Everton's Transfer Window Challenges: Moyes Calls for More Signings
David Moyes left Deepdale with a 4-0 win and a place in the next round of the Carabao Cup – but no illusions about where Everton stand with six days left of the transfer window.
The scoreline was emphatic. His assessment of the squad was not.
“I still think we’re short in the squad,” he said, matter-of-factly, after the victory over Preston North End. The message cut through the post-match glow: Everton’s work in this window is nowhere near finished.
One player down – and feeling it
On paper, Everton have been busy. Five signings are through the door this summer, but Moyes is realistic about what that actually means.
Two of those arrivals, Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl, were already in the building at the end of last season, having been on loan. In the manager’s eyes, that leaves three genuine new additions: Hayden Hackney, Christian Norgaard and Brennan Johnson.
Set that against the departures and the picture looks less encouraging.
Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gueye have gone after their contracts expired. Dwight McNeil has left as part of the deal that brought Johnson in from Crystal Palace. Jack Grealish’s loan spell is over. Strip it back to the numbers and Moyes believes Everton are one player down on last season – and that was already one of the smallest squads in the Premier League.
Asked directly whether more signings are needed, he did not hesitate.
“I think we definitely need to continue to make additions, that's for sure,” he said. “We thought our squad was quite thin last year and at the moment, I think we're still one down, if my numbers work out.
“We're one down from where we were even last year. So I still think we're short in the squad. I still think we're short in quality in some places. I need to try and add that.”
The win at Preston showed what Everton can do when things click. Moyes’ comments underlined how fragile that platform still feels.
Right-back priority and Grealish question
The most obvious gap remains at right-back. It has been a long-running issue and, despite being the only specialist in the role, Nathan Patterson is not viewed internally as the solution.
Everton are actively searching for an answer there, while also keeping the door open for a familiar face. The club remain in contact with Jack Grealish and Manchester City over a possible return for the playmaker, though his situation is complicated by interest from other clubs, including Aston Villa and Sunderland.
If Grealish comes back, he changes the dynamic of Moyes’ attacking options. If he doesn’t, Everton’s creative burden will rest heavily on the new arrivals and the existing core.
Uncertain futures and quiet signals
Behind the scenes, the club are braced for movement both ways. Outgoings are on the table.
Patterson’s status is under scrutiny, but he is not alone. Beto’s future is also uncertain. The striker stayed on the bench throughout the 4-0 win at Preston, then handed his shirt to a supporter after the final whistle – a small gesture, but one that will only fuel speculation.
Carlos Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam are also entering the final year of their contracts, though some of those deals include club options to extend. Each case will feed into the broader balancing act of squad size, wage bill and the quality Moyes insists he still needs.
O’Brien stays in the picture
Another name in the frame is Jake O’Brien. The centre-back did not feature at Deepdale, and reports have suggested Everton would be open to offers for him. Moyes, though, moved to steady that story.
Asked about O’Brien’s situation, he replied: “Just the same. No problem, I’ve chosen at the moment not to use him, but he’ll be used in plenty of games, no doubt.”
It was a short answer, but a pointed one. O’Brien, Moyes made clear, still has a role to play this season, even if his immediate involvement is on hold.
Six days to change the picture
Everton walked off at Preston looking confident, dominant and ruthless. The manager walked into the media room talking about gaps, numbers and the need for more quality.
Both realities are true. The performance showed promise. The squad, as Moyes sees it, is still light.
Six days remain in the window. For Everton, and for Moyes, those six days now look as important as any 90 minutes they will play in the early weeks of this season.
