The ECHO's Everton reporters look at which Championship stars David Moyes could look to bring to Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer
Championship players who Everton could potentially target this summer
Championship players who Everton could potentially target this summer
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Everton were undone by a brace of assists by Jarrod Bowen on David Moyes’ first return to London Stadium on Saturday. The West Ham United captain set up goals for Tomas Soucek and Callum Wilson to secure a precious 2-1 win for the hosts in their battle against the drop.
Signed from Hull City in January 2020, England international Bowen, who also netted the Irons’ winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League final to end the club’s 43-year trophy drought, is generally regarded as one of the Glaswegian gaffer’s most inspired purchases.
Over the years, Moyes, who also snapped up the likes of Tim Cahill and Joleon Lescott for the Blues, has an impressive record of plucking players from the second tier and turning them into Premier League stars.
Bearing this in mind, the ECHO’s Everton reporters Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley have their say on which current Championship player they would like to bring to Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer.
Chris Beesley
Okay, I’ve not exactly stuck my neck out by going for the division’s Player of the Yeason but Hayden Hackney appears a really good fit, for several reasons.
With Idrissa Gueye turning 37 in September – many observers commented on how they felt the Senegal international appeared leggy in the loss to West Ham United – the midfielder could potentially bring a new dimension to the Blues’ play in the centre of the park, whether his current club Middlesbrough go up this year or not.
Hackney, who according to Comparisonator, has Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez as his closest Premier League equivalent in terms of style with a 90% match, has played 40 games this season, scoring six goals and providing eight assists.
Just a few weeks shy of his 24th birthday, he’s a similar age to Tim Cahill and Joleon Lescott when David Moyes brought them to Everton from Millwall and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, and with just one year to go on his current contract this summer, the time could be ripe for him to make his big move.
Joe Thomas
David Moyes likes a look at the Championship and it will be another area that he investigates this summer.
There are a few players who could have caught his eye but the ease with which they could be prised from their current clubs may depend on who is promoted.
One such player is Shea Charles, who is having a great season in the middle at Southampton. He can operate as a six and I think Everton really need a specialist defensive midfielder this summer. Given how many young central midfielders they already have, I would look to spend money on a proven top-flight player in this position.
The Blues are desperate for full-backs and Thierry Small has broken through into the England Under-21s at Preston North End.
The left-back could provide competition for Vitalii Mykolenko but, while I’ve no doubt he would be affordable, he did come through Everton’s academy and the manner of his departure might make a return more challenging.
The Blues also need pace and, I think, another winger. Iliman Ndiaye, potentially Jack Grealish and Tyler Dibling is a good starting point for next season and there is potential for Tyrique George’s loan deal to made permanent. I’d still look at two players at opposite ends of the second tier, though.
At the bottom, with relegated Leicester City, is Abdul Fatawu. Moyes liked him in the summer and Everton enquired about him but were put off by the price tag on a player the Foxes hoped would carry them up, not down.
Nine goals and seven assists isn’t a bad return at 22 there is plenty of room to grow. Given Leicester’s plight he feels like a potentially cheap and low risk way to bolster the squad.
Another option would be Jaden Philogene, another former target. He’s had another good season on the wing for Ipswich Town and if they don’t go up, might be worth a look.