
Everton’s tour of the United States for the Premier League Summer Series began with manager David Moyes stating that the team needed to sign “nine or 10 players before the start of the season.”
Nine days since his comments to Men in Blazers host Roger Bennett at an event called A Night Live on Stage with David Moyes and Everton Football Club before the opener against Bournemouth in New Jersey, the Toffees have signed Adam Aznou to add to the three signings - Charly Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Mark Travers - completed before their transatlantic trip.
While he has kept the pressure on the club hierarchy, notably chief executive Angus Kinnear and head of player trading Nick Hammond, to get deals across the line, the Scottish manager’s tone has softened in the last few days.
In his latest assessment, following a thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester United in Atlanta to close out the Summer Series, Moyes expects deals to be completed this week, leading up to the friendly with AS Roma at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, although with a caveat.
“I think there will be deals next week, I think there will be. I think we are getting much closer,” the Everton boss told the media after the clash with Man United.
“I have got to say, I thought that four or five weeks ago, as well. But, obviously, we are getting near the tickly bits and have got to get some things done.”
There have been wholesale changes to the Blues squad, with as many as a dozen players from last season being let go. Names like Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jack Harrison, and Ashley Young have played important roles in recent seasons and all of them have left without clear replacements.
In Moyes' opinion, needing to get business done quickly was paramount to integrating the new players into the squad ahead of the Toffees’ Premier League curtain-raiser against Leeds United on August 19.
“We know that we have to make several additions, even for the numbers. We might even have people in the squad who we’d like to put them out on loan or do other things with them, so we’re needing to generally add to the squad. We need to get some of the main players in quickly,” the 62-year-old continued.
“I have been saying it from near enough when we finished against Newcastle United that we have to get it done. I generally feel we should be further down but, in the main, it looks as if we’re getting closer and hopefully a few things might come to fruition this week.”
“If I didn’t (get the deals done), I’d have to be confident that I could make something out of what I’ve got and find a way around it for getting results. It’s not that easy in the Premier League, we’ve got a lot of things we have to do to get better.”
So far, the club has spent around £50m on four signings this summer, with French striker Thierno Barry being the most expensive after a £27.6m deal was struck with his former club Villarreal.
Everton recently saw a £27m offer rejected by Southampton for young winger Tyler Dibling and are considering making an improved offer.
Reader Comments (64)
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2 Posted 04/08/2025 at 10:36:22
He also looked quite exasperated and frustrated with the players at times during the game as well.
The pressure is on him to prepare them and get the tactics right, but the team on the pitch also have to take responsibility to execute.
Unfortunately there isnt enough depth in the squad to have healthy competition for places which is showing through in the performances.
3 Posted 04/08/2025 at 10:37:17
5 Posted 04/08/2025 at 11:09:51
Barry
Travers
Aznou
And who??
I only count three??
6 Posted 04/08/2025 at 11:10:23
7 Posted 04/08/2025 at 11:11:59
8 Posted 04/08/2025 at 11:12:11
9 Posted 04/08/2025 at 11:18:05
10 Posted 04/08/2025 at 11:18:18
Its blatantly clear why hes calling management out. Moyes has literally talked about the importance of early business every season hes been Everton manager. It only makes sense hes even more peeved this year as we need a tonne of players to bed in and seemingly have the funds for it. Im not saying the business is easy to do but hes reasons are very clear.
11 Posted 04/08/2025 at 11:24:58
12 Posted 04/08/2025 at 11:37:37
Football hasn't changed that much.
14 Posted 04/08/2025 at 11:58:52
15 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:09:14
16 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:12:50
17 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:17:01
Good age
Moyes always wanted him at West Ham
Good premier league experience
18 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:18:53
Hopefully the kitty stretches to that - and weve got our loan spots too.
It wouldnt be a huge surprise to get someone like Richarlison on deadline day.
19 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:19:18
20 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:23:26
21 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:24:53
22 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:26:18
23 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:28:21
24 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:33:14
25 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:33:27
Dewsbury-Hall sounds like a good fit for all parties. Could definitely do with a bit of box-to-box.
Juanlu next please
26 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:35:13
Loans to come in for squad depth in the last week of the window ?
Grealish for example
27 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:36:40
It depends on a number of contributing circumstances. Walking into a good team or shit show. Cultural challenges or family issues.
