Hopes Dented as Everton Lag Behind in Transfer Market | OneFootball

Moyes Faces Familiar Frustration as Everton’s Summer Falters

David Moyes returned to Atlanta this summer with very different emotions than his last visit to the city. Back in February 2019, he was on a break from management, enjoying the spectacle of Super Bowl LIII. The game itself — Tom Brady’s New England Patriots beating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 — may have been underwhelming, but the after-party, featuring Snoop Dogg and the kind of carnival atmosphere that sweeps even the most reluctant reveller along, was unforgettable. “It was almost impossible not to get swept up by the spectacular carnival atmosphere and celebrations,” Moyes admitted via The Telegraph.

Fast forward to now and Moyes, once again in Atlanta, found little to cheer. This time, he was there with Everton as part of the Premier League Summer Series. The contrast between the Snoop-soundtracked celebrations of 2019 and the tension-soaked scenes surrounding Everton’s preparations for the new season could not be starker.

New Stadium, Old Problems

This should have been a summer of hope. Everton’s long-awaited move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium, a 53,000-seater on the banks of the Mersey, marks a new chapter. But the mood has been soured by a familiar script: transfer turmoil, injury crises and on-pitch inconsistency.

Moyes has not sugar-coated the situation. “Everton are not ready,” he declared bluntly, with just two weeks to go before their Premier League opener away to newly-promoted Leeds United. Behind the scenes, the club has been scrambling through a chaotic summer window, left with only 27 days to complete their business and reinforce a depleted squad.

The manager is right to feel uneasy. There is hope, certainly, but there is also the harsh reality that Everton’s pre-season has been riddled with obstacles. Off the pitch, transfer plans have stalled. On it, results have not inspired. Yet there are flickers of progress, and Moyes is clinging to them.

Photo IMAGO

Transfers Stagnating, Confidence Wavering

“In truth, it was possible to detect a slight lightening in Moyes’ mood over the weekend.” That subtle shift came courtesy of a battling 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium — a marked improvement on defeats to Bournemouth and West Ham, where individual errors proved costly.

Still, there’s no masking the shortfall in squad depth. Moyes is operating with a threadbare group of around 15 senior players, ravaged by injuries and departures. A dozen players left at the end of last season. Among them were striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré, the latter unwilling to take a cut to his £5 million-a-year salary.

Four signings have come in: Carlos Alcaraz from Flamengo, Thierno Barry from Villarreal, Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich, and goalkeeper Mark Travers from Bournemouth. The outlay is roughly £52 million, but Moyes has made it clear more is required — six more signings, by his count, including a No.6 and No.8 midfielder, plus two wingers.

There’s intent, but little execution. Talks continue with Chelsea over Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Southampton regarding Tyler Dibling. The list of near misses is painful. “We’ve picked up but not enough and not as far as we need,” Moyes admitted. “I would have hoped we’d be much further down the line than we’ve been.”

Photo: IMAGO

“I think there will be deals [this] week — I think we’re getting much closer — but I’ve got to say I felt that four or five weeks ago as well. We’re getting near the tickly bits and we’ve got to get some things done.”

Missed Targets and Mounting Pressure

This transfer window has been defined by disappointment. Everton have watched target after target slip away. Kenny Tete looked close before choosing to stay at Fulham. Francisco Conceição opted for Juventus over Merseyside. Malick Fofana is eyeing Champions League football. Richard Rios preferred Benfica. Johan Bakayoko joined RB Leipzig. Joao Palhinha, long admired by Moyes, went to Tottenham on loan from Bayern.

Even when deals have been lined up, circumstances have conspired against them. Real Sociedad’s valuation of Takefusa Kubo was deemed excessive. Moyes would love a midfielder in the mould of Tomas Soucek, his old West Ham favourite, but suitable options remain elusive.

For all the upheaval in management — the arrival of the Friedkin Group, a new boardroom cast including Angus Kinnear as chief executive and Nick Hammond as head of recruitment — Everton still feel like a club struggling to turn ambition into substance.

Moyes himself performed a minor miracle last season. Taking over from Sean Dyche in January, with the club in 16th and sinking fast, he guided them to 13th place, above Manchester United, Tottenham and West Ham. Only four defeats in the final 19 matches told a story of resilience and resurgence. But that spirit is under threat. Progress requires more than grit. It demands depth.

Grealish Speculation and Glimmers of Hope

Among the more eye-catching rumours this week is the possibility of a loan move for Jack Grealish. It is, on the surface, a fantasy. Grealish earns around £300,000 a week at Manchester City and would have no shortage of suitors. Napoli and West Ham are reportedly interested.

Yet the idea lingers for a reason. “He is the kind of name and maverick talent fans could really get behind,” one source close to Everton suggested. With the World Cup looming and Grealish needing regular football, it’s not entirely beyond the realms of possibility — particularly with Everton’s new American ownership keen to make a splash.

More realistic options include Chelsea’s Dewsbury-Hall, Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, and Liverpool prospect Ben Doak. Leicester’s James Justin is another being monitored.

Moyes’s recruitment philosophy is clear: talent is welcome, but it must be the right kind. “He needs players, yes, but he will not sign them for the sake of it.” Everton need both potential and experience. That much was clear as soon as James Tarkowski returned from injury during the US tour and instantly brought stability to the defence.

One silver lining is the expected return to training of Jarrad Branthwaite. “With a little bit of luck,” Moyes said, the England defender will be back on the grass by Wednesday. His recovery could not come sooner.

Recruitment Rebuild Still in Progress

The club’s data-led approach is now underpinned by Chris Howarth, whose company Insight Sport was acquired by the Friedkin Group. Moyes, to his credit, remains hands-on. He has always backed his judgement and continues to push for players he believes in.

And yet, for all the new structure, it feels like a familiar Everton script. New owners, a new stadium, a new era — yet the same late-window panic and stretched squad.

As Michael Keane, the experienced centre-back, acknowledged this week, the onus is now on the senior players to guide the club through another tricky start. That sense of déjà vu is hard to shake. Moyes has spoken frequently about the weight of recent relegation struggles and how they deter potential signings. Nine of their Premier League rivals can offer European football. Everton, at present, can offer opportunity, tradition and a grand new home, but not much more.

The Premier League waits for no one. In two weeks’ time, Everton will walk out at Elland Road and begin a season that should have been about ambition. Instead, the opening whistle may sound like a starting gun for a desperate race against time.

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Mood: Concerned Everton Fan

This summer promised so much. New stadium, new ownership, new hope. But as the clock ticks down to the Leeds game, it feels like Everton have sleepwalked into another season of scrambling. Moyes deserves credit for what he achieved last season. But no manager can work miracles without tools.

The Grealish rumour is exciting, but let’s be honest — it’s a long shot. What fans really want is functionality: a right winger who can stay fit, a midfield general to anchor play, and a bit of genuine squad depth. Instead, we’re chasing deals that always seem just out of reach.

Dewsbury-Hall would be a smart addition. So would Dibling. But they need to happen now. Watching players like Conceição and Bakayoko head elsewhere while we dither is painful. It feels like we’re always reacting rather than planning.

If Moyes can get his six players in, we might just be okay. But without reinforcements, we are asking for trouble. The goodwill of last season won’t last forever. The Hill Dickinson Stadium should be the start of a new chapter. Right now, it’s in danger of feeling like more of the same — only shinier.