It appears that, despite everyone’s reservations and fighting off the threat from Saudi Arabia, Everton are set to lose Iliman Ndiaye anyway.

Talks are already underway with Tottenham Hotspur over a deal for the Senegal star and odds are that it will be finalised.

Jack Grealish’s return will help to soften the blow – he remains an elite forward, as we’ve explained - but it would be remiss of Everton not to look to see what other options are available.

We’ve dived into the data to look at some of the names currently being linked and included some we’ve identified elsewhere too. As usual, we’re using DataMB’s numbers.

The players we’re looking at have all been linked to Everton at some point this summer. They are Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, Bilal El Khannouss, Assane Diao, Jonathan Rowe, Malick Fofana and Barış Alper Yılmaz. We’ve included Rowe, but he’s likely to join Atalanta.

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Jean-Mattéo Bahoya’s Numbers

First up is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, who reports linked Everton to earlier in the summer.

The belief in Germany – and at Eintracht Frankfurt – is that the 21-year-old will move before deadline. One report from Germany on Friday insisted that he would prefer to end up in the Premier League.

The opportunity is there for Everton, then. His numbers below make for very impressive reading.

Across the seven metrics – Progressive Carries, Dribbles Completed, Non-Penalty Goal (NPG), NPxG + xA (Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Expected Assists), Assiss, Key Passes and Crosses Completed he scores very well indeed.

He ranks Elite for Prog Carries (82.7) and Dribbles cmp (92.2) while he is Above Average for npxG +xA (67.7), Assists (69.6), Key Passes (78.1), and Crosses Completed (73.2). NPG is average (54.9) but in the higher range.

Bahoya profiles as a young, high-ceiling chance-creator who consistently creates chances in the final third. He is dynamic, high-impact attacking midfielder offers elite dribbling, strong ball carrying and above average creative output.

Bilal El Khannouss’ Numbers

Staying in the Bundesliga, we have VfB Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss. Everton fans may remember him from his time at Leicester City.

A report last week stated Everton had made enquiries about the 22-year-old, with Newcastle United also in the mix. Both Stuttgart and the player are open to a departure before deadline day, but the German side want €50-60m for a transfer.

His numbers make for less impressive reading than Bahoya’s. While he is elite for Key Passes (86.5) and Above Average for (Assists (74.3), Crosses Completed (72.2) and npxG +xA (64.6), his other numbers are considerably lower.

Prog Carries (33.0), Dribbles Comp (29.9) are Below Average while NPG (59.6) is Average. It is just 0.4 short of being Above Average though.

The Moroccan profiles as a creative-first midfielder who excels in chance creation with passes and crosses and has a high assist output to show for it but offers limited ball progression and dribbling threat. He’s more of a technically gifted connector who unlocks defences rather than carries or drives through them.

Assane Diao

Up next is Como’s Assane Diao, who reports in Italy have insisted Everton also have on their radar. He’s an old target, having also been linked regularly when he was at Real Betis.

The 20-year-old profiles very differently to the Bundesliga duo. He is elite for Prog Carries (98.1) and Dribbles Comp (96.7) but then does score Above Average for anything else besides NPG (46.8).

Indeed, npxG +xA (38.0), Assists (30.9), Key Passes (10.0) and Crosses Comp (22.1) are all Below Average. Key Passes are outright poor.

Diao profiles as an explosive, ball-carrying wide threat with elite progressive carries and dribbling but limited creative output across the various metrics.

He’s a high ceiling winger who excels through athleticism rather than chance creation.

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Jonathan Rowe

Another in Serie A – and the man we argued should be top of the list when we profiled Ndiaye replacements earlier this summer – is Bologna’s Jonathan Rowe.

This one is unlikely as he’s on his way to Atalanta, but we’re including him in the list anyway given the numerous reports this summer.

