Our Everton writers have their say on what position the club should target next after bolstering their midfield and wide options
Everton manager David Moyes has bolstered his squad with three early signings
Everton manager David Moyes has bolstered his squad with three early signings
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Everton have made Chelsea’s Tyrique George, at £18m, their third signing this summer after sealing deals for the £18m Merlin Rohl and the £16.5m Hayden Hackney.
But, after that £52.5m outlay, which position should the Blues turn to next when it comes to reshaping their squad for next season?
ECHO Everton reporters Joe Thomas and Christopher Beesley have their say...
It’s pretty straightforward for me. Everton should target a right-back then ANOTHER right-back.
Ahead of the winter window closing, Blues boss David Moyes admitted that the club had been actively searching for a new right-back for a year. Kenny Tete could have filled the void last summer but after a U-turn, he decided to sign a new deal at Fulham instead.
Nathan Patterson came close to leaving before the winter window closed and despite featuring for Scotland in the World Cup, he remains surplus to requirements having seen team-mates such as Ben Godfrey and more recently, Jake O’Brien, selected out of position ahead of him.
Combine that with long serving club captain Seamus Coleman departing after 17-and-a-half years and Everton could really do with snapping up a couple of players in his long-standing problem position if they’re to kick on next term and add a new dimension to their play.
Both O’Brien and James Garner have done a job there, but the Blues really need to get themselves a specialist in the role.
It’s all a far cry from when you consider the options at Moyes’ disposal in the full-back berths towards the end of his first spell in charge at Goodison Park when he had both Coleman and Leighton Baines at the peak of their powers.
Joe Thomas
The arrival of Hayden Hackney and Tyrique George are both welcome developments ahead of the return of the first senior players to Finch Farm on Friday.
It is refreshing to see business pursued early, particularly after so much of it was secured late last summer, and it does feel as though there is a strategy that is being adhered to thus far.
There is still work to be done and let's be honest, none of us sleep until a right-back is secured. It would be rehashing the utterances of so many previous windows to say 'surely one is signed this time'. I'm not foolish enough to nail my colours to the mast on this, but... surely one is signed this time!
There is no doubt that is the priority position but other improvements could make a big difference to the side.
A left-back to compete and cover Vitalii Mykolenko, especially one with some attacking nous, would be significant. A defensive midfielder who does the dirty work to free up the many box-to-box options Everton have would also be a big help.
But right-back is the one. If progress could be made on that front on the coming weeks then the window would be shaping up nicely.