It’s been a long summer for Everton fans and that has only been exacerbated by the fact the club’s first game of the new season is the last to take place on opening weekend.
However, it’s not the impending trip to what’s likely to be a hostile and vociferous Elland Road that is the cause of the anxiety among the fan base. In fact, there is a real sense of anticipation and excitement to see the likes of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry playing in the Everton colours for the first time.
Rather, it is the frustration and uncertainty of the transfer window which continues to be the cause of much anxiety among the Everton fans. And it appears it’s not just the supporters either. David Moyes cut a frustrated figure during his press conference on Friday, more players are needed and he’s right.
To add to his concerns, there was news of an injury to defender Jarrad Branthwaite – a big concern with the defensive positions already depleted through injury and departures.
There has, of course, been a lot of work done already on the transfer front, with the arrival of seven players, albeit two of those goalkeepers. Everybody involved with the club were lifted by the arrival of Jack Grealish from Manchester City on loan, which along with the performance of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall against Roma, has certainly led to optimism ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Everton manager David Moyes looking on against Roma.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
However, the squad needs more additions, that’s plain for everyone to see and there will be a hope from the terraces to the coaches’ room that signings will be finalised soon.
Everton prioritise right wing signing as work continues on Tyler Dibling deal
There are a number of priorities for Everton in the transfer market right now, one being the right wing position.
The long and drawn out Tyler Dibling saga remains ongoing. There is an impasse regarding the fee, and it’s a matter of who blinks first, if anyone, to get a deal done. Clearly the £45m-£50m Southampton appear to want is something Everton are not willing to entertain.
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Dibbling played the final eight minutes of Southampton’s draw against Ipswich on Sunday, which suggests he’s still in Will Still’s plans in some capacity despite the transfer discussions.
I remember back in 2013 talking with then Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who was adamant that the window should close before the season starts to avoid the very uncertainty we are seeing now, I believed he had a point then, and I still do.
The Dibling situation needs a decision, one way or another, as a number of the other targets Everton have been linked strongly with over the summer have since moved on to other clubs, and Moyes will not want to go into the final week of the window with this uncertainty still surrounding the club.
Another position that needs addressing is right-back, but for me, more importantly, an acquisition is needed up front too.
Everton now have an array of wonderful creators in attacking positions, but what will be frustrating is the lack of finishers. Beto did well at the tail-end of last season and one expects him to be as tenacious and committed again, while Barry looks like a player who will need time to adapt to the Premier League.
We can expect to see movement once the Leeds game is out of the way, but who for is another question entirely. Everton do hold a strong interest in Malick Fofana of Lyon and the player added to the intrigue over the weekend by saying:
“We’ll see, it’s not that I want to leave, but if we have a good opportunity we’ll see”.
Malick Fofana 24/25 Stats
Games 41
Goals 11
Assists 6
Shots per 90 1.8
Stats via Transfermarkt
And while he’s not an out-and-out number nine, as the stats suggest, Fofana would provide some finishing prowess up top to finish off moves likely dictated by Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall.
I have stood outside the Everton training ground on many occasions for the last day of the transfer window, and believe me clubs don’t want to be in the position where they’re chasing signings that late. Frantic dealing is not good dealing, but it’s also not easy for clubs to get deals over the line.
David Moyes’s full concentration will be on Leeds United right now, but as Angus Kinnear and Nick Hammond make an early return to their former hunting ground they will surely be spending the trip up the M62 on the phone looking to make something happen in the window.
As for the game itself, there is no doubt a first game of the season away at a newly promoted side, in front of a packed stadium, will be difficult – and that’s without the transfer business stuff.
David Moyes has instilled a new resilience to his squad since his arrival last January, and Everton will go there determined and armed with a number of new and exciting players that have the ability to cause Leeds a whole host of problems.
There will be a reshuffle at the back with Jake O’Brien probably playing in the right-back position, hopefully Vitaliy Mykolenko can return, with Michael Keane coming in to partner James Tarkowski. Whoever Moyes puts out there on Monday evening, he will demand a big performance from them, that’s for sure.