Newcastle United v Everton - Pre-Season Friendly
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 12: Lewis Hall of Newcastle United (3) slides in to tackle Iliman Ndiaye of Everton FC (10) during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Everton at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on August 12, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
There should be some genuine goals and excitement potential from this position group as we continue our 2026-27 Season Preview series.
The clock is ticking down to the big season kickoff, and with the end of the transfer window already looming close, little time remains with which to finetune the Everton squad. So what kind of state is it in? Here I take a look at the club’s wide options, areas which have seen a lot of flux this summer — with the signing of Tyrique George on a permanent basis, the shock capture of Brennan Johnson, the rather more expected departure of Dwight McNeil, along with plenty of noise surrounding the futures of both Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish.
Iliman Ndiaye
The team’s star attacker over the past two campaigns, since joining from French giants Olympique Marseille, the Senegalese came in for some unfair criticism towards the end of last season, during a period in which the performances of most players dipped noticeably. Whilst it is true that Ndiaye found goals tough to come by, the loss of Grealish to season ending injury in January made it easy for opponents to concentrate on the 26-year-old, as Everton’s sole danger. Regardless, the importance placed upon him is clear, with rumours that it would attract serious bids - considerably north of £60m - to tempt the Blues into considering parting with him. Should Ndiaye remain, he will surely be the team’s primary threat, on whichever flank he’s deployed on.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Tyrique George of Everton runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Everton and OSC Lille at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Tyrique George of Everton runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Everton and OSC Lille at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)
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Tyrique George
It was disappointing to see the youngster handed only a single start from eleven outings, after joining the Toffees on loan from Chelsea at the beginning of February. With an option to buy attached, this didn’t give much insight into whether a permanent transfer should be activated; even so, the club went in to renegotiate, resulting in the 20-year-old joining for a reduced fee of £18m. If George had shown glimpses of the pacy, direct attacking missing from Everton’s wing-play for years, then in preseason he’s demonstrated clear signs of overall improvement, which bodes well for the coming campaign. Expected to be deployed mostly on the left, the England Under-21 international has looked stronger and more confident, and is set to be a breakout performer this season.
Brennan Johnson
The former Nottingham Forest standout was transferred from Spurs to Crystal Palace in January, two-and-half years after moving to North London. Displaced from the lineup by the big-money additions of Muhammad Kudus and Xavi Simons, Johnson found himself a fish out of water with the Eagles, shunted into an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 formation, which resulted in just one goal involvement from 18 league appearances. Everton have gambled on this poor campaign being circumstantial — the outlier, rather than a genuine indicator of decline. The winger scored 18 in all competitions for Spurs in the previous season, added seven assists and only turned 25 in May, so exchanging Johnson for McNeil looks shrewd business. Rapid and direct, Johnson will be used to attack the box from the right, as was seen in a cameo last weekend, against Lille.
Everton’s Brennan Johnson (centre) and Lille’s Romain Perraud (left) battle for the ball during the pre-season match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
Everton’s Brennan Johnson (centre) and Lille’s Romain Perraud (left) battle for the ball during the pre-season match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Tyler Dibling
An enigma last term, having joined from Southampton for an initial £35m, the right winger was short of confidence, unconvincing, and clearly unfancied by David Moyes, managing only a single minute of action from February onwards. The manager did suggest that a full preseason would be of help to the 20-year-old, who arrived late in the transfer window, with preparations at the Saints disrupted as the South Coast club waited for his inevitable sale. Whatever has gone on in training, in his last few friendly outings Dibling has looked much more like the talented prospect who Everton thought they were signing last summer, one comfortable on the ball and willing to take on his opponent. I can see the England under-21 international enjoying a positive campaign, which should see him get plenty of minutes, and grow as a result.
Merlin Röhl
Although not a winger, the German started four straight games at right wing at the end of last season, and has appeared there on occasion during preseason. The 24-year-old is a natural progressive midfielder - not a number ten, but more a forward-thinking eight, in modern terminology - but is willing to lend his athleticism, energy and enthusiasm where required. It’s to be hoped, for the development of the player signed on a permanent basis for £21.5m following a loan from Freiburg, that he gets to nail down a firm position this term. He has plenty of ability, and it’d be a waste to see him just plugged in to fill gaps.
Stuttgart, Germany - August 8: Merlin Roehl of Everton FC and Ameen Al-Dakhil of VfB Stuttgart battle for the ball during the during the pre-season friendly match between VfB Stuttgart and Everton at MHP Arena on August 8, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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Carlos Alcaraz
Brought in for what looked to be a bargain £13m last summer, after an encouraging half season loan, the Argentine endured a disappointing, injury-disrupted campaign. Considered by many to possibly be surplus to requirements at Everton, so far no interest in him has developed. The 23-year-old has featured in preseason, centrally and on the left, and with midfield overloaded with options, Alcaraz may see more action this term off the bench, operating as a narrow, inverted winger. He is always looking to move the ball forward, and to attack the box, so may enjoy a better second full campaign with the Toffees — should he still be here at the end of the window.
Summary
For the first time in a while, the Blues look to be in good shape in both wing positions ahead of the campaign opener. The team possesses four strong options, offering a variety of styles — from pace and directness, to guile and dribbling ability, with two at the peak of their powers, in Ndiaye and Johnson, and an exciting pair of young talents in George and Dibling. What room then for a return of Grealish? The Manchester City winger turns 31 soon and would cost a significant amount - as much as £12m perhaps - for what would potentially be another temporay move. Should he come in, this would inevitably see much reduced game time for the two youngsters, and is that in the long-term interests of Everton?