David Moyes badly let down as Everton transfer priority already emerges for summer
After a quiet start, Everton’s winter transfer window burst into life on deadline day.
Dwight McNeil’s move to Crystal Palace fell through at the last minute as the Eagles pulled out of the deal after he completed a medical.
Everton did secure the loan signing of Tyrique George, and they have the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
However, the Toffees will have a lot of regrets about how they conducted their business, and they have already lined up their number one priority for the summer.
Everton’s priority for the summer is signing a right-back
George is Everton’s only signing of the window, but they were linked with several players throughout January.
The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the focus at the start of the window was on the right-back and striker positions, but they didn’t strengthen in either position.
The report adds that is likely to be where Everton look again in the summer after failing to rectify the issues over the past month.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy was heavily linked with Everton, while Strasbourg’s Guela Doue is a player they placed a lot of interest in, with those two names mentioned in the report.
Emil Holm was also targeted, although the Sweden international eventually moved to Juventus on loan.
Everton’s transfer targets at right-back:
- Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Genoa)
- Guela Doue (Strasbourg)
- Emil Holm (Bologna – now at Juventus on loan)
The Toffees are now expected to revisit their long search for a new right-back in the summer, but Moyes will certainly feel let down that The Friedkin Group didn’t get a deal over the line for any of the options above.
One of Everton’s priorities in January was avoiding costly mistakes, and they did manage to achieve that by failing to address both positions.
As for signing a new number nine, Youssef En-Nesyri was the standout candidate, although he wasn’t keen on the move to L4.
However, it’s clear that the Toffees need a right-back more than any other area on the pitch.
Moyes needs more attacking threat down the right-hand side, and he won’t be thrilled with his current options.
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Everton running thin on options at right-back
Moyes said he wanted a new right-back in the winter transfer window, but he’ll now have to work with what he’s got.
Iliman Ndiaye needs more support from whichever right-back is playing if the Toffees want to secure European football for next season.
However, Jake O’Brien is traditionally a centre-back, and Seamus Coleman is definitely past his prime.
Nathan Patterson’s woeful injury record renders him unreliable, and it’s clear that Moyes needs more consistency in that position.
Hopefully, they won’t hold back in getting a top-quality right-back in the summer.
Stay up to date this winter with our Everton transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Hill Dickinson, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.