There is (understandably) lots of frustration about at the state of our squad – still very small, still very limited.

But there are still 44 days to go of the summer transfer window and still a lot of players about, rumoured to be on our radar (in fact, almost none of our rumoured targets have gone elsewhere).  So here’s an optimistic take on what our squad might look like come the end of the window with the rumoured £100M left to spend.

There are a couple of different scenarios below – each of which remain realistic because I have only used players credibly linked to us in the rumour mills.

I have put versatile players in square brackets [ ] to indicate that they cover multiple positions – and parentheses ( ) to indicate those who might be loaned or sold. New players are shown in bold.

Anything of this nature and we will have the best squad available since the 2020-21 season – possibly as far back as the 2018-19 season.

Scenario 1: cost circa £85M or so

Strikers: Barry, Beto, (Chermiti)

LW: Ndiaye, McNeil

RW: Hutchinson or Kubo, [McNeil]

AM: Alcaraz, [McNeil]

C(D)M: Gallagher, Gueye, Garner, (Armstrong)

LB: Mykolenko, Kusogi, [McNeil], [Branthwaite]

RB: Coufal, Coleman, [Garner], [O’Brien], (Patterson), (Dixon)

CB: Branthwaite, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane

GK: Pickford, Travers

Scenario 2: cost circa £95M or so

Strikers: Barry, Beto, (Chermiti)

LW: Ndiaye, McNeil

RW: Doak, Fellows

AM: Alcaraz, McAtee, [McNeil]

C(D)M: Soucek, Gueye, Garner, (Armstrong)

LB: Mykolenko, Kusogi, [McNeil], [Branthwaite]

RB: Wesley, Coleman, [Garner], [O’Brien], (Patterson), (Dixon)

CB: Branthwaite, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane

GK: Pickford, Travers

And you’ll note that I’ve made very little use of free transfers and no use of the loan market – something which I expect we will do in practice.  If, when the dust settles, we have a worse squad than this, then I’ll be the first to complain. But anything of this nature should give us speculative hope for the season to come – and serious hope that good foundations have been built for the future.

Reader Comments (25)

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Kirk McArdle
1 Posted 21/07/2025 at 14:05:30
I would take scenario 2 there Robert, but strike a deal with Atletico to take Gallagher on a season loan and cover his wages and pay next summer.

They cannot register him due to too many non-EU players on their books.

Robert Tressell
2 Posted 21/07/2025 at 14:55:46
I expect the loan is exactly what the club is trying to do - and Athletico are hoping for buyer. It could still happen though
Jay Harris
3 Posted 21/07/2025 at 15:26:42
Couple of comments Robert.

I cant see Moyes going for Kusogi, He tends to go for the experienced ones at the back. Having said that I think Coufal would be a backward step.

On the other flank you haven't mentioned Tafliacago. Any reason for that?

Also I see Hutchison and Kubo in the 85m squad but switching to Fellows and Doak who I believe are not yet to the standard of the former in the 95m squad.

Ian Bennett
4 Posted 21/07/2025 at 15:51:30
The best we've been linked with:

Maghnes Akliouche
Franca
Luiz loan
Gallagher loan
Kubo

Tagliafico free

Steve Brown
5 Posted 21/07/2025 at 15:51:40
It is a tricky market at the moment.

A number of clubs have not made the early signings they wanted, including Everton, Villa, Newcastle, Fulham and Forest.

The exception of course is big transfer fees committed by the usual suspects - Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal and Spurs. The RS have done their usual big spend every 3-4 years.

I am not convinced that Wirtz, Cunha, Madueke, Ekitike, Elanga, Gittens, Kerkez and Kudus will all prove good value for their big money moves. Or at least I hope not!

Steve Brown
6 Posted 21/07/2025 at 15:56:11
I think we need a right-back, left-back, a No 6, a No 8 and a pacey right winger.
Ian Bennett
7 Posted 21/07/2025 at 16:01:43
Steve see 4. Just pass me the cheque book.
Robert Tressell
8 Posted 21/07/2025 at 16:02:14
I can't really see the point signing Tagliofico, Jay. I know it gives us cover for free but up and coming full-backs can be low cost. And I'd rather we didn't buy someone who we wouldn't otherwise be remotely interested in just because they are free.

I can see the club signing Kusogi or someone like him. It's not all down to Moyes (in the same way Ancelotti had no part in Branthwaite and, I think, Dyche had no part in Chermiti).

He would be a development player earmarked for post-Moyes – although, if he does okay, Moyes can use him as an option. Bit like Oviedo possibly too.

Robert Tressell
9 Posted 21/07/2025 at 16:06:12
Steve #6,

I think that gives us just about 2 for each position? Ideally, that's how it plays out but it could take another summer window to complete the job – and in the meantime, some versatile players cover a few positions.

That's not a bad outcome if the quality is good.

Kirk McArdle
10 Posted 21/07/2025 at 16:24:13
I am surprised that we haven't looked at Sergio Reguilon on a free.

Not going to set the world on fire but good cover with Premier League experience.

Sam Hoare
11 Posted 21/07/2025 at 16:30:29
I think Wesley has all but signed for Roma sadly.

A lot of these names are the ones we've seen circulating in the press but I'm hoping we might see some unexpected bargains like Alcaraz who we first hear of when it's essentially done.

Think we all agree on the priority positions. Quite like the look of Ian's list @4 though we won't be getting Luiz And Gallagher.

My wishlist of unlinked players remains Bakwa, Guessand, Read, Bouaddi and Fatawu.

Alan J Thompson
12 Posted 21/07/2025 at 16:52:48
Sam (#11);

Guess and Read?