He scores much more impressively than Diao. He is elite for Prog Carries (83.6) and Dribbles Comp (93.1) and Above Average for (69.4). He’s average for NPG (46.8), npxG +xA (53.0), Assists (44.4), Key Passes (42.8) and NPG (46.8).

Rowe profiles as a direct, ball-carrying wide attacker with elite dribbling and strong progressive carries but only moderate end-product and chance creation.

He’s a winger who also advances play through athleticism and 1v1s rather than consistent final third output.

Malick Fofana

Over to Ligue 1 now, and a potential option at Lyon. Malick Fofana is being shopped around late in the market as the French side need sales to balance the books.

He is also a player Everton made efforts to sign last summer, so is clearly on their radar.

Fofana offers very impressive numbers in several metrics, with elite numbers in prog carries (97.3) and Crosses cmp (95.2). He is above average for Dribbles cmp (77.3), NPG (71.9) and key passes. Two of those are just short of elite level.

npxG +xA is above average at (62.6). Only Assists fall into the Below Average category (38.8) but are at the high end of that threshold and within touching distance of average.

Fofana profiles as a dynamic wide creator with elite progressive carries and outstanding crossing output.

He combines strong dribbling and chance creation with enough goal threat to suggest he could be the complete package in the near future. At 21-years-old, he is certainly one for the future.

Barış Alper Yılmaz

The outside option may be Galatasaray’s Barış Alper Yılmaz. Reports throughout the summer - mostly from Türkiye - have insisted that he’s on Everton’s radar.

In fact, if those reports are to be believed, Everton have seen several bids rejected.

Yılmaz ranks well across all of these metrics for last season, with only one of the seven categories falling below the elite level.

He posts scores above 80 in Progressive Carries (86.0), Dribbles Completed (85.5), npxG + xA (82.1), Assists (94.0), Key Passes (87.6) and Crosses Completed (82.7). Only his NPG figure (56.1) sits outside the elite bracket.

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How Do They Compare With Ndiaye?

Using DataMB’s numbers, we can see how these players all compare with Ndiaye based on last season’s numbers.

Ndiaye did not rank elite in any category. He was Above Average for Prog Carries (70.8) and Dribbles Comp (69.4) and average for Key Passes (53.0). He was Below Average for NPG (32.8), npxG + xA (38.0), Assists (37.5) and Crosses cmp (28.5).

Across the seven shared attacking metrics, Assane Diao and M. Fofana finish joint‑top, each winning two categories outright. Diao leads both progressive carries and dribbles completed, while Fofana tops non‑penalty goals and crosses completed.

Behind them, Yılmaz and El Khannouss each win one category, with Yılmaz leading assists and El Khannouss leading key passes. Bahoya, Rowe and Ndiaye do not top any metric.

Ndiaye places 6th for NPG, 5th for progressive carries, 5th for dribbles completed, 5th for npxG+xA, 5th for assists, 4th for key passes, and 5th for crosses completed.

In other words, he finishes bottom in six of the seven metrics, with key passes the only category where he avoids last place — and even there he is still outside the top three.

Who Should Everton Sign?

Based on the list of seven players linked with Everton this summer, the best option to Ndiaye would be Bahoya. The numbers make that conclusion very clear.

He is the only player in this group who is top three in almost every category, posting elite or near-elite scores in carrying, dribbling, chance creation, npxG+xA and crossing. He has no major weaknesses and improves on Ndiaye in all seven metrics. He is the strongest overall upgrade.

Fofana and Yilmaz both push him close. Fofana is the most explosive, offering elite goal threat and elite crossing. Yilmaz is the most consistent, offering 80+ scores in six categories, albeit in the Turkish Super Lig.

Neither match Bahoya’s balance, though. They would offer more specialised alternatives depending on stylistic preference.

What this data set does show, though, is that Everton would have options. And plenty of them. In fact, the likes of Bahoya, Fofana and Bilal El Khannouss are being shopped in the Premier League before deadline day.

