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Everton’s move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium has seen the Toffees move to an elite-level stadium, with the hierarchy needing to delve into the market to reflect such status.
There’s no denying that the club have fallen short of expectations in recent times, with last season’s 13th-placed finish in the Premier League evidence of their struggles.
It looked as though David Moyes’ men would finish in the European places, but a run of no wins in the final seven games of the campaign saw the Toffees slide down the table.
Everton's manager David Moyes during the warm up before the match
As a result, the hierarchy will no doubt want to bolster the senior ranks, but they should be targeting numerous key areas of the squad this summer.
Why Everton need a new centre-forward this summer
One of the main reasons for Everton’s struggles towards the back end of last season was their inability to score goals - which saw the side net just eight times in the last six games.
As a result, Moyes’ men netted just 47 times across their 38 matches, with such a record the sixth lowest of any side in the top-flight - three of which got relegated.
REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff
Thierno Barry and Beto may have netted 17 goals between them last term, but their inconsistent displays have led to supporters calling for a new centre-forward to be signed.
Liam Delap has been touted as the club’s main striker target, with the 23-year-old a player who has previously showcased his talents in the Premier League.
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Ipswich Town's top PL goalscorers (2025/26)
Player
Liam Delap
Sammie Szmodics
George Hirst
Omari Hutchinson
Jaden Philogene-Bidace
Julio Enciso
Nathan Broadhead
Ben Johnson
The Englishman netted 12 goals for Ipswich Town during their relegation campaign back in 2024/25, ultimately leading to his deal to join Chelsea last summer.
However, he’s set to leave once again, leading to a £40m deal being mooted for the Toffees - which could free up Beto to leave amid interest from Nottingham Forest.
Such a move may not excite supporters, but there’s no denying the forward is more than capable of leading the line for Moyes’ men upon any move to Merseyside.
How Everton can secure a better signing than Delap this summer
Despite the recent agreement to sign Christian Norgaard and rumoured interest in landing Delap, there are other areas of the Everton squad which are in desperate need of reinforcements.
The right-back department has been extremely depleted in recent times, which has seen centre-back Jake O’Brien often feature in an unnatural full-back position.
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However, the Irish international could return to a more familiar role next campaign, as Moyes’ men appear to be heading closer to securing a move for Celtic star Alistair Johnston.
It’s been reported by TEAMtalk that a deal for the Canadian international is now edging closer after recent talks, with a £15m fee needed to secure his signature.
They also report that the player has said yes to a move to Merseyside as he wants to play in the Premier League, with Moyes too green-lighting the deal for the 27-year-old.
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Everton’s need for a new right-back is undeniable, with such a position causing the club no end of trouble over the last couple of seasons in the Premier League.
Delap would be a superb signing for the striking department, but the hierarchy have bigger issues to solve if the club are to mount a push for a place in the top half next term.
Johnston would be a superb addition for the Toffees, with the defender featuring in every minute of his nation’s appearance at the recent World Cup across the pond.
His stats from his recent season at Celtic also highlight his quality, which show why he’s capable of making the jump to England’s top-flight and becoming a successful addition.
Johnston has gained a reputation for being an attacking full-back, as seen by his impressive tally of 1.6 chances created per 90 in the Scottish Premiership last season.
The aforementioned figure ranked him in the top 15% of players in the division, which could see Moyes’ men adding a needed creative outlet to their ranks.
Even without the ball, the Canadian managed to catch the eye, subsequently winning 68% of the ground duels he entered - also placing him above 95% of other defenders.
celtic-johnston
Other figures, such as 2.5 tackles and 3.8 ball recoveries made per 90, only reaffirm his defensive quality - which could make the Toffees a tougher unit to break down.
£15m for a player of his quality could prove to be a shrewd piece of business and one which could solve one of Moyes’ biggest issues from the 2025/26 campaign.
His arrival would end the hierarchy’s long-standing pursuit of added defensive reinforcements and could prove to be the difference in their hunt for success on Merseyside.