Everton's Right-Back Search: David Moyes Insists on New Options

David Moyes insists Everton still want a right-back – even as makeshift options impress.

David Moyes is clear. Everton need a right-back before the transfer window closes.

He might have solutions inside the squad. He just doesn’t want to live off them for an entire season.

Across the week, the Everton manager has talked up the versatility of Nathan Patterson, Merlin Rohl, James Garner and Jake O’Brien, all of whom he believes could cover the problem position if the club’s long-running search drags on. Rohl even delivered there in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, backing up a strong pre-season with a composed Premier League display.

But Moyes is not dressing this up as ideal.

“We definitely would like a right-back. We would,” he said, laying out the situation. “But I think that we're all concerned about it because it's more that, for example today, while we're playing Merlin right back, I couldn't play him in midfield as well.

“So, today keeps me short of numbers in midfield, and I'm having to balance a little bit of what we want.”

That balance is the crux of it. Every time Rohl fills in at full-back, Everton lose a midfielder. Every time O’Brien shifts wide, they lose a centre-back.

Moyes name-checked the Irish defender as another solution, but again underlined the compromise involved.

“Look, we can still play Jake O’Brien at right-back. He's proved, certainly against a lot of the quick boys, that he's really good and he'll give us something if we need it in that position. But he prefers to be a centre back.”

Rohl, though, is forcing the conversation. The summer and the opening weekend have both pushed his case.

“He is keen to do well and show us that he could be a right-back, Merlin. And because of that, we're happy,” Moyes said.

The Everton boss likes him for more than his willingness to plug a gap.

"He can play other roles for us, which means that we can play him further forward, we can play them in different ways. He's got a different sort of level of athleticism to some of the other boys in some ways. And he's a good footballer, generally, and he can score if we get him closer to the goal. But he's also doing okay.”

The message, though, is pointed. Internal solutions are welcome. They are not the end of the search.

“Everybody's talking about a right-back, so I'm saying, well, I hope it's better than Jake O’Brien, I hope it's better than Merlin Rohl and what they're offering.

“And obviously, we're always trying to get better than what we've got - in every position to be truthful. You're always, as a manager, you're trying and it's not that easy to just go and get yourself better than those two. Merlin in pre-season played really well. He certainly deserves the chance to play.”

So Everton carry on looking. Rohl and O’Brien have raised the bar. Any new right-back will have to clear it.