David Moyes looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Bolton Wanderers and Everton at Toughsheet Community Stadium. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
David Moyes looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Bolton Wanderers and Everton at Toughsheet Community Stadium. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
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Everton’s midfield is set to become a focal point for the rest of the summer after a week of major developments.
The departure of Idrissa Gueye was always considered a serious possibility once he left for the World Cup with his future unresolved. Confirmation he will not return has strengthened the desire to seek an additional central midfielder - despite the club having already signed two since the end of last season.
That search will come against the backdrop of James Garner’s efforts to recover from surgery on a minor groin injury discovered in the early days of pre-season. The loss of the 25-year-old for pre-season will increase pressure on the integration of Hayden Hackney and could also impact transfer plans over the coming weeks.
Everton engaged with Gueye’s representatives before the World Cup, ahead of the expiration of his contract at the end of June. More talks were planned but the expectation David Moyes would seek to reduce his reliance on a player who would turn 37 weeks into the new season always had the potential to be an obstacle to any deal.
Gueye’s continued importance came to the fore as Everton ended the season winless in six, a run of form that included his absence from the final four matches due to injury. The final game of his 236-match stint at Everton, across two spells, was the defeat to West Ham United in April. Upon confirmation of his departure, Moyes acknowledged the impact of the Senegal international, who was named player of the season in 2024/25, the campaign in which the manager returned for his second spell.
He said: “Everyone at Everton is hugely grateful for Gana’s dedication, professionalism, and influence on the pitch throughout his two spells at the club. His leadership qualities in and around the dressing room proved crucial, particularly in our final season at Goodison. His commitment to the club over many years was exceptional.
“Everyone connected to Everton thanks Gana – he will always be welcome at the club – and we wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”
Gueye’s contract expired during the World Cup but conversations held in the weeks since Senegal were knocked out failed to lead to a breakthrough amid interest in the player from elsewhere and with Everton, though open to a new deal, only prepared to consider one that reflected a change in his squad status.
The expectation Gueye would move on had led Everton to explore potential options in midfield beyond those already acquired by the club. Merlin Rohl’s loan move from Freiburg was made permanent as a result of the club’s Premier League survival, which triggered the obligation for an £18m deal. He signed a three-year deal earlier this summer.
Everton made the pursuit of another central midfielder, Hayden Hackney, a priority and secured an initial £16.5m deal with Middlesbrough for the Championship player of the year in time for him to join for the start of pre-season.
Another midfielder is wanted, however, preferably a defensive option who could provide the freedom for some of the club’s more attacking options to push forward. The ECHO has previously reported the desire for a defensive midfielder, with players such as Parma’s Mandela Keita among those looked at.
The need for another player has intensified with the emergence of Garner’s groin problem, which came to light early in pre-season. The decision to operate was made this week after further reflection and he is now undergoing rehabilitation at Finch Farm, with the hope he will be back in first team training for the start of the season.
The prospect of the breakout star of last year missing pre-season is far from ideal for Moyes. The midfield unit being constructed has Garner as a central component and his absence will disrupt plans for the new campaign.
They will also increase pressure on Hackney to integrate after his move. He made his return from a lengthy injury in the second half of Middlesbrough’s play-off final defeat to Hull City and the club has so far been keen to protect their new man. He has missed the opening two games of pre-season but is expected to be involved at Stoke City on Tuesday.
Everton do have options in the middle, with Harrison Armstrong and Tim Iroegbunam having started the games against Dundee and Bolton Wanderers and Rohl having moved into a central position in the second half at Bolton. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall can also drop deeper, while Carlos Alcaraz produced useful displays in that area in the first months of Moyes’ return - most notably his match-winning display at Crystal Palace.
Given how many options Everton do have, exits were always likely this summer, with Iroegbunam having attracted interest from within the Premier League and Alcaraz struggling for opportunities last season. It is yet to be seen whether Hackney’s arrival could lead to the club listening to offers for a loan deal for Armstrong. Garner’s situation could now impede progress in those areas as Everton monitor the success of his recovery with interest.