Everton are hoping to enjoy a successful first season playing at the Hill Dickinson Stadium – but one regular might be in danger of becoming a peripheral figure.
The Toffees are now looking to kick on after securing their Premier League safety for 2025/26.
After a really poor first half of the season, Everton kicked on in 2025, thanks to a huge impact from David Moyes, who replaced Sean Dyche.
Things could not have really gone much better for Moyes, who got Everton to the 48-point mark. He got 31 of those points himself, which actually would have kept Everton up by six points.
Moyes now needs backing by The Friedkin Group.
And there have been two particularly interesting transfer rumours involving Everton, because they suggest former players potentially returning.
The first player is Richarlison, although Alan Myers doubts that will happen.
But the other is that Everton are interested in John Stones – and that could have ramifications for James Tarkowski.
John Stones transfer could relegate James Tarkowski to the Everton bench
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images
James Tarkowski has been a fantastic signing for Everton.
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He arrived on a free transfer after a spell at Burnley, and has already clocked up 119 appearances for the club.
Tarkowski’s availability and durability have been extremely impressive, but he was forced to miss the last few games of 2024/25 after sustaining a hamstring injury, which required surgery.
Tarkowski’s pre-season could be affected by his recovery, so ideally Moyes needs a new centre-back to come in relatively early.
Stones is a player Everton are interested in – and one would imagine this wouldn’t be ideal for Tarkowski.
Because while Stones has had his injury problems, he is still one of the best central defenders in the Premier League when he plays.
Undoubtedly, he would be a starter for Everton if the club did sign him.
And that would mean Tarkowski would potentially spend a bit more time on the bench, unless Moyes wants to go to a back three, although there’s been no suggestion of the Scot wanting to do that.
Tarkowski must brace for fewer minutes at Everton
Even if Everton don’t move for Stones, there is still a good chance that Tarkowski will not play anywhere near as many minutes in the 2025/26 season as last term.
He is now 32, and will potentially enter the new campaign without much of a pre-season.
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
At the end of 2024/25, Evertonians finally got to see Jake O’Brien and Jarrad Branthwaite play as a pairing – and that is another avenue Moyes could go down next term.
But certainly, any transfer for Stones would not be good news for the Everton vice-captain.
It now remains to be seen how much City would demand for a transfer, and if Moyes will be willing to firm up his interest.