Iliman Ndiaye scores for Everton
Everton will approach the 2025/26 campaign with a sense of excitement that has been missing for several years. Goodison Park will no longer house the Toffees' Men's team, but this new chapter promises so much.
After a huge exodus last month, Everton face a steep rebuild as they shuffle over to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, although Moyes is the perfect man to lead this charge, tasked with piecing back together a team fit for purpose in the higher level of the Premier League.
Everton manager David Moyes before the match
Everton manager David Moyes before the match
But make no mistake, there's a lot to sort out for the Scotsman.
The latest on Everton's transfer window
When Everton completed the £27m signing of Thierno Barry from Villarreal earlier in July, Moyes confirmed that he is looking to do more business before the start of the season.
He's been true to his word. Bournemouth shot-stopper Mark Travers has completed his medical and officially signed for Everton, lined up to provide competition for Jordan Pickford. The Merseysiders also want wide defenders and physical and creative profiles in the middle of the park.
However, Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom's departures after unconvincing loan spells have left Everton devoid of options on the attacking right flank.
FFC Header Transfer Focus
That's why, as per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Everton are pushing to sign Francisco Conceicao from FC Porto after the 22-year-old's loan stint in Italy with Juventus.
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The Liga Portugal giants value their rising star at €30m (£26m), and while he is thought to be giving priority to Juventus, Everton are named as the only suitors willing to meet Porto's demands.
Why Moyes wants Francisco Conceicao
Conceicao played a peripheral role for Juventus last season, but his high-speed performances down the right wing made a positive impression, scoring seven goals and providing six assists across 40 matches in all competitions, including a brace against Al Ain in the Club World Cup.
Conceicao-Pau-Torres-Aston-Villa
He's got the makings of something special, and Everton's vacancy on the right certainly suggests he could be a wonderful addition, with his physicality and athletic style even suggesting he could be the next version of Iliman Ndiaye.
Ndiaye, 25, signed from Marseille for £15m last summer and has established himself as the crème de la crème of Everton's transfer business in recent years. It's admittedly not a high bar, but he'd shine as a standout across even a rich and fruitful era for the club.
Everton's top scorer in 2024/25 with 11 goals across 37 appearances, the Senegalese winger has a rare skill for excitement, and in Conceicao, Moyes could sign a stylistic match to compete down the right.
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League Stats 24/25 - Iliman Ndiaye vs Francisco Conceicao
Match Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Shot (on target)*
Big chances missed
Pass completion
Big chances created
Key passes*
Dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels won*
Data via Sofascore
Ndiaye has been hailed for his ability to produce "magic" moments by Sky Sports commentator Seb Hutchinson, and there's no question that he's more complete and robust at this stage than Conceicao, albeit a few years the Portuguese's senior.
He could serve as a tutor for this young wideman, who should consider a move to Merseyside after a fringe role on loan with Juventus last season. At Everton, he would have the chance to become a nailed-on starting member.
Conceicao has already been declared 'statistically the second-best dribbler in the world' following analytics drawn from the CIES Football Observatory, so he's got the talent to mirror Ndiaye, for sure.
Ranked among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for tackles per 90, as per FBref. Clearly, he can fill the ball-carrying void that Ndiaye can't fill on the right, for he plies his trade on the left wing.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
Lauded for his "exceptional" dribbling skills and "electric pace" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Conceicao would be a stunning acquisition for an Everton side on the up, establishing a degree of exciting equipoise on the wings as Moyes creates a frontline to be feared.