David Moyes: Everton's Transfer Work Not Finished Despite Cup Win
David Moyes insists Everton’s transfer work is far from finished, despite a thumping 4-0 Carabao Cup win at Preston North End that might have suggested everything is in good order.
“I still think we’re short in the squad,” the Everton manager said at Deepdale, cutting through the post-match glow with a dose of realism.
A thin squad gets thinner
Everton have brought in five players this summer, but Moyes’ own maths is ruthless. Two of those arrivals, Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl, were already in the building at the end of last season on loan. In his eyes, that leaves just three genuine new faces: Hayden Hackney, Christian Norgaard and Brennan Johnson.
Set that against the departures and the picture sharpens.
Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gueye have both gone after their contracts expired. Dwight McNeil moved on as part of the deal that brought Johnson in from Crystal Palace. Jack Grealish’s loan ended and he returned to Manchester City. So while three have come in, four significant squad options have disappeared.
For a group Moyes already regarded as “quite thin” in Premier League terms, that is a problem.
Asked if more signings were essential, 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.”
Right-back priority and Grealish question
Now the clock is ticking. Six days left in the window, and the gaps are clear.
Right-back remains a long-running sore. Everton are actively searching in that area, even though Nathan Patterson is the only specialist in the squad. The fact he is not viewed internally as the long-term answer underlines how urgent that search has become.
The Grealish situation hovers over everything. Everton remain in contact with both the player and Manchester City about a possible return for the playmaker, but the competition is fierce. Clubs including Aston Villa and Sunderland are circling, and the longer it drags on, the more it risks slipping away.
Outgoings will shape what Everton can do. They are likely to be open to offers for several players as they juggle numbers, wages and the need for upgrades in key positions.
Futures in the balance
Beto’s situation is one to watch. He did not get on the pitch at Preston, finishing the night as an unused substitute. At full-time he handed his shirt to a supporter, a small gesture that will only fuel talk over where he stands as the deadline approaches.
Patterson and Beto are not alone in uncertainty. Carlos Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam are also into the final year of their contracts, though some of those deals include club options that could extend their stay. Even so, every decision now carries extra weight: keep them and commit, or cash in and reshape.
Then there is Jake O’Brien.
The centre-back did not feature at Deepdale either, and reports have suggested Everton would listen to offers. Moyes, though, pushed back on any idea that O’Brien has no future.
“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,” he said.
That line matters. It hints at a season in which O’Brien will be part of the rotation, even if his immediate role is limited while the window is still open and the manager weighs up his options.
Six days to change the mood
The performance at Preston showed what this Everton side can do when it clicks. The manager’s comments showed how fragile that platform still feels.
A right-back is needed. Extra quality is needed. Numbers are needed.
Moyes knows he cannot go into another Premier League campaign one body down on a squad he already considered too small. The question now is simple: can Everton fix that in less than a week, or will the season start with the same old sense of being one injury away from trouble?
