Why David Moyes has clear favourite to succeed Seamus Coleman as Everton captain

David Moyes must soon decide who will officially take over as Everton's next captain.

Seamus Coleman's exit at the end of last season after what felt a lifetime on Merseyside means the vacancy is open.

Club legend Coleman made a staggering 435 appearances for the Toffees, which is almost unheard of in the current day.

However, appearances were far more limited in recent times and James Tarkowski was effectively de facto captain.

Moyes must now decide whether Tarkowski should take on the armband permanently, or instead look to someone else.

Goodison News looks at the realistic options available to become Everton's next full-time skipper.

James Tarkowski has the credentials to lead Everton

This will mark the first time in seven years Everton have had to name a new captain.

And realistically, the honour should go to Tarkowski given he has vast experience of leading the side anyway.

The 33-year-old is also in what many would argue is the best position on the field to be captain at centre-back.

What works against Tarkowski, however, is his age. Even if he has another couple of years in him as a regular, should Everton be looking longer-term?

If that is the case, step forward Jarrad Branthwaite. He too is a centre-back who is happy to lead, while also being aged just 24.

The elephant in the room, of course, is Branthwaite's recent injury record, given he missed three quarters of last season.

There is also the small matter of Branthwaite regularly being linked with a move away, although giving him the armband may help Everton's cause to keep him when those rumours inevitably resurface.

Who else could captain Everton?

Going down the list of names, there is only really one other name worth seriously considering in Jordan Pickford.

For better or worse, nobody, not even Tarkowski, is more vocal than Pickford in the Everton ranks.

As covered by Goodison News, Pickford was the best all-round goalkeeper at the World Cup.

You would not believe that given the criticism he has faced from the same old select pundits.

Pickford is entering his tenth season as an Everton player and he has barely missed a game across the previous nine of those.

He is reliable, he gets the club, he is vocal and would no doubt relish skippering the side.

But it may well be that he will be next in line after obvious choice Tarkowski.