On Moyes, just like his pre-match comments, he's getting his message across, but in much more measured manner.
28 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:41:54
On one hand, an undisputed talent that would improve the squad without doubt, if he can recapture his earlier form.
On the other, does he fit. By that, I point to what many perceive as Moyes' historical deliberations over not just a player's ability, but their suitability to fit in with the team and squad.
I could see it happening if the club decide it's within budget, but would it be the CEO overriding the manager to clinch a marquee signing?
That's all guess work by the way.
29 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:44:23
I cannnot see Moyes having any player foisted on him.
Grealish just had a kid so maybe hes settled down?!?!
30 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:50:12
Like I say, Moyes probably doesn't doubt his ability, but I wonder if he would consider him a good fit?
31 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:50:21
Next summer, we can probs buy more talented development players to improve the squad longer term.
32 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:52:09
33 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:55:32
Moyes wants up to six more signings, including a No 6 and a No 8 midfielder and two wide players but, even for a man who has seen most things during a 27-year career in management, this summer has tested his patience like few others. Indeed, the number of players Everton have missed out on is heading towards double figures. It is not just Newcastle manager Eddie Howe who is encountering repeat frustration.
Everton had a medical lined up for Kenny Tete only for the Netherlands defender to decide to stay with Fulham. The exciting young Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao opted to join Juventus permanently after a loan from Porto rather than move to Merseyside and another wide target, Lyons Malick Fofana, has his sights set on a switch to a Champions League club.
There have been other disappointments, too. The Colombia midfielder Richard Rios chose Benfica and the Belgium winger Johan Bakayoko swapped PSV Eindhoven for RB Leipzig in Germany. Real Sociedad were asking for too much for the Japan winger Takefusa Kubo and then there is Joao Palhinha, whom Moyes would have loved to bring in only for the Portugal midfielder to join Tottenham on loan from Bayern. Tomas Soucek was a favourite of Moyes at West Ham and he wants to add a midfielder of similar profile to the Czech
There may be some light at the end of the tunnel before this week is out, though. Everton had a £27m bid for Dibling knocked back by Southampton last week but there is hope of soon reaching an agreement for the 19-year-old England Under-21 midfielder, who was one of the few success stories at St Marys last season. There is also dialogue with Chelsea over Dewsbury-Hall with a bid expected. The Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, formerly of Aston Villa and Manchester City, has Premier League experience and is surplus to requirements in Turin. Leicesters James Justin and Ben Doak, the teenage Liverpool winger, are other potential options. And then there is Jack Grealish.
While it is clear Moyes has other players he wants in first, it is also easy to see why a loan deal for the Manchester City and England attacking midfielder could hold such appeal to Evertons American ownership. He is the kind of name and maverick talent fans could really get behind and, with the World Cup finals at the end of the season, Grealish has added motivation to get back playing regularly after being omitted from Citys Club World Cup squad in June. Everton also have the benefit of being North West based although with Grealish earning around £300,000 a week at City, any deal would be costly and there is likely to be stiff competition for the 29-year-old. Napoli and West Ham are among the other clubs who have been linked with the player.
Moyes has a long-standing reputation for developing young domestic and overseas talent. But he wants Everton to be looking towards the top half of the table, not getting sucked towards another relegation battle and, as such, he has been keen to find the right blend between potential and Premier League experience. He needs players, yes, but he will not sign them for the sake of it. The value of experience has certainly been clear to see on Evertons tour of the US, with the team instantly looking more assured at the back once centre-back James Tarkowski returned from a three month injury lay-off.
Evertons data analytics operations are being led by Chris Howarth, who sold his company Insight Sport to the Friedkin Group. Moyes is heavily involved in the recruitment process and, for a manager who has always had an eye and a nose for a player, there is a fine balance between trusting the data and his own instincts. Everton, though, need a breakthrough. The clock is ticking and Moyes knows it.
34 Posted 04/08/2025 at 12:58:16
35 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:00:30
36 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:04:58
37 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:05:43
38 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:09:48
39 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:11:17
40 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:11:17
41 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:11:20
Thats a good thing as the world is tired of two bit talking, waffling politicians who do nothing for society.
