ToffeeLinks 01/06/2011: Premature rumors refuted

I hate transfer rumors. I don't know why I'm still covering them really. This is why I hate rumors...

Everton FC unlikely to move for Jay Bothroyd or Joey Barton this summer - Liverpool Echo
EVERTON will not be chasing summer deals for out of contract Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd or Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton despite frequent reports to the contrary.

- Weren't these considered close to done deals. Ugh I hate rumors. What a waste of time.

Shane Long will be Premier League player - Marco Tardelli | Mail Online
Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long has been reassured he will be a Barclays Premier League player next season, despite Reading's heart-breaking play-off final defeat.

- And I hope to god it's for Everton. I have been keeping tabs on him all of last season just because he was so phenomenal without even thinking of him as a potential transfer target. I seriously think he can be a really good player in the EPL.

This isn't a rumor, this actually happened:

Everton release trio | Everton News, Fixtures, Results, Transfers | Sky Sports
Everton have released Iain Turner, Hope Akpan and Kieran Agard after their contracts expired.