David Moyes is targeting at least two more players who’d improve his starting XI
“This club felt like, to me, one which was a big family, but looked broken, felt broken – and it doesn’t feel like that any more,” Moyes said as Everton’s men’s team bid farewell to Goodison Park. I hope the owners are recognising what they’re seeing today, as well, because this is to be built up, brought back and [we need to] get us back to where we belong and where we believe we should be.”
And following a busy summer, Everton do look set to potentially challenge for European places in 2025/26 especially if they can get some key deals over the line in the last few weeks of the transfer window.
Moyes could switch to the more defensive 4-5-1 for games against the biggest sides but pre-season indicates he’s set to stick with his trusty 4-2-3-1 formation for most games this year, so these are the Toffees that could line up in it by the start of September.
‘It ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ the way to go for Everton’s defence
Jake O’Brien was arguably Moyes’ biggest individual success story last season, he arrived as Sean Dyche’s most expensive signing 12 months ago but quickly and unexpectedly found himself frozen out under the former Burnley manager.
It was a different story under Moyes though with O’Brien one of Everton’s cornerstones in their 2025 resurgence, and he is once again primed to star from right-back while Vitaliy Mykolenko is set to take up his berth on the opposite flank once he’s recovered from the injury sustained against Roma in pre-season - unless 19-year-old Adam Aznou can impress in his absence.
Jordan Pickford became Everton’s record signing and the most expensive British goalkeeper in history when they snatched him from relegated Sunderland in 2017 and in the time it’s taken the Black Cats to rebound from the EFL he’s established himself as England’s number one and among the best keepers in the Premier League. Now aged 31, he’ll marshal a back-line that Toffees fans will just be pleased to see return as it left them at the end of last season.
He’ll revive his trusty partnership with James Tarkowski at the heart of a defence was the joint-fourth best in the Premier League last season, and if they can recreate that solid foundation then it should be better complimented and capitalised on by the revamped attack.
New signings bolster Everton’s midfield rejuvenation
Idrissa Gana Gueye (£2m), Douglas Luiz (£34.6m)
The Senegalese enforcer was linked with an exit from Merseyside this summer but is once again ready to take up station at the base of Moyes’ midfield, as Idrissa Gana Gueye could end the season on 250 Everton appearances aged 36.
If Everton can’t land Luiz, Dewsbury-Hall is a fine alternative who’s already starred in England with Leicester and showed promising flashes in the Conference League for Chelsea last season - he’s sure to contribute to the Toffees this season whatever happens with other arrivals.
Jack Grealish puts Everton step closer to exhilarating attack
Tyler Dibling (£51.6m), Jack Grealish (loan), Iliman Ndiaye (£16.9m), Beto (£25.7m)
Everton fans, get excited because the creative trio behind Beto could prove to be one of the best in the league. Southampton are continuing to negotiate Tyler Dibling’s price, valuing the teenager at €50-60m (£43-51.6m) after rejecting Everton’s opening two salvos, the latter totalling £40m.
He’d electrify the right flank with Carlos Alcaraz also competing for the shirt, while Ndiaye was another player transformed by Moyes last season and notwithstanding his already strong performances for Everton and Sheffield United, could elevate himself into the elite ranks with a breakout 2025/26 campaign.
But it’s Jack Grealish alongside them that steals the show, as the former most expensive player in British history completed his loan more and took Wayne Rooney’s iconic number 18 jersey. With Ndiaye in his first-choice position, a move inside to central attacking midfield could work out for all parties and allow the free-spirited Grealish to rediscover his Aston Villa form.
As for the starting striker, it will be an interesting season-long battle between Beto and £25m arrival Thierno Barry. Beto is obviously the incumbent and while his goal tally of eight last season wasn’t exactly stellar, his hold-up play should be even more effective with this season’s supporting cast.
Meanwhile Barry is Everton’s long-term future at the position but had a similar strike rate to Beto last season in La Liga and under-performed his xG, so giving the 22-year-old time to ease into the Premier League would surely be beneficial.
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