Our Everton writers grade the summer business after nine new transfer arrivals this summer
Paul Wheelock is a sport content editor at the Liverpool ECHO, covering both Everton FC and Liverpool FC, having previously held the position of Blood Red: Liverpool FC podcast and video editor. He used to be a football club correspondent, reporting on Blackburn Rovers for the Lancashire Telegraph and Chester FC for the Chester Chronicle.
Grealish and Moyes after the win over Wolves (Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
David Moyes may have said he wanted 10 new players to join Everton this summer. He will have to make do with nine.
The arrival of Merlin Rohl on Monday topped off what has been an exciting and eventful window for the Blues. After the signings of Carlos Alcaraz, Mark Travers, Thierno Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Adam Aznou, Tom King, Tyler Dibling and Jack Grealish, there is a new feel to the squad for a new era.
Nevertheless, there are still areas in which the squad looks short of depth. With that in mind, we asked our Everton writers to give their grade for the summer window.
Paul Wheelock
Just like what's happening on the field at the moment, it appears Everton have enjoyed a very promising transfer window.
The plusses are numerous. To now have Dwight McNeil, Carlos Alcaraz and Tyler Dibling on the bench to provide cover and competition for Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye is nothing short of a revelation after years of Blues bosses turning to their substitutes and wondering how they were going to impact the game.
Everton look so strong in the wide and attacking midfield areas.
They have also done the less glamorous job of proving back-up to Jordan Pickford while the midfield looks reinforced following the deadline day arrival of Merlin Rohl even if there is a nagging doubt over whether the squad still lacks a combative No.6.
The decision to convince and hand Michael Keane a new contract is proving wise following the injury to Jarrad Branthwaite. But when the latter does return, David Moyes has more than enough options at centre-back.
The full-backs positions are more of a concern. If Moyes does not feel Adam Aznou is ready for Premier League football just yet, that puts pressure on first-choice Vitalii Mykolenko to stay fit which, in recent times, he has had issues doing. While over on the right, Jake O'Brien continues to do a good job there but it was still surprising not to see another out-and-out right back targeted after the move for Kenny Tete collapsed.
Tete is an excellent performer and his signing would have made it a 9/10 window. Instead, so far, it looks an excellent 8/10.
10/10 would have been the arrival of Tete and a proven goalscorer. But as Moyes recently admitted, Everton are not shopping in that market just yet.
Matt Jones
Everton were never going to sort everything out this summer. They aren't far off though.
There are still a couple of areas in the squad the require reinforcement, most notably at right-back and in midfield.
Everton's record with Jake O'Brien at right-back is largely good. The Irishman can do a steady job in the position, although at times he can be clumsy in possession going forward. A more natural and attack right-back could've given the Blues another key attacking dimension.
The team is also lacking a natural number six to sit deep in midfield. Tim Rohl is a ball-carrier rather than a deep-sitting player, meaning James Garner will likely have to do that job alongside the effervescent Idrissa Gueye. When the latter departs for the Africa Cup of Nations later in December, it's a situation that may need to be addressed in January.
Still, the level of player from a technical perspective has been elevated. Everton have proven quality with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish to call on, while youngsters like Thierno Barry and Tyler Dibling are potentially stars of the future.
Crucially, Gueye and Jarrad Branthwaite both signed new contracts too. Had Everton lost either of those in this window then things could've been a lot more panicked.
So perfect? Not quite. But after so much upheaval on and off the pitch, the recruitment team can be content with a job well done. 8/10