After the chaos of the transfer window, attention moves toward forward-planning
Vitalii Mykolenko, Michael Keane and James Tarkowski are among a group of Everton players now in the final year of their deals. Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Vitalii Mykolenko, Michael Keane and James Tarkowski are among a group of Everton players now in the final year of their deals. Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Everton’s complex summer of rebuilding is now over after a transfer window that saw nine players join David Moyes’ Blues project.
Deadline day signing Merlin Rohl was the last through the door as the midfielder completed a late switch from Freiburg. The 23-year-old was acquired on a season-long loan deal but will remain on Merseyside beyond next summer so long as the club avoids relegation from the Premier League.
That does not mean the hard work ends, however. Several high-profile Everton players have entered the final 12 months of their contracts and thoughts will quickly turn to their futures, while the summer overhaul has raised questions over the roles of a few others.
James Tarkowski
The captain in Seamus Coleman’s absence, James Tarkowski has been an immense presence for Everton since joining in the summer of 2022. He was the first signing of former director of football Kevin Thelwell and there is a strong argument that he has been the most successful.
He solidified the defence and provided a rare strand of stability after centre backs suffered injury after injury at the end of the previous campaign. Tarkowski’s debut saw both Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey pick up serious knocks but he was an ever-present until a hamstring issue ended his season early last year.
The 32-year-old has been a rock in a league-leading defence over the last two seasons. With Jarrad Branthwaite and Jake O’Brien, the next partnership at the back could already exist within the squad but Tarkowski, who is out of contract in the summer, remains key to the defence this season.
James Garner
Also in the final year of his deal is James Garner. The 24-year-old ended pre-season on a high, impressing in a deeper central midfield role. His versatility is a blessing and a curse and led to him being shunted to left back for the opening games of the season, against Leeds United and Brighton. Worked hard while out of position and grabbed the second against Brighton - a strike that has been nominated for goal of the month. Was very good back in midfield in the win at Wolves and, while the arrival of Rohl will provide competition, it will also give him greater support if and when Idrissa Gueye is absent or needs a break.
Vitalii Mykolenko
Garner started the season at left back because of injury to Mykolenko, who has picked up a series of knocks over the past 18 months - and now appears to be unavailable for Ukraine over the current international break.
Has shown more attacking ambition under Moyes and picked up assists at Brentford and Newcastle last season. As shown by the defeat at Leeds and the chances conceded against Brighton, his absence is one that throws Everton completely out of shape. Another who is out of contract next summer.
Michael Keane, Idrissa Gueye and Seamus Coleman
Gueye, Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman all signed new deals this summer, each extending their stays at the club into the new era at Hill Dickinson Stadium. All penned 12 month contracts, though there is an option for a further year in Gueye’s case. Attention is unlikely to turn to these deals in the short term but the three provide a wealth of experience that Moyes does value. All three have also been needed in the opening weeks of this campaign.
Nathan Patterson
This is a big season for Nathan Patterson. He was due to head out on loan to Sevilla before that move fell down last weekend and he will now remain with the squad until January at least. His Everton career has been dogged by misfortune, with injuries halting runs of form and the scuppering chances when they have opened up for him.
There is a need for a specialist right back within the squad but that Everton pushed hard to try and lure Kenny Tete from Fulham in the summer, and that Moyes has preferred O’Brien in that position, shows that Patterson has a fight on his hands if he is to convince the Blues boss that he can be the long-term heir to Coleman. His body needs to allow him the chance to challenge if he is to have any success and he has missed the opening games of this season already.
Dwight McNeil
Dwight McNeil was one of the first names on the teamsheet under Sean Dyche and, as captivating as the likes of Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have been since their arrivals this summer, McNeil’s contribution over recent seasons should not be forgotten. Big goals - including his hat-trick at Brighton - were critical to the Blues’ survival efforts and his dead ball wizardry opened up a new and effective route to goals under Dyche.
His opportunities have grown limited under Moyes, however, and with Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Tyler Dibling and Carlos Alcaraz all signing over the summer, and with Ndiaye so effective, it is growing harder to see where the 25-year-old will fit into Moyes’ plans. That Ndiaye is set to head to the Africa Cup of Nations, and the knowledge Grealish is at Everton on loan, means he should get chances this season - it will be up to him to use them to force his way into the reckoning.