**Everton’s summer transfer window may be closed, but the consequences of a chaotic final few days are only just beginning to become clear.**
For some members of David Moyes’ squad, the landscape has changed considerably.
The departures of Iliman Ndiaye, Beto, Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson have removed competition in some areas, while the arrivals of Jack Grealish and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have created it elsewhere.
Then there was the deal that didn’t happen. Folarin Balogun’s proposed move from Monaco failed to reach completion, leaving Moyes with a squad that looks very different to the one he might have expected to be working with.
So, who has emerged from the window in a stronger position – and whose route into the Everton side has become more difficult?
Perhaps the biggest winner of all, although it comes with a sizeable amount of pressure attached.
Beto joined Fiorentina and Everton failed to sign Balogun or another striker before the deadline.
That leaves Barry as the only recognised senior centre-forward in Moyes’ squad.
The 23-year-old has started both Premier League games this season and scored in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. There is now little doubt about his place at the top of the pecking order.
The concern for Everton is what happens if he is injured, suspended or needs taking out of the firing line.
For Barry personally, however, the opportunity could hardly be clearer.
How quickly things can change.
Everton came close to selling Armstrong to Nottingham Forest before the proposed move was ultimately abandoned following a fierce reaction from supporters.
Now the 19-year-old has the opportunity to make himself increasingly difficult to leave out.
Armstrong has started both Premier League games this season and was selected alongside James Garner at Bournemouth.
Iroegbunam’s departure removes one midfield option, although there remains considerable competition from Hayden Hackney, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Merlin Röhl, Garner and, when available, Christian Nørgaard.
Armstrong is not guaranteed a place, obviously. But having come so close to leaving, he now has the opportunity to establish himself as an important member of Moyes’ squad.
Mykolenko hasn’t gained from a new signing. Quite the opposite.
Adam Aznou has joined Malaga on loan, and Everton did not sign another specialist left-back.
That strengthens Mykolenko’s position as the obvious first choice, but also leaves Moyes with very little natural cover behind him.
For the Ukrainian, regular football is a given.
For Everton, his importance also highlights one of the weaknesses left by the summer window.
Alcaraz arguably faces the toughest battle for regular midfield minutes.
Armstrong has started both Premier League games, Garner returned to the starting XI at Bournemouth, and Hackney was introduced from the bench after recovering from an ankle problem.
Dewsbury-Hall is another established option, albeit he’s operating successfully in the 10, while Nørgaard will add further competition when he returns from injury.
Alcaraz has appeared from the bench in both league games so far. He remains a useful option for Moyes, particularly further forward, but the competition around him means starts may be difficult to come by.
Calling George a loser would be far too early, but Grealish’s return does change the picture.
George has started both Premier League matches and remains one of Everton’s most promising young attacking options.
But Grealish has returned after being an influential figure for Moyes last season, and the left side is an obvious area in which he can operate.
The sale of Ndiaye creates opportunities elsewhere across the attacking positions, so George’s situation is not simply a case of one player arriving and another dropping out.
How Moyes accommodates both, with Brennan Johnson also in the picture, will be one of the more interesting selection questions of the coming weeks.
Garner’s position deserves a slightly different interpretation.
His start to the season has been disrupted by the hernia problem that cost him much of pre-season, but returned ahead of schedule and was back in the Premier League starting XI at Bournemouth.
Moyes has already spoken positively about Garner’s determination to get himself fit, while his ability to operate in more than one position could become particularly valuable after Everton finished the window short of defensive options.
There is plenty of competition in central midfield, especially once Hackney and Nørgaard are fully available.
But that doesn’t necessarily push Garner towards the fringes.
His passing, set-piece delivery, work rate and versatility give Moyes invaluable qualities, and a thin squad could make players capable of filling several roles particularly useful over a long season.
If anything, the way Everton’s window ended may have underlined Garner’s usefulness rather than diminished it.
That is perhaps the lasting effect of Everton’s summer.
Barry suddenly carries enormous responsibility. Mykolenko has little natural competition. Armstrong has gone from being close to the exit door to having a genuine opportunity to establish himself, while George and Alcaraz face battles for minutes for very different reasons.
Garner sits somewhere else again: competition in his preferred position has increased, but the overall make-up of the squad could make his versatility increasingly important.
The window was supposed to give Moyes more options.
Instead, its chaotic conclusion has strengthened the position of some existing players almost by default while leaving others with much harder battles for a place.
The transfer business is finished. Establishing the new pecking order starts now.
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