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Moyes says Everton have no January transfer plans – but is there more to it?

David Moyes says Everton have no plans for the January transfer window, but his comments may have been intended as much to support his current squad as to outline the club’s recruitment intentions.

Asked about potential signings at Thursday’s press conference ahead of the Coventry City match, Moyes replied: “No. At the moment, there’s no plans for January, no.”

He then praised the players who have helped Everton climb to seventh in the Premier League and reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, despite a difficult summer in the transfer market.

Why Moyes may be reluctant to discuss January

It would be almost unbelievable if Everton’s recruitment department were not already assessing possible targets. Clubs plan their transfer activity throughout the season, and Everton’s relatively small squad gives them plenty of reason to consider reinforcements.

That is not to say deals are being negotiated or that money has already been made available. But there is a difference between having no signings planned and having no recruitment work taking place. Moyes may also have good reason to keep any discussions out of the public eye.

Everton lost several players during the summer, of course, yet those who remained have responded very well. Successive victories over Newcastle United have strengthened their league position and taken them into the last eight of the Carabao Cup.

Talking openly about bringing in several new players could leave some of the current squad wondering where they stand, particularly when they have worked hard to earn their places. Moyes instead opted to give them credit.

“I think the current group we’ve got are doing excellent,” he told reporters, adding that they deserved praise for their response to the summer’s departures.

Everton still have reasons to strengthen

There remains a very strong case for adding to the squad in January. Everton have limited cover in certain positions, and injuries or suspensions could quickly test the depth available to Moyes. The situation is complicated by uncertainty surrounding TFG’s ownership plans. However, reporting in The i Paper this week suggested the owners could still support a move for another striker, either on loan or permanently.

That does not mean a deal will happen, but it shows why Moyes’ brief answer should not necessarily be taken as the final word on January. There is every chance he was simply describing the position as it stands. Equally, having watched his players exceed expectations over the opening months of the season, he may see little benefit in publicly discussing who might replace them.

For a manager trying to maintain the confidence of a squad that has given him plenty to be pleased about, that would be understandable.

I’d suggest this is Moyes being tactful rather than a signal of no intent.

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Gary Gowers is a sports journalist and the editor of Read Everton, where he leads daily coverage of Everton news, transfers and analysis. He also writes about Manchester City for Read Man City and motorsport for Read Motorsport. A former accountant, he became a freelance writer in 2011 and has written for BBC Sport and Metro.

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