Everton boss David Moyes has turned the Toffees’ fortunes around in recent months, going from relegation candidates to potential top-half contenders – and if he wants to make a European competition, he’ll need to repeat a trick he pulled off at West Ham.
Everton were struggling under Sean Dyche last season, especially in forward areas, and that saw the former Burnley boss sacked, with David Moyes coming in in January as his replacement.
It’s been a rise from there, staving off Premier League relegation with ease and challenging for a top-half finish this season.
But with David Moyes qualifying for the Europa League in 2020-21 with West Ham, one trick he pulled off with Jesse Lingard joining on loan will need to be repeated.
West Ham United v Leicester City - Premier League
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David Moyes signing Jesse Lingard propelled West Ham into the Europa League
Jesse Lingard saw his game time diminish at Manchester United, leading to a move to West Ham on loan in January 2021.
It proved to be one of the most successful loan moves in Premier League history, with Lingard scoring nine goals in just 18 Premier League games to leave the Hammers sixth in the table, qualifying for the Europa League.
Team and finish Points
4. Chelsea 67
5. Leicester City 66
6. West Ham 65
7. Tottenham Hotspur 62
8. Arsenal 61
It’s crucial to remember that, after seven games, the Hammers were in 14th place and even by the time the January window opened, they were 10th.
But Lingard’s arrival meant that they could produce sustained form to come sixth, ultimately leading to a Europa League place, which gave them European standing and ultimately won them the Europa Conference League two years later.
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Moyes needs to repeat something similar in the January window at Everton if he is to replicate his success in the capital.
David Moyes has already suggested that Everton will look at new names in January to aid their push for a top-half finish at the very least.
It’s so far unsure as to who will be available in the market, with a lot of shifting plates from now until the turn of the year.
But players who were down on their luck such as Lingard will always become available, as we have seen with Jack Grealish moving to Everton this season, as well as Marcus Rashford’s loan spell at Aston Villa last season.
If Moyes can cherry-pick one Premier League star who can revitalise his team given Everton have a spare loan spot available, it could prove just the trick to qualify for Europe.