Sounds like our next transfer targets to be listed here.

Nigel Scowen
13 Posted 21/07/2025 at 16:53:40
Thanks for this, Robert, I also think there is plenty of time, no need for panic at this stage.

I notice that Tim Iroegbunam is missing from your scenarios, any reason for this?

Robert Tressell
14 Posted 21/07/2025 at 16:55:00
With Ferguson on the way and El Aynoui done today, Sam. Bit jealous.

My daft theory is that Rensch will join us on loan with his RB spot at Roma now going to Wesley. He would be good.

Sam Hoare
15 Posted 21/07/2025 at 17:04:50
Robert, yes, or Zeki Celik. They'll have 3 decent RBs now.

The fee for Ferguson looks a little bigger than I'd expected and I like El Aynoui but think there are better out there. It will be interesting to see who has a better window!

Steve Brown
16 Posted 21/07/2025 at 17:08:28
Robert @ 9, I hope we can get at least 2-3 quality players in those positions this summer as the team needs it.

Ian @ 7, drive up to Finch Farm and have a word.

I am happy to have Barry, Alcaraz on board with the back-up keeper, plus Jarrad's contract extension.

The manager must know what he needs, and I thought he was decisive in his decisions on Doucoure, Calvert-Lewin, Lindstrom, Harrison, Broja and Young leaving. They were the right calls.

Think we need to be patient.

Robert Tressell
17 Posted 21/07/2025 at 17:26:39
Nigel # 13,

A very good reason Iroegbunam is missing from my scenarios. I completely forgot!

Well spotted.

Joe McMahon
18 Posted 21/07/2025 at 17:27:41
A good article, Robert, but it has to be considered which of these players would want to come to Everton.

We have been victim to this a few times over the last few seasons as players choose to go elsewhere.

Robert Tressell
19 Posted 21/07/2025 at 20:50:49
Joe, lots of players will want to come to Everton. Really good players too. It's because of the wages on offer. As simple as that.

Pretty much any player in France (apart from those already at PSG), Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Championship, South America and Scandinavia would come here for a pay rise. A large proportion of players in Spain, Italy and Germany too.

All of them would get a pay rise at Everton.

Almost all players play for money. Idrissa Gueye would have never left France if they paid better there. Same with all the others.

However, the most promising ones are courted by other Premier League clubs and stronger in Spain, Italy, Germany, Saudi and increasingly the MLS.

So it takes time. Very reassuringly the new owners don't appear to shit their pants or cave in to vanity signings.

We're not going to compete, sadly, for the likes of Ekitike, Sesko and others this summer but, if we get our house in order financially and run the club properly, then in a few years (3 to 5 probably) we could do.

Mike Gaynes
20 Posted 21/07/2025 at 21:07:20
Robert, I'm hoping that once TFG gets to work on our overseas marketing operations, we'll be generating more of the kind of revenue that makes the RS and Man Utd comparatively immune to PSR concerns and makes top players more accessible.

It'll take years as you say, but Friedkin built his fortune on sales and marketing -- cars, movies, resorts -- and that's exactly the expertise we need. What Fenway does with its cross-marketing for the RS is what I'd hope to see us doing in a few years.

Robert Tressell
21 Posted 21/07/2025 at 21:15:45
Mike - totally right. If we can drive up the off the field revenue, then we can start spending proper money. We've let the riches of the Premier League era pass us by through sheer incompetence and been generally shit as a result. These guys appear to know what they are doing - no reason why we cannot think big therefore, but it does take time.
Ajay Gopal
22 Posted 22/07/2025 at 12:18:41
Robert, even in Scenario 2, you are still leaving £5 million on the table :-)

Seriously, I would prioritise quality over quantity. So the 3 must sign positions are:
Right wing - Kubo/Hutchinson/Doak (35 - 40 million)
Attacking Midfield - Gallagher/Luiz/Grealish (40 million)
Right Back - Rensch/Celik (good calls by Robert and Sam) (15-20 million)
And one more winger on loan - in the Lindstrom/Harrison mold, and maybe another left back on loan.

In my ideal world, the squad would be:

Strikers - Beto, Barry, Chermiti
Wingers/Attacking MF - Ndiaye, Alcaraz, McNeil, Kubo, Loanee_1
Midfield - Gueye, Garner, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, Gallagher
LB: Mykolenko, Loanee_2
RB: Celik, Patterson, Coleman
CB: Tarkowski, Branthwaite, O'Brien, Keane
GK: Pickford, Travers, Tyrer

Starting XI: 4-2-3-1

Pickford
Celik O'Brien Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gueye Gallagher
Kubo Alcaraz Ndiaye
Barry

2nd XI: 4-3-3

Travers
Patterson Tarkowski Keane Loanee_2
Armstrong Garner Iroegbunam
Chermiti Beto McNeil


Andrew Merrick
23 Posted 23/07/2025 at 12:32:33
Nice piece' Robert, but you see Armstrong as a loan or sold in both scenarios?

Ajay, that's getting something like a useful squad.

Ian Bennett
24 Posted 23/07/2025 at 12:52:23
I struggle to see the squad having a lot less players than last season:

Calvert-Lewin = Barry
Broja - open
Harrison - open
Mangala - open
Doucoure - may be Alcaraz
Young - open
Begovic - open
Holgate - open
Lindstrom - open

Based on that
Goalkeeper
Left back
Defensive midfielder
Box-to-box midfielder
Right winger, perhaps 2
Striker

Robert Tressell
25 Posted 23/07/2025 at 13:51:45
Armstrong won’t be sold Andrew but might be loaned - that’s all the piece suggests.

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