Everton wrapped up the 2025/26 season with a sour taste in their mouth, which is odd, given that it wasn't too long ago that Toffees fans were dreaming of a European adventure.
But David Moyes' side petered out over the final weeks of the campaign, failing to win any of their final seven Premier League matches. In the end, they finished 11th with 49 points, one point ahead of last year's tally.
Of course, when Moyes replaced Sean Dyche 16 months ago, there were genuine fears of relegation to the Championship, so you could say that Everton are on the up.
David-Moyes
How they fare next season will make the defining comment on Moyes' second stint in Merseyside, though, with fans frustrated by a pragmatic playing style that demands more dynamism and flair.
Everton in talks to sign attacking right-back
It's easy to hunger for forwards, and flashy ones at that, but a team is built from players of all shapes and sizes, and it's patently clear that Everton need to sign full-backs this summer.
Seamus Coleman has draped the curtain on his long Everton career, and Nathan Patterson's future at the club is uncertain. Jake O'Brien is industrious, but he's not a natural right-back, and a more fitting replacement could help bring more coherence to Moyes' build-up structure.
Seamus Coleman-Everton-Throw in
An example of this would be West Ham United's signing of Vladimir Coufal in 2020, upgrading on Ryan Fredericks and an aging Pablo Zabaleta.
Moyes wants to repeat that trick, with Portuguese outlet A Bola, via Sport Witness, confirming that the Blues are in talks with Sporting CP over the signing of Greek international Georgios Vagiannidis, who is set to be available for a bargain €10m (£8m) fee.
georgios-vagiannidis-panathanaikos-europa-conference-league
Georgios Vagiannidis in action for Panathanaikos.
The 24-year-old has recently rejected a proposal to return to Greece, instead hoping to test himself at the highest level. Moving to the Premier League and joining Everton certainly aligns with those ambitions.
Villarreal are also interested, with the Spanish club qualifying for the Champions League, so this will be a difficult one to complete.
Why Everton should sign Vagiannidis
Vagiannidis has been described as a "complete full-back" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with his pacy, attacking style of play also leading the tactician to compare him to Premier League legend Kyle Walker.
He's a long way away from that level, for sure, but the Greek wideman certainly has enough dynamism and physicality about him to thrive in the Premier League, settling Everton's defensive equilibrium while promoting more attacking play and fluency in the build-up.
Take, for example, Vagiannidis' Liga Portugal form over the past year. He has defended resiliently while getting forward and enjoying an influence in the final third, and it's the kind of output that could have a knock-on effect, allowing the likes of Iliman Ndiaye to make things happen in the final third, supported from behind.
League Form Comparison (2025/26)
Stats (per 90*)
Matches (starts)
Goals + Assists
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Big chances created
Possession lost*
Succ. dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Clearances*
Duels won*
Errors made
Ndiaye has been the star of the show over the past couple of years at Everton, scoring 17 goals across 71 games since arriving from Marseille for around £15m in 2024.
Vagiannidis might not have been Sporting's star right-back, but he still impressed, combative and secure in defensive phases, efficient when creating. Four assists across only 11 league starts speaks of his potential as a supplier for someone like Ndiaye, who does a lot of the hard work, zipping this way and that, wrong-footing defenders and striking crisply when in space.
Everton's Iliman Ndiaye celebrates Thierno Barry scoring their third goal
Everton finished the season with a sense of ruefulness, finishing in mid-table and questioning whether they could have achieved more.
To hit the right heights next season, it's true that Moyes will need to sign talented forwards to bridge the gap on those in European contention. But they will also need to complete astute additions such as a seven-digit deal for Vagiannidis, a full-back whose blend of attacking and defensive qualities could make a big difference down the right.
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