IT’S only natural that the Everton FC rumour transfer mill will have contracted this summer with the club’s ability to buy players so limited.

But even so, there are still some eyebrow raising bouts of frenzy when a player becomes available who people assume should be on the Blues’ radar.

Cue the debate this week on whether David Moyes should make a move for Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton.

Putting aside the significant fact that Everton would be unlikely to be in a position to afford the Huyton-born player’s considerable wages, there’s been some interesting and surprising reactions among fans.

Many have seemed to fall under a spell of ‘we’ve got to sign him because he’s free’ thinking, and argued plaintively that failure to bring Barton to Goodison would be, well, a failure.

It’s a dubious sentiment.

While, first and foremost, nobody can dispute Barton’s ability - the fact that seems to be missed here is that he is a midfielder.

While 90% of Premier League clubs would be strengthened by the presence of an in-form Barton providing the sort of crosses he did from a wide left role for Newcastle last season, Everton are arguably not in that bracket.

Yes, he would provide competition in that role at Goodison for the hit-and-miss Diniyar Bilyletdinov, but when money is as tight as it is at Goodison, you cut your cloth accordingly.

If there is one thing David Moyes really needs next season - it is a tried and tested, powerful, quick, 20 plus goals a season centre forward.

Granted they don't grow on trees - especially when you’re scouring the loan and Bosman market - but that remains the thorny priority nevertheless.

To consider moving for Barton simply because he was free - and then spend all your meagre resources on creating a financial package capable of supporting the signing on fee, wages, and agent fees it would require, would seem to be missing the point.