Credit: Imago

Daniel Lewis

Tue 26 May 2026 7:40, UK

The Friedkin Group have to learn from the past two transfer windows when it comes to strengthening Everton this summer.

That is according to former player Michael Ball, who believes the winter transfer window was a “failure” from Everton’s perspective.

The Toffees failed to adequately strengthen midway through the campaign and that told as they dropped off towards the end.

Everton brought in Jack Grealish, Merlin Rohl and Tyrique George on loan in 2025-26, while six players were signed permanently.

Despite some large sums being dished out on those signings, Ball believes the Friedkins need to do more this time around.

David Moyes uncertainty not helping the Friedkin Group

For three quarters of the season, David Moyes worked wonders with what he had and had Everton well and truly in the European mix.

However, a seven-match winless run to conclude the campaign ultimately saw the Toffees finish in the bottom half of the Premier League.

Moyes’ future at Everton is very unclear as he enters the final year of his contract, with suggestions even midway through the season that the Friedkins are eyeing alternatives.

In the view of Ball, writing for the Liverpool Echo, that simply muddies the water when it comes to planning transfer business.

“We’ve had one summer window, January was a failure, but the Everton’s board, the transfer committee and David Moyes should have the targets of who they want,” he said.

“Whether it’s David Moyes or whether it’s the board, they’ve failed in the transfer market. If you look at why we’re in this situation and how we can move forward, you look back at January and we only brought in Tyrique George, a young kid from Chelsea after Jack Grealish got injured.

“We went into last summer knowing we needed a right-back. That was our number one priority, but we never got him, he [Kenny Tete] stayed at Fulham and we didn’t get a back-up option.”

Ball added: “Were we tight with money or were they thinking that David Moyes isn’t going to stay long-term, so we won’t give him a huge transfer kitty? That’s what has cost us this season.”

Everton exits looking more likely than arrivals right now

Seamus Coleman is not the only Everton player who may have played their final game for the Merseyside club last weekend.

Dwight McNeil, Idrissa Gueye and even last summer’s big-money arrival Thierno Barry may soon be on their way out.

The odd name has been linked with a move to Hill Dickinson Stadium, but certainly nothing concrete at this stage.

The Friedkins, to their defence, did splash out £25million on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall last summer and that has proved a major success.

But the £35m spent on Tyler Dibling just seems bizarre, with that perhaps a deal that sums up the disconnect between the owners and the manager.

If similar money is available this time around, it quite simply needs to go on the right players in the right areas of the field.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.