Everton are getting down to work in the transfer window, ready to try and build a solid squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
David Moyes guided the club to safety with ease in the end, and Everton finished on 48 points in the Premier League in 13th place.
Few expected Moyes’ stint to go quite so well.
But now, expectations have increased, and The Friedkin Group have to ensure the Scot gets the tools he needs to take Everton to the next level.
There have already been a plethora of transfer rumours.
Everton are looking to prioritise four positions at the moment; right-back, right wing, central midfield and a striker.
And Everton’s hunt for a central midfielder could now get interesting, with a development involving Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Everton target Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall placed up for sale by Chelsea
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
In January, Everton were interested in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Chelsea, as the Toffees looked to strengthen late in the window.
But the situation was complicated, because Everton already had Armando Broja on loan from the Blues.
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To take Dewsbury-Hall on loan, it would have required Broja going back to his parent club.
In the end, nothing materialised, and Everton pressed ahead without signing a new central midfielder, with Carlos Alcaraz – who is more of a number 10 – the only signing of the window.
But Everton may now have fresh hope of signing Dewsbury-Hall following a new report.
According to the Guardian, Chelsea are now placing 14 players on their transfer list ahead of the summer. And Dewsbury-Hall is one of them.
Given Everton don’t have the same PSR concerns as they did earlier this year, there could now be a chance for Moyes to sign the Englishman.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a David Moyes player
Dewsbury-Hall hasn’t been a regular starter at Chelsea since his £30 million switch from Leicester.
But he’s still a player with some solid attributes.
We saw during his time with the Foxes that he has an eye for goal – in 2023/24, he scored 12 goals and made 15 assists.
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
But we all know David Moyes is a manager about work-rate and graft – and Dewsbury-Hall is a player who is good out of possession.
In a feature on the Premier League’s official website a few years ago, Dewsbury-Hall was said to have ‘outstanding’ stamina, and was billed as a player who ‘loves to close down opponents’.
Everton have just lost Abdoulaye Doucoure, so this could well be a smart move.