The Friedkin Group are ready to back David Moyes in the transfer market this summer as they look to make major upgrades across the squad
Everton will hold further transfer meetings this week as the club look to step up progress on making additions to their attack.
The return of players for pre-season training on Friday brought fresh focus for the Toffees’ newly assembled transfer team.
While insiders believe Everton have the core that will make them competitive again next season, there is an acknowledgement that there is nowhere near enough firepower in a squad that has lost two strikers and two wingers from a group that struggled to score goals last season.
The idea is to replace all four departures with a mixture of permanent and loan signings before the end of the summer transfer window.
But it will be a huge test of chief executive Angus Kinnear, manager David Moyes and head of player trading Nick Hammond, who have replaced director of football Kevin Thelwell in a new “flatter” executive structure.
Thierno Barry is set to join Everton from Villarreal (Photo: Getty)
Signing Thierno Barry from Villareal – a £27.5m move could be completed this week – is part of the solution and would represent their biggest statement of intent under the Friedkin Group ownership.
But Everton’s recruitment efforts are also focused on spreading out a budget of around £100m to make sure they have upgrades across the squad.
It is, as one insider admitted to The i Paper recently, something “no other Premier League club has tried to do before”.
The i Paper understands they have a number of ambitious targets, with a £25m move for Manchester City’s James McAtee among the more eye-catching moves being considered.
McAtee has interest from the Bundesliga – Borussia Dortmund are one of several clubs in Germany monitoring him – but Moyes is also a big admirer and there has been dialogue with City.
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Another discussed recently is Real Sociedad’s Japan winger Takefusa Kubo – also valued around £30m – who has been offered around Premier League clubs this summer by intermediaries.
Having impressed in La Liga over the last three seasons, Kubo would represent an ambitious upgrade for Everton, but there is an acknowledgement that they could face competition from clubs who can offer European football.
Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson and West Bromwich Albion’s Tom Fellows remain of interest, although both forwards come with the usual premium attached to young English talent and Everton know they have to box clever in the transfer market.
With so many vacancies to fill, there may have to be compromises.
Idrissa Gueye has joined Michael Keane in committing to another year on the blue half of Merseyside – there is the chance of a further year if he hits a specific number of games – while Everton are also toying with the idea of returning to Leeds United to sign Jack Harrison.
Fans may be lukewarm about the idea of Harrison, who had two solid but unspectacular loan stints at Everton, returning to the club.
But he is a known quantity for Moyes in a summer of so much change.
If it also allows the club to land some of their more ambitious targets elsewhere, it may make sense.
Everton’s three English targets
James McAtee (Man City)
The attacking midfielder was a winner with England in the European Under-21 Championship this summer. Many big clubs including RB Leipzig, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund were looking to buy him in the January transfer window.
Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich)
Winger was also part of England’s Under-21 Euro 2025 winning team. Impressed for Ipswich last season but could not prevent relegation. Since dropping into the second tier, he is now looking for a new club.
Tom Fellows (West Brom)
Another European Championship winning winger. Has also won the U23 Premier League title.