Why Rico Lewis is ready to take Everton to next level and end David Moyes headache
Few Premier League right-backs can rival Everton-linked Rico Lewis in a host of key metrics.
One of Everton's big problem positions for some time now, and especially last season, David Moyes must come out of this summer with a new starting right-back.
Jake O'Brien has performed admirably there considering he's a centre-back by trade, but if the Toffees are to take the next step in the Premier League, then an upgrade here is essential.
Lewis has been touted with a move to Everton throughout the summer, with his role in Man City's squad looking uncertain moving forward.
Indeed, the five-cap England international played just 23 times in all competitions for City in 2025-26, which is his lowest number of single-season appearances since his debut 2022-23 campaign when he played the same amount.
However, he's a player with obvious potential, and one that could transform Everton's attacking presence down the right side.
Where Rico Lewis has been leading Premier League right-backs
Goodison News has covered reports claiming that Everton are set to make a big transfer push for Lewis over the coming days.
The obvious attractions to the 21-year-old are that he's a two-time Premier League and FA Cup winner, has a Champions League winners' medal to his name and has 116 competitive appearances for Man City under his belt.
Pep Guardiola placed a lot of trust in him from an early age, and it's probably fair to say that his performances have often gone under the radar in the midst of City's star-laden teams of recent years.
And so, under the radar is exactly where we're going to look when analysing Lewis' Premier League numbers, and the findings will be hugely encouraging to everyone connected with Everton.
As per FotMob, no Premier League right-back won more possessions in the final third per game than Lewis' 1.12 in 2025-26.
Meanwhile, he also ranked in the top 2.4 percentile amongst his positional rivals for his 0.31 expected assists (xA) and 5.60 touches in the opposition box per 90 last term.
Lewis also placed towards the very top of right-back rankings in the Premier League per game for fouls won (2.01), chances created (1.57), big chances created (0.45), assists (0.22) and long ball accuracy (56.3 per cent).
Going back to the 2024-25 season, he again ranked right near the top for his pass success rate of 91.4 per cent, as well as his 1.62 fouls won and 0.62 possessions won in the final third per game.
What Lewis' arrival at Hill Dickinson Stadium would surely provide, in addition to solving Everton's right-back conundrum, is the opportunity for one outcast to go and get his chance to play regular football.
Why Lewis signing sure to mean one in, one out at Everton
One Everton player who just doesn't seem to have won favour with Moyes is Nathan Patterson.
The 24-year-old Scotsman has played just 19 times in all competitions over the last two seasons, with only eight of those coming last term.
Patterson has widely been touted with a return to Rangers this summer, having moved from Ibrox to Goodison Park back in January 2022.
Now heading towards the prime years of his career, the 29-cap Scotland international will no doubt be desperate to play more regular football for the sake of both his domestic, and international career.
Being Everton's third-choice right-back won't be on his to-do list for 2026-27, and so should Lewis arrive on Merseyside, things could move very quickly for Patterson to head for pastures new.