Everton’s Transfer Priorities for the Summer of 2025

Will the exciting McAtee be a Toffee soon? | Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images

There have been big changes in the way Everton recruits players since TFG took over. Gone is the Director of Football model and with it, Kevin Thelwell — replaced by a new, as yet unproven committee approach. With little information available regarding the way in which this new system will function, and without a prior transfer window to assess, this summer is going to be instructive regarding its effectiveness.

With the season opener against Leeds United a little over three weeks away - at time of

writing - only three signings have arrived. The loan of Carlos Alcaraz was made permanent, for a fee of €15 million, a protracted pursuit of Villarreal striker Thierno Barry was concluded for around €30m, and backup goalkeeper Mark Travers was brought in from Bournemouth for €4.6m. However, despite numerous links to prospective signings, the prevailing impression amongst fans on social media is one of rising uneasiness with the lack of activity.

The Everton squad currently stands at just 20 senior players, which includes a few who may yet end up departing on loan — or even permanently. The team had 25 registered players last term, yet still often found itself short of viable options, resorting to plonking two ‘keepers on the bench on numerous occasions. It’s clear that there are serious deficiencies in areas of the side currently, which need addressing — and urgently. This does not mean that the Toffees should sign just anybody, however, but instead they must bring in the best additions that they are able to.

Everton’s transfer budget is unknown. We do know that the club’s PSR position is greatly improved and that the Friedkins are hardly short of money, so it’s reasonable to assume that there will be substantial funds available. Here, I take a look at the team, position by position, in order to identify which positions need to be strengthened. So, buckle up, because this article ended up a bit longer than anticipated!

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Signing Travers has added a competent number two goalkeeper

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford is probably at his peak, at 31 and has been a rock during the past four - mostly bleak - campaigns. He has two years left on his current deal, but recent news is that a new contract is being worked on that will see him close out his career on Merseyside.

Losing both João Virgínia and Asmir Begovic at the end of the last season was not ideal, but the Blues have moved quickly to bring in reliable cover, in the form of Travers, who is in all likelihood an upgrade over the two departing stoppers. For the number three it remains to be seen whether Harry Tyrer will be entrusted with that role, or a cheap veteran added.

Decision: possibly a veteran free agent no.3.

Central Defence

Having re-signed Michael Keane to a one-year deal on reduced terms, and handed Jarrad Branthwaite a bumper new contract, the club is is good shape at the heart of defence. It’s highly unlikely that the Everton hierarchy will look to bring anyone else in this summer, with so much else needing doing.

Decision: no action.

Photo by Barrington Coombs/PA Images via Getty Images

Branthwaite even wore the captain’s armband in the recent friendly against Blackburn

Full Back

I keep hearing that right back is not a priority for the Blues this summer — which is exactly what was being said a year ago. It wasn’t correct then, and it isn’t now. The team limped through the campaign using mostly veteran ex-winger Ashley Young under Sean Dyche and then Jake O’Brien after David Moyes took over the reins. Young is gone and although the big Irishman did a stalwart job filling in, he is a centre half and does not offer the natural skills required of a full back in the modern game. The team needs someone who can get up and down the flank, provide width and fire in accurate crosses.

The two specialists currently in the squad - Nathan Patterson and Seamus Coleman - are inadequate. Patterson sat and watched the departing Young finish the campaign off against Newcastle United, a decision which effectively ended his future at Everton. I’d be surprised if the Scot is still at the club by the end of the transfer window. The increasingly injury-prone Coleman was offered a new short-term deal for what he offers in the dressing room, not on the pitch. A starting right back is a necessity and the failed attempt to bring in Fulham’s Kenny Tete on a free transfer signals that the club is aware of this. Could Georgios Vagiannidis of Panathinaikos be that man?

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Vagiannidis was sent off against Rangers on Tuesday night and should now be available for transfer

On the left, Vitaliy Mykolenko is not a starter for a team looking to challenge for continental qualification, but for next season is acceptable. The Ukrainian started 35 league games last term and is fairly robust, but is currently the only natural option for the position — which is a gamble. Cover and competition has to be brought in, either in the shape of an experienced free agent or loan, or more excitingly - as reported by the Athletic’s reliable EFC journalist Paddy Boyland - in the shape of Bayern Munich’s prodigious 19-year-old Adam Aznou, or someone of similar potential.

Decision: a starting right back and competition at left back.

Midfield

Idrissa Gueye held the centre of the park together almost single-handedly last term, so it was a relief that the veteran was handed a new contract earlier in the month. James Garner missed almost the whole of the first half of the campaign with a reoccurrence of the back problem which hampered him during his first season at the club, but partnered the 35-year-old in 15 of the final 16 league games. The pair combined solidly enough, though the feeling is that Garner needs to show significant improvement if he’s to hold onto a starting berth, as he looks little different, at 24, to the player Everton signed three years ago.

In terms of depth, there is only Tim Iroegbunam, who was out for four months with an ankle injury, managing only five league starts, and who is a long way off being considered as a serious contender for major game time. Promising 18-year-old, Harrison Armstrong is coming off a productive half-season loan at Championship outfit Derby County, but would be best served gaining more experience and physical development at this early stage of his career, and this would be more easily obtained away from Everton for the present.

Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images

Luiz is finished at Juve, so it’s now a matter of where he ends up next season

The Blues need to add two midfielders to strengthen what is a weak group: a holding player and a more energetic, long-term successor to Gueye, who cannot be expected to maintain his form indefinitely. There have been a few links, most notably to former Aston Villa stalwart Douglas Luiz, currently persona non grata at Juventus, along with Freiburg’s Merlin Röhl — though little in the way of concrete action, it appears. The team may get through its US tour with the current options, but this situation has to be addressed before the Toffees show up at Elland Road, to face newly-promoted Leeds on August 18th.

Decision: a quality starter and a strong depth option.

The Wings

Everton look quite strong on the left, with Iliman Ndiaye a nailed-on starter following an impressive debut campaign, in which he led the team with nine league goals. Dwight McNeil provides solid cover and Alcaraz mostly played there after arriving in January — though the latter is more suited to playing in a central attacking role. It’s the right side which is a disaster zone. Neither of last season’s underperforming incumbents - loanees Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrøm - are at the club, so in preseason McNeil has been occupying the position, and this can only be a stop-gap fix.

The team is generally lacking pace in attack, so a new player possessing that attribute seems to be a no-brainer. Whether Moyes would prefer an inverted winger, or someone who hugs the chalk is unknown, but this is very much a priority position for the team, who in reality should be signing two players, for adequate depth. The exciting Real Sociedad winger, Takefusa Kubo is a definite target who ticks all the boxes, but Manchester City’s James McAtee offers a strong alternative. Ben Doak and Tom Fellows, who both excelled in the Championship last term, are more traditional types who are also on the club’s list.

Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images

Kubo in action during Sociedad’s Japanese tour

Decision: a pacy, tricky starter and some cover.

Attacking Midfield

Abdoulaye Doucouré had been propping up this area, playing out of position, for a couple of years, and his departure requires a rethink — assuming Moyes still intends to use an advanced midfielder in support of a lone striker. He’s retained the 4-2-3-1 formation during the early preseason schedule, so all indications are that an attacking midfielder will feature. The best fit for this role currently is Alcaraz, who combines playmaking ability with a desire to get into the box, though Ndiaye would be an option. Although Dyche used McNeil there during the first part of last season, I don’t see him as a good fit.

On the face of it, the position is hardly deserving of a lot of attention, but is Moyes sold on Charly? Personally, I rate the Argentine highly, but the club is getting linked to players who could play behind the centre forward, such as McAtee, and even Nick Woltemade - which suggests at least some interest in strengthening here. Although I believe Alcaraz will prove to be a key player this season, there’s nothing wrong with competition — assuming there are enough funds, or PSR headroom, to cover several areas of the team. Time will tell.

Decision: a viable, flexible alternative.

Forwards

Beto was finally given a fair shot after Dominic Calvert-Lewin succumbed to injury shortly after Moyes arrived and, to a degree, proved himself to be a capable Premier League striker in firing seven goals in 16 appearances under the new boss. Now, five of those strikes did come in a four-game stretch, but it is probable, assuming Everton can add some attacking talent to the squad in support roles, that the big man could target around ten to twelve league goals, given regular starting opportunities.

With Calvert-Lewin’s departure, the club acted swiftly to secure another centre forward, in the shape of Barry, who hit eleven goals in La Liga last season and who has so far stepped up and answered all questions in what is still the foot-slopes of his career. The team’s third option up top is Youssef Chermiti, but the 21-year-old has only one start in the English top flight in 22 appearances, with no goals to his name. The club may still add a hybrid attacker, who has the capacity to play up top, but it’s unlikely that Everton will seek to add a conventional front man at this stage.

Decision: no action

Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images

Could Everton be in for Woltemade with Bayern Munich having switched their gaze to Luis Diaz?

Summary

It will come as no surprise to almost every fan that time is a-ticking on the transfer window, which closes on September 1st, with the Toffees having so much to do. Barring a flurry of activity, it’s already looking like the squad will be nowhere near full strength come the season opener on August 18th. No doubt there will be at least some additions before then, so it’s not quite panic stations just yet, but some measured concern is valid.

I’ve heard some assertions that, with Moyes over in the US for the next week and a half, that transfer activity may grind to a halt, but this relies on the unsubstantiated assumption that the manager is running all football operations — as was the case during his first period at Everton. Whilst Moyes is undoubtedly involved on some level, the idea that he’s running the ship and calling the shots on recruitment is improbable. Regardless, I expect at least something to be accomplished whilst the team is out on its American tour.

That the Blues have not as yet gone for what could be considered easy to get targets suggests that sights have been set higher than has been the case over the past several years, and signing high-calibre players will inevitably be a longer process than, say, bringing back Harrison again; understandably so, since the better the player is, the more interest there will be in acquiring their services from rival clubs. So, the club is forced to play a waiting game.

While it can be frustrating watching the clock whilst nothing apparently is happening, I’m taking the view that TFG and its employees know what they are doing (since there is yet no evidence to the contrary) and that we will reap the rewards of what may be a structured, patient approach to squad-building in the coming weeks. This is mere conjecture, however, but there will be time enough for a full appraisal at the end of next month.

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