The Blues boss has plenty to work on with his Everton squad before the start of the new campaign.
Everton boss David Moyes
Everton boss David Moyes(Image: Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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Everton’s preparations for the new season are gathering pace and the club’s activity in the transfer market may well follow suit.
Incomings and outgoings are likely before the Premier League campaign kicks off, with Crystal Palace visiting Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 22.
Ahead of that curtain-raiser, David Moyes still has plenty of decisions to make over those currently in his ranks. These are among the most pertinent calls ahead of a testing run of friendlies that will start in Stuttgart on Saturday.
Jake O’Brien at centre back
No one at Everton, including Jake O’Brien, would have wanted the Republic of Ireland defender to be starting at right back this deep into pre-season.
David Moyes has made no secret of his desire for a specialist - something Everton supporters have been campaigning for across recent transfer windows.
With Seamus Coleman having left and Nathan Patterson likely to follow suit, the club is one transfer away from not having a senior right back - not that Coleman or Patterson spent much time in that spot last season.
It is difficult to see this issue going unresolved this summer, with Celtic’s Alistair Johnston the latest option Everton have enquired about.
The sooner the position is addressed the better for a host of reasons - not least the opportunity it would give for Moyes to give O’Brien more minutes at his natural spot of centre back in the remaining friendlies. With Jarrad Branthwaite building his fitness again and O’Brien having excelled when he has played in the middle, it would be good to see Moyes seriously consider O’Brien as a contender for a starting role at centre back, something he has previously appeared reluctant to do.
Has Adam Aznou done enough to convince Moyes?
Adam Aznou took to X on Sunday to ask for help finding a clip of him beating two Hamburg players with one twist. His cameo in Germany was another positive display of his pre-season. While his defensive capabilities have not been extensively tested, he has showcased what he can do from an attacking sense at left back when there instead of Vitalii Mykolenko and there is growing evidence to suggest he could dovetail with the Ukraine international according to the needs of the team.
Whether Moyes has been convinced remains to be seen, but given Everton have uncertainty over the wide attacking positions, Aznou could also be used on the left wing, where he was so effective from the bench in his only competitive appearance since joining Everton, against Sunderland in the FA Cup in January. Another upside to placing faith in him now rather than, say, loaning him out, is that it would save Everton’s recruitment team from the task of hunting a signing to provide the competition and cover for Mykolenko that is surely required.
Can Carlos Alvcaraz make a case for the #10?
This feels less likely given the number of midfield options Everton already have. And probably means the prospect of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall occupying his favoured box-to-box role is slim.
But Carlos Alcaraz remains a talented player who has proven he can impact Premier League games. He brought intensity to the game when he entered on the left wing at Hamburg but his strength is through the middle. It is a crowded spot though and, given that and his contract situation, he is a player the club may well consider sensible offers for.
Will Moyes keep Harrison Armstrong with the squad?
Another player who is part of that clutch of midfielders vying for opportunities is Harrison Armstrong. After two impressive loan spells in the Championship, this is a big summer for the teenager. He played well off the bench at Tottenham Hotspur in the final game of last season and Everton must ensure they do not impede his development - something which could be tricky with the arrival of Hayden Hackney. Armstrong has real potential and the coming weeks will see the pressure fall on Everton to find the right solution for his progress to continue.
And what about Tyler Dibling?
Merlin Rohl has been impressive on the right in pre-season, but that position does not feel a natural fit for the 24-year-old.
What Everton desperately need is for a threat on the right wing and the most obvious answer is Tyler Dibling. That requires Moyes to keep giving him minutes and for him to use them as an opportunity to regain confidence and showcase his undoubted talents. Dibling grew into the friendly against Dundee but his two substitute appearances since have been tamer. Dibling is the biggest untapped asset in this Everton squad - now would be a very good time for him to make an impression, particularly as the club may look to the transfer market in search of another winger to give them options on the right.
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