Credit: Imago

Scott Mason

Wed 8 April 2026 7:10, UK

Everton are in the market for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles, but their last business with the Saints and Tyler Dibling has not gone too well.

Despite plenty of signings in the summer, David Moyes has been left with quite a thin squad, as the Scotsman has many players he simply does not trust.

The Blues will certainly be in line for a busy summer ahead of next season, particularly if European football is brought back to Everton.

Midfield issues could arise with Idrissa Gana Gueye’s one-year extension yet to be triggered.

Everton’s move for Charles could be a solution, but the Merseyside club may be wary due to previous dealings with the Saints.

Why Everton must not get sucked into a transfer battle for Shea Charles

Charles made headlines with his performance against Arsenal in the FA Cup, and the midfielder has been quietly having a strong Championship season.

The Northern Irishman has been plagued by injuries, missing 18 games this campaign due to a hamstring problem. However, upon returning, he has shown his quality.

The Blues have plenty of other positions that need strengthening, and being forced to pay a high fee for a player yet to feature in the Premier League would be an enormous risk.

While Southampton value Charles at £20million, with interest from Manchester United and Rangers, there is room for the Saints to increase their price tag.

The Toffees brought Dibling to Hill Dickinson Stadium for a £40m package, and so far it has been money wasted, with the young star featuring for just 371 Premier League minutes this season.

Charles may well work out differently, but with a potential European campaign on the horizon, the Blues cannot afford to make mistakes in the market as they did with Dibling.

Tyler Dibling can still turn Everton career around

While Dibling has certainly been a failed signing so far, at just 20 years old, he has plenty of time to prove his worth in Merseyside.

Moyes has previously urged the winger to show more at Everton, but is wary that he might have struggled to settle in so far.

The Everton manager stated in February: “The one thing is Tyler has got on his side is that he is young and he is quite a quiet boy who might take more time to settle in. But he needs to show when he gets the opportunities.”

There is certainly a star in the making in Dibling, but issues away from familiar surroundings have often affected him.

In 2022, the 20-year-old moved to Chelsea’s academy from Southampton but later returned to the South Coast club due to being homesick.

If he can overcome his struggles, then Everton will have another attacking asset to aid them, and he could go on to have a successful career at Hill Dickinson.