Everton's pre-season preparations have left plenty to be desired. Still, David Moyes proved his wherewithal upon replacing Sean Dyche last season and will remain confident that a successful season lies ahead.
Against the backdrop of the Premier League's heavy expenditure this summer, Everton has forked out comparatively little. A new striker has been signed in Thierno Barry, while an initial £25m deal has been agreed with Chelsea for the transfer of robust midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
However, there was a blue-shaded exodus on Merseyside in June, with so many unwanted players filtering out. Two of those players were Jesper Lindstrom and Jack Harrison, whose loan deals remained temporary.
Now, a replacement is needed.
Everton submit bid for new attacking midfielder
Dewsbury-Hall, 26, will add impetus to the Everton midfield. He's strong, cultured and confident on the ball, having starred during Leicester City's promotion-winning campaign of 2023/24, posting 12 goals and 15 assists under Enzo Maresca's wing that year.
dewsbury-hall-chelsea
His time at Stamford Bridge might not have worked out, but he stands a fantastic chance of becoming a mainstay in Moyes' Everton system, potentially forging a neat partnership with another top target.
According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Everton have tabled a second bid for Southampton prospect Tyler Dibling worth £40m including add-ons.
An earlier summer offer has already been rejected, and the 19-year-old is also on Aston Villa and Newcastle United's radar. Southampton, it is felt, want £50m for their prized playing asset.
west-ham-dibling-southampton
This said, Everton will not - cannot - pay over the odds for this talented teenager, and the Friedkin Group are prepared to walk away if Saints fail to reduce their exorbitant valuation.
Why Everton should sign Tyler Dibling
Southampton suffered a wretched return to the Premier League last season, narrowly missing out on the unwanted record of bearing the division's all-time lowest points total.
tyler-dibling-southampton-premier-league
But they were relegated all the same. However, Dibling shone as a beacon of solace throughout, making good on the praise from Southampton’s academy manager, Andy Goldie, that he is a "world-class talent."
He scored four goals and supplied three assists across the 2024/25 campaign, but, as per Sofascore, to have completed 84% of his passes and averaged 4.2 successful duels in the Premier League, in a rotten Southampton side, that's an indicator of sky-high potential.
And he's dynamic in a positional sense too.
Tyler Dibling - Career Stats by Position
Position
Right winger
Attacking midfield
Central midfield
Left winger
Data via Transfermarkt
He's versatile all right. But given the lack of depth on the right flank at Everton, coupled with his blistering speed and ability to manipulate tight spaces, it's clear that Moyes wants to field him on the wing.
Especially with the Merseysiders set to wrap up a move for Dewsbury-Hall, who is very much a central midfielder. But he's a creative one at that, hailed by former Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers in the past as being a player who "typifies everything we want to be," bringing energy and intensity and creativity.
The Englishman ranked among the top 5% of centre-midfielders in the Conference League last term for progressive passes and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, highlighting the smooth passing game which could open up a world of opportunity for the fleet-footed Dibling as he surges forward, into the danger area.
Shot-creating actions are pieces of play that lead to a shot. These include moments such as a pass, take-on or foul being drawn.
With these kinds of signings, Everton are bound to evolve, and Moyes' vision for the future might just begin to take shape.