How David Moyes can still get Everton into Europe using what he’s already got
Everton only made one signing in the winter transfer window, and there might be a sense that the Toffees did not do enough business.
Tyrique George has come through the doors of Hill Dickinson, but his arrival looks to be in place of the injured Jack Grealish, rather than improving the current setup.
The L3 outfit have a real chance of securing European football, and if they fail in that task, fans will look back at this winter window as a missed opportunity.
However, there are real reasons to believe that David Moyes can push Everton into those coveted spots in the Premier League.
And he can do it with the players already at his disposal.
Moyes must push Iliman Ndiaye to perform for Everton
Everton are just six points off fifth place, which looks to be an extra Champions League position for Premier League clubs.
With plenty of football left to play, there is an opportunity for the Toffees to aim for that.
Even if they fail, they could still fall back into the Europa League or Conference League. The injury to Grealish is a major blow, but that does not mean someone else cannot take the mantle.
Grealish has been Everton’s main man for most of the season, but Iliman Ndiaye certainly has the talent and skillset to take the mantle; the question is solely, can he do it?
| Statistic | Total |
| Appearances | 57 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 2 |
While he missed a few games while away at AFCON, Moyes trusted the winger to immediately come back into the fold. Of his 18 appearances this season, he has started in all 18.
His output could be improved, and the Everton manager will have to start working on increasing it.
However, last season’s nine goals in 33 appearances have shown he can be effective in the final third. With Thierno Barry now in great form, Ndiaye has a finisher he can help supply.
Additionally, as the Sofascore graphic above shows, his 5.3 ball recoveries per match highlight the hard-working nature of his performances.
Everton have one of the best defence’s in the Premier League
The old adage goes, if you cannot win a game of football, do not lose it, and the Blues’ defensive record shows they can pick up scrappy points here and there.
Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski deserve plaudits for their performances this season, with Everton statistically having the fifth-best defence in the league.
The Toffees’ 1.1 goals conceded per match is only bettered by Aston Villa, Sunderland, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Tarkowski is a duel-winning monster, as displayed by the Sofascore graphic below, and if he continues in the form he is in, then Everton will continue to be hard to score against.
There are some tough matches for the Blues coming up, with fixtures against Manchester United, Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal coming in the next nine.
However, with the campaign that Tarkowski is having, there is some hope he can help keep those teams quiet.
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.