Everton have been born again under the wing of David Moyes, and the exciting part is the Scottish coach is only just getting started.
Sure, recent results have been a little patchy, but Everton have come on leaps and bounds since Sean Dyche was replaced in January, just as solid in defence while more at ease in their forward play, working coherently and fluidly. Beto's firing once again, and the Toffees as a whole have found a long-lost level of attacking intent.
Everton manager David Moyes
But there's only so much that can be done without signings. Indeed, Everton need to invest in the transfer market this summer, especially with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja both slated to leave when their contracts expire next month.
Everton chasing new striker
While Everton would love to get their hands on Liam Delap, the £30m-rated Ipswich striker is giving priority to Manchester United, and it's a race that Moyes may not win with interest from the Toffees reported just a few weeks ago.
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Instead, The Friedkin Group may head down a shrewder path and target Brighton & Hove Albion's Evan Ferguson, 20, who has endured a difficult loan spell at West Ham United this season.
The rumoured price was thought to be £40m when he joined the Hammers this winter, but that should be lower now.
According to GIVEMESPORT, the Republic of Ireland international could be one option this summer to complete Moyes' frontal ranks.
Why Evan Ferguson could flourish at Bramley Moore
Ferguson has only started once in the Premier League for West Ham, and he was hooked at half-time at that. Still, once regarded as a "phenomenal" finishing ability by James Milner, the up-and-comer has merely suffered a blip in a promising rise to the fore.
evan-ferguson-west-ham-premier-league
Football is a fickle game, and it's important to remember that while players ebb away, they can bounce right back in a warmer climate.
West Ham hasn't exactly been a breeding ground for positivity this season, but Everton are building something with Moyes at the helm and he could help coax Ferguson back toward the ascendancy that carried him through his maiden years in the Premier League.
His goalscoring prowess won't go away, and while there are other areas of his game that need work, Moyes could get the best out of him, for sure.
Of course, his one-goal campaign pales in comparison to Delap's, with the 22-year-old scoring 12 goals from 35 Premier League outings for his relegated side, missing just ten big chances, as per Sofascore.
But Ferguson has demonstrated his ability before. For Brighton, across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, the teenage prodigy scored 12 goals and missed only nine big chances, with his powerful performances at the front of the ship leading to a great fanfare.
Evan Ferguson's Senior English Career (all comps)
Season
24/25 - West Ham
24/25 - Brighton
23/24 - Brighton
22/23 - Brighton
21/22 - Brighton
Stats via Transfermarkt
Such fanfare, actually, that Brighton slapped a £100m price tag on him, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur lurking.
Delap might be the talk of the town right now, but Ferguson has proven himself a big-money talent in the past, with the raw properties to become something special.
liam delap
Given that Everton could be able to engineer an affordable deal and have Beto firing on all cylinders, this could be an astute piece of business indeed, one which might just bear dividends.
Tim-Cahill-Everton Related
[He'd be Moyes' next Cahill: Everton plot move for "incredible" EFL star](https://www.footballfancast.com/hed-be-moyes-next-cahill-everton-plot-move-for-jason-knight/ "He'd be Moyes' next Cahill: Everton plot move for "incredible" EFL star")
Everton could be about to land a player who could follow in the footsteps of a former fan-favourite.