Everton tailed off at the end of the 2025/26 campaign and saw their European ambitions go unrealised. But they have made progress under David Moyes' stewardship, and now have the chance to make real gains this summer.
However, concerns have emerged of late regarding Everton’s playing style, with Moyes employing pragmatic and direct tactics. That doesn’t have to be a drawback, but the Toffees could do with some more inspiration in attacking areas.
Everton's Recent Premier League Finishes
Season
25/26
24/25
23/24
22/23
21/22*
They finished 13th in the Premier League, one point better than the season before. It's crucial now that Everton make further headway next term, and while fans are eager to see flashy forwards brought over, the defensive flanks need some work, and signing the right player could lift the Blues even higher.
Everton begin work on relegated star
Seamus Coleman left Everton at the end of the season, ending a long affinity with the Merseyside outfit. However, it's not just the right side of the defence that needs work.
david-moyes-everton-premier-league
Vitalii Mykolenko is on the verge of signing a new contract at the Hill Dickinson, but that doesn’t mean Everton won’t pounce on an opportunity to sign an upgrade at left-back.
And according to Football Insider, Moyes is looking to raid West Ham United for Malick Diouf following the Hammers’ relegation from the Premier League, with the Toffees working on what could prove to be a "difficult" deal.
diouf-west-ham
Diouf, 21, has only spent a year in east London, but he has impressed as one of the brighter sparks during a dim year. Despite relegation, West Ham are hoping to make a big profit after signing him for £19m last summer.
Why Diouf could be perfect for Barry at Everton
West Ham have fallen by the wayside, but they were unfortunate to have been relegated on 39 points, with Diouf certainly impressing throughout.
Across 32 appearances, he supplied five assists, also winning over four duels per game and zipping up and down the left channel. A shining light indeed, helping West Ham and keeping them challenging right up to the final game of the season, when they beat Leeds United 3-0 but fell due to Spurs' win over Moyes' side.
Described as a "UCL-level left-back" by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson, Diouf would do so much for Everton's offensive structure while reinforcing their backline too. In that, he could be the perfect signing for Thierno Barry, who has ebbed and flowed through his first term in the Premier League.
Diouf averages 0.96 crosses per game, utilising his pace and physicality to emphatic effect. This is exactly the kind of skillset that Barry would benefit from, adding a layer of creativity to a team that has probably been too one-dimensional in attack this season.
Thierno Barry
Beto's struggles in the final third have hardly helped, but Barry has a lot of potential, albeit having struggled to produce the clinical edge that Everton had hoped for when paying £27m to bring him over from Villarreal last summer.
The Merseysiders need to deviate from the pragmatism that often defines Moyes and his tactical outlook. Diouf would help that and then some, recognised for his ability to piledrive past opponents.
Barry hasn't actually been as profligate as some people think. He scored eight times in the Premier League this season, but only missed ten big chances, speaking of an underlying prolificness that is yet untapped.
El Hadji Malick Diouf
He combines all the attributes required of a standout full-back, but then eclipses expectations through his attacking edge, his physicality and flair.
Diouf would be a shrewd addition to an Everton side who have a real opportunity to push for Europe next season. Whether they succeed in that bid is another matter entirely, but with Diouf servicing Barry, Moyes could create a perfect connection in the final third.
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