Everton manager David Moyes applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on May 18, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Everton's statement over contracts on Monday served as a reminder. There is a lot of work for the club to do this summer.
The future of last season's star man Idrissa Gueye remains uncertain, while Seamus Coleman is also yet to sign a new deal. Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks set to leave and Michael Keane could also become a free agent in a few weeks.
It means more gaps are likely to form in a squad that is already unbalanced. With that in mind, our writers have taken a look at the minimum number of first-team players the club need to acquire this summer.
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Joe Thomas
This is an exciting summer for Everton but the opportunity to rebuild does come with risk. For the club to grow stronger quality does need to be added but so too bodies - even if Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gueye, the two most likely to sign new deals, were to remain.
One of the biggest symbols of Everton’s recent struggles has been the sight of opposition managers turning to a flurry of players after the hour mark, most with the potential to change the game. Sean Dyche did not make many substitutions but he often had few viable options on his bench.
As it stands, Everton have just 15 senior players contracted beyond June and to get to that number I need to include Harry Tyrer, who has not played for the Blues first team, teen starlet Harrison Armstrong and Youssef Chermiti - who I would prefer to loan out to get first team football.
I’ve no issue with keeping Tyrer and Armstrong around but think Everton need a more experienced keeper to act as back-up to Jordan Pickford and to support Tyrer’s development. A defender to compete for the starting berth at right back and competition for Vitalli Mykolenko on the left is crucial. You could potentially bring in someone who could be fourth choice centre back but also play on the left to cover two slots with one body (should Keane leave), but that is hardly ideal. It still leaves the tally of new signings at three even before we move to midfield.
Gueye could well stay but Moyes wants to transition away from such heavy reliance on him. James Garner is capable, Armstrong exciting and Iroegbunam has potential but I believe two new central midfielders are required even if Gueye stays on. Those two, plus Garner and potentially Gueye, would give Moyes a core he could work with while giving Iroegbunam and Armstrong opportunities to grow but under less pressure.
I think Everton are fine out on the left, with Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye, while those two and Alcaraz offer options in a central attacking role. Two players are required on the right though - perhaps a younger one the club could put faith in and a more experienced loanee who could share the load. Pace is essential and this position is the priority.
If Calvert-Lewin was to leave and Chermiti was to head on loan, another striker would then be crucial.
So I get to eight players as a minimum requirement even after the Alcaraz signing and, to be honest, that number remains the same if any or all of Coleman, Gueye and Keane stay on. Should Calvert-Lewin remain then that could reduce the need for a back-up forward.
Chris Beesley
Back in 1892 when Everton move to Goodison Park, their former landlord and Tory businessman John Houlding formed an entire new team to fill his financial void and created Liverpool Football Club. Now, 133 years later, as Everton move from Goodison Park, David Moyes doesn’t have to go to those lengths, but he’s still got a major rebuilding job on his hands.
Just how many new faces does the Blues boss have to bring in? I’ve totted it all up and reckon you’re talking at least seven. Depending on that happens with home-grown hero Harrison Armstrong, who impressed on loan in the Championship in the second half of last season at Derby County, and will be assessed in pre-season before a decision is made whether to farm him out again, you’ve got to start with two right wingers – hopefully both considerable upgrades on Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom.
Moyes has already made a very public pitch for Liam Delap, only for the Ipswich Town man to choose Chelsea instead and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin seemingly heading for the exit door with no new deal agreed, a new striker will be required. Even if Jake O’Brien is deployed at right-back again at times, you’re looking at a new right-back and with Ashley Young – who offered cover in both wide defensive areas – being released, you probably want a left-back too with Vitalii Mykolenko the only current option.
Abdoulaye Doucoure will have to be replaced in central midfield and given that Joao Virginia and Amir Begovic were both let go, an understudy goalkeeper to Jordan Pickford will be required so that takes you to seven to start with, ahead of a potential Michael Keane departure that would then take you to eight.
Matt Jones
On the basis that Everton should have two senior players in each position - in David Moyes' preferred 4-4-1-1 formation - there is a lot of work to do.
Up top, if Calvert-Lewin was to move on then Everton would need competition for Beto as a starter. In the supporting role too, Abdoulaye Doucoure's exit means there is no natural attacking midfield alternative to Carlos Alcaraz.
Iliman Ndiaye could potentially move infield although his best work in a blue shirt has been on the left. The same can be said for Dwight McNeil, meaning Everton are well stocked on that flank. By contrast, on the right they have no natural option and a couple of bodies could be needed there.
Central midfield seems to have gone under the radar as a problem position. Gueye has not committed yet, while James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam have both had injury problems in their time with the club. It feels like one more player is needed for that position, at least.
Full-backs are in short supply and in the interest of cutting down on transfers, Everton could look to sign one player who can cover both flanks. At centre-back, they would need another player if Keane was to leave, either as a fourth-choice option or someone to challenge the other three.
So that means one striker, one attacking midfielder, two wingers, one central midfielder, one full-back and one centre-back. And a back-up goalkeeper too of course. At least.
It's exciting and the squad should feel refreshed for a new era at a new home. But there's a lot of pressure on a new-look recruitment team to get a lot of things right.