James Garner was linked with a deadline day move to Chelsea - while David Moyes has been speaking about only having 18 senior players to choose from
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: David Moyes, Manager of Everton and James Garner of Everton celebrates after winning the Premier League match between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 24, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images)
David Moyes and James Garner(Image: Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images)
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David Moyes has shot down the suggestion that Chelsea made a transfer deadline day bid for James Garner - but admitted Everton are looking at the free agents market.
Reports following the closure of the summer transfer window suggested that Chelsea had a late offer for Garner rejected by the Blues.
But when asked if a bid was received, Moyes replied: "What was said was completely untrue, so I don’t know where that’s come from. There’s no truth in that whatsoever."
Moyes, though, did admit that Everton are exploring the free agents market about being left short following a final chaotic end to the transfer window.
Although the Blues managed to secure the services of Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Jack Grealish, they lost four senior players in the space of 24 hours.
Iliman Ndiaye was the most high-profile departure, as Nathan Patterson, Tim Iroegbunam and Beto also headed for pastures new.
While Folarin Balogun's proposed £40m move from AS Monaco descended into high farce in the early hours of Wednesday morning after he walked away from the deal.
And with only 18 senior players to choose from, Moyes admitted: "We are looking at the free agents market.
“I am trying to get a team that is going to be at the top end and challenge. I want the players to believe that we are moving forward – for me, that is really important."
Asked how he coped personally with the disappointment of events of deadline day, the 63-year-old said: “Not very well. I’m getting too old now to be sitting around at the bottom end.
“I’ve said that to the players here when I came in. The job is that we challenge as close to the top end of the league as we can.
“I’ve got to say, they’ve done a brilliant job of it last year, and I don’t think we were expected to do so well as what we’ve done.
“I’ve got to hope that we can do that again. There might not be a great expectation on us at this moment in time, but behind the scenes I’m rallying them.”