42 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:12:04
43 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:13:15
44 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:18:44
45 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:19:09
46 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:21:19
47 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:22:25
I'm a massive advocate of only buying young players as we move forwards. We should learn lessons from the Moshiri era. Unfortunately, the vast majority of signings under his tenure never worked out but it was the players over the age of 25, that were on high wages, that really damaged this club financially... The likes of Schniederlin, Sigurdsson, Bolasie, Andre Gomes, Delph, and Allen etc. where as the younger players such as Lookman, Moise Kean, Vlasic, and Iwobi etc, we were able to make a profit or at least recoup most of the money spent.
There's realistic young players out there that we should be targeting. We have a decent core of experienced players down the spine of our team that we can integrate youth alongside and build a team for the future sensibly with.
Something like this would be my ideal transfer window in the time we have left:
Dibling
Doak
McAtee
Hackney
Juanlu Sánchez
Mangala (loan)
48 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:27:48
The clock is ticking and I hope we dont just wind up with ‘make do players in a last minute scramble to get more bodies at the club.
I feel that we are going to pay way over the top for the Chelsea, Southampton and West Ham guys that we are being linked with.
49 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:30:08
I really like KDH. Massive posterior which enables him to protect the ball well, and hes very comfortable in possession with a great left foot. I think he would do well for us.
So Dibling and KDH would, in my opinion, really improve us and give us different options to what we have. Grealish would be a huge signing, and one that might transform us - especially if he is given the freedom to play centrally.
50 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:31:14
Either way, Id have Fellows in the squad for £10 million. A bit one-dimensional but hed run a lot of PL LBs ragged.
51 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:35:03
He would be good squad player but it's understandable that we haven't moved for him yet.
52 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:37:13
He'd be a good signing and cheap.
53 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:43:48
It depends what's being read and believed. Some sources saying a second bid for Dibling of £35M has been submitted and Southampton has given the player permission to talk to Everton. Let's see what happens.
That would be around £80M on 5 players. Plus, I would imagine that the contract offered to Branthwaite would have been factored into the budget too, although that will be covered over the 4 years and if we had to sell (I sincerely hope not), he will easily fetch £100M.
So far, not bad investment.
54 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:46:25
55 Posted 04/08/2025 at 13:58:35
Secure Branthwaite.
Secure Alcaraz
Pace and promise / competition up front
Cover at GK and LB
Try to secure a high quality RW
Try to secure a good quality CM with Prem experience
… and then fill in the remaining gaps depending on what budget / loan spots are left.
And despite the conspiracy theories etc this is such a straightforward approach it seems unlikely Moyes and the recruitment team are too far apart (although Moyes understandably probably wishes they could just chuck an extra £5m to £10m around to seal the primary targets - but will also understand why they do not - or at least just yet).
56 Posted 04/08/2025 at 14:05:16
I remember watching Tom Davies score a brilliant goal against Man City thinking he is superior to most premiership players.
A quick internet search suggests he has recently signed for Newport County.
£45M is a huge gamble.
57 Posted 04/08/2025 at 14:18:19
If it happens, like Aznou, Barry, Armstrong and even Alcaraz (still only 22), despite my ever-optimism, I would avoid putting exception on his young shoulders too soon.
He's just endured a torrid season at almost the worse performing team in Premier League history, which I'm sure he wouldn't have enjoyed.
But, like the others mentioned, he provides an option, has room for development and may thrive in a different environment.
58 Posted 04/08/2025 at 14:23:36
‘Because Dibling is far superior to Fellows
59 Posted 04/08/2025 at 14:26:37
60 Posted 04/08/2025 at 14:28:25
A right back will be coming in I am sure, then maybe a few savvy loans deal which the boss is good at.
At least the Manager is sounding more positive, and for him to say he expects incomings is a big plus from him normally being over cautious.
We will see.
61 Posted 04/08/2025 at 14:34:38
62 Posted 04/08/2025 at 14:44:04
63 Posted 04/08/2025 at 15:13:11
Come on, it's only the Top 6 teams that have done business and Man Utd. All other teams besides Sunderland are being picky
65 Posted 04/08/2025 at 15:25:16
66 Posted 04/08/2025 at 16:00:46
67 Posted 04/08/2025 at 18:02:15
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1 Posted 04/08/2025 at 10:28:56