiters of young players in world football under Tony Bloom.

With a price tag reportedly set at £33m, it would be a huge statement of intent if Everton were to nip in and secure Woltemade's signature.

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