The Premier League season has delivered flashes of hope for Everton fans: Iliman Ndiaye's opening goal to christen the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Jack Grealish's impactful arrival, and a handful of well-deserved victories.
However, the reality is that Everton currently sit in 14th position in a congested table. Just six points separate 16th and fifth, underscoring the razor-thin margins and the absolute necessity of the upcoming fixtures.
These games, leading into the international break, are crucial. They will either provide a vital platform for the Christmas run-in and a proactive January transfer window, or they will plunge the club into desperation come the new year market.
With two months having passed since the summer transfer window closed, we now have a clear window for analysis. This is the ideal time to assess the signings, review the overall strategy, and examine the regrets the club must surely be harbouring.
Not cashing in on Beto when we had the chance
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Leeds United reportedly sounded out an offer of £25 million for the striker Beto mid-window, though a formal bid never materialised. Whether that was due to Beto's insistence on staying or Everton's demand for a higher fee, the club's decision now looks like a source of regret.
The sheer [volume of missed chances](https://princerupertstower.com/everton-fans-will-not-want-to-see-this-shocker-from-their-star-man-01k781r7np4r) from the Guinea-Bissau international this season has almost certainly lowered his valuation, especially as some have been from a few yards out.
While top strikers are notoriously hard to come by, accepting that sizable offer would have given Everton the capital to secure a forward already on the market, one who offered proven quality and a far better goalscoring return than Beto’s current ratio.
As valuable as his hold-up play and physicality are, the cold truth is that the striker currently lacks the necessary clinical hunger to consistently put the ball in the back of the net.
Prioritising certain areas, and not others
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The summer transfer window presented a vital, and much-needed, opportunity for a total squad reset, given the significant number of departures. The club's initial priority should have been a clear identification of areas requiring immediate reinforcement: specifically, the right-back position, followed by midfield depth, and then the wide attacking berths.
In retrospect, the club appears to have succeeded in midfield. The signings of Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have settled in seamlessly and represent the most impactful business of the window so far.
However, the lack of balance elsewhere is stark. Everton currently look concerningly weak at right-back and centre-forward, with the wide areas also remaining a point of genuine concern. Furthermore, there is an undeniable lack of defensive depth, leaving the squad worryingly thin at both centre-back and left-back.
Wasting time on Tyler Dibling (and money)
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It is fair to say that Tyler Dibling has not hit the ground running. While his Everton career is still in its infancy, the sheer value and time spent, reportedly over a month, acquiring his signature now feel like wasted resources.
The primary regret stems from the fee. The winger never displayed the consistent glimpses of star potential at Southampton, where the team generally lacked an attacking threat. To spend a rumoured initial £35 million, rising to £42 million with add-ons, appears to be a staggering over-investment.
The likes of Jadon Anthony, Chemsdine Talbi, and Yeremy Pino all have done more but cost less, while Omari Hutchinson went for less but has a higher potential sealing.
Failure to plan?
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Any perceived failure of the summer window can rest squarely with the transfer department, which appears to have suffered from a critical lack of strategic planning and speed. Despite knowing well in advance that several departing and aging stars needed immediate replacement, the department seemed to operate reactively, rather than proactively.
This sluggishness was compounded by evident failure in due diligence regarding transfer targets' genuine willingness to commit to the club. This lapse left Everton critically short, as they repeatedly invested time and effort into players who ultimately had no intention of moving to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
While I’m not privy to that shortlist, the likes of Jame McAtee, Trai Hume, Georgios Vagiannidis, Evan Ferguson, Yves Bissouma, Matt O’Riley, and Liam Delap were all reportedly courted by the club; however, they decided their future lies elsewhere from the blue half of Merseyside.