Everton backed to seal Juanlu Sanchez deal as David Moyes injury worries continue
Everton are already weighing up their potential options ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.
The Toffees have made a bright start in the Premier League this season, but they will be desperate to maximise their campaign as much as possible by boosting the squad this winter.
The possibility of Everton making a permanent move for Jack Grealish may yet materialise, while clear transfer priorities are already beginning to emerge elsewhere within their ranks.
David Moyes was well-backed by The Friedkin Group over the summer, and he will be hoping for a similar level of financial support in January.
Everton injury woes create need for Juanlu Sanchez deal
Everton are being linked with a move for Juanlu Sanchez once again, and are now understood to have the right-back as one of their main priorities ahead of the January window.
The Merseysiders showed an interest in the Sevilla right-back during the summer window, but it now seems that there could be a greater urgency on securing his signature.
Jarrad Branthwaite is still sidelined through injury, and fellow centre-back Michael Keane could now be set to join him with a spell outside the matchday squad after he forced off during the win over Crystal Palace last weekend.
| Season | Appearances | Days Missed (through injury) | Games Missed (through injury) |
| 2025-26 | – | 62 | 9 |
| 2024-25 | 32 | 138 | 21 |
With that in mind, ex-Everton scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Goodison News – believes that Sanchez would be a necessary signing for the Toffees in January, and adds that Moyes would rather play it safe and bring in extra cover.
“It’s certainly a position that they’ve got to go and look at, and he (Sanchez) is the kind of player who would be good to bring in,” King said.
“Injuries are always the problem. I think Everton must be looking to strengthen the defence, and Sanchez could be a good player to come in and fill the right-back position.
“Then they’ve got good cover with (Jake) O’Brien, who can obviously play centrally as well. I think they would look a bit stronger if he (Sanchez) came in.
“You’ve still got to be careful, and a manager like Moyes has always been careful.”
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Defensive cover is a non-negotiable in January
Given that Nathan Patterson hasn’t featured for Everton yet this season, and Seamus Coleman is now only likely to play a bit part role, it’s fair to say that the Toffees are stretched to an extreme level in terms of defensive options.
The quartet of Keane, Branthwaite, O’Brien and James Tarkowski essentially form the entirety of their options to play at centre-back and right-back, and that simply isn’t going to be enough to sustain their promising campaign.
Carrying such little depth at the back is an accident waiting to happen in terms of injuries, and if Keane’s problem is serious, then Moyes is going to be forced into an uncomfortable position after the international break.
With that in mind, reinforcements in the backline have to be top of the January shopping list, as Everton’s season could easily come grinding to a halt if the concerns aren’t addressed.
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