That means there are deals there to be done if the Toffees want them. Losing Ndiaye is a blow - the return of Jack Grealish should help that - but Everton can replace him if they wish to.

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With Beto on his way to Italy to join Fiorentina, Everton are in the market for a late addition to their forward line.

With a deal being worked on to bring Richarlison back from Tottenham – we covered the Brazilian on Sunday – Monaco’s Folarin Balogun is also in the mix.

Reports in England and France alike insist that the 25-year-old is on Everton’s radar before deadline day. In fact, a personal agreement is reportedly in place. Monaco have also confirmed that the striker is likely to leave.

Fans will naturally know the striker from the World Cup, where he impressed with the USA and was embroiled in the tournament’s biggest controversy.

But what kind of player would Everton be signing? We’ve dived into his stats on DataMB to find out and compare him to both Thierno Barry and the departing Beto.

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Balogun’s 24/25 Numbers

DataMB rate strikers across seven metrics – Non-Penalty Goals (NPG), Non-Penalty Expected Goals (npxG), Goal Conversion %, Aerial Duel Won %, Touches in Box, xA (Expected Assists) and Offensive Duels Won.

High percentiles indicate strong performance; low percentiles indicate weakness.

Broadly: 80+ is elite, 60+ above average, 40+ average, 20+ below average, and anything lower is poor.

On these metrics, Folarin Balogun ranks as Elite for touches in box (94.0), and Above Average for NPG (69.5), npxG (74.8), Goal Conv % (64.5), and Off Duels Won (64.5). He’s below average for xA (33.0) and Poor for Aerial % (17.7).

The American striker profiles as a mobile, penalty-box striker who offers elite movement and constant box presence. He’s a high-volume finisher but not a creator or an aerial outlet.

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Beto and Barry Comparison

The chart above shows how he compares to Thierno Barry and Beto across the same set of metrics.

Balogun comes out on top in three metrics – Touches in Box, xA, and Offensive Duels Won. The difference is considerable in these metrics too.

For example, there are 41.2 percentile points between him and Beto for touches in the box, and 66.3 separates him from Barry.

The tally to Beto is 40.7 for offensive duels, with Barry 58.5 behind in third. The difference for xA is less considerable – 18.5 away from Beto, 24.5 to Barry.

Beto, interestingly, tops the charts for NPG, npxG and Goal Conversion. In the first two, Balogun trails by 12.1 and 14.2. He is 27.7 behind when it comes to goal conversion.

The data shows that swapping Beto for Balogun isn’t a like-for-like change, it’s a structural shift in what the No.9 is expected to do.

Everton gain a striker with elite box presence and who arrives in dangerous areas constantly. He is also considerably better at link up play, and who offers more mobility and movement up front. Balogun can beat a man, attack space and generate chances in the way Beto does not.

But – and remember this is based on the numbers – Balogun does not match Beto’s elite finishing, his raw goal output (although the difference is minimal here) or his aerial threat.

How Balogun Changes Everton

Everton would have to change how they view their striker. The role would shift from power finisher to mobile box-threat creator.

Their attack would become more dynamic, with a striker who is more dynamic himself, less direct and far more involved in creating chances.

Balogun’s arrival would also see their transition threat increase, with the American clearly thriving in open-field moments than structured play.

The arrivals of Tyrique George and Brennan Johnson plays into that neatly. They are also players who thrive on transitions and running in behind.

Whether Everton get the deal done, remains to be seen. With Monaco reportedly asking for £40m, there is work to be done on that front. That figure certainly seems more likely the original £18m claims. If Everton can get a deal somewhere in between those two figures, the deal is likely to be on.

But it is clear from the data here what Everton get if they sign him, and how the deal represents a transition away from what Beto offered.

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Everton’s season-long love affair with Jack Grealish appears set to continue, with talks over another loan deal now progressing.

Whether you are up or down on the move – particularly with Iliman Ndiaye departing – is personal preference. We’ve already discussed the various costs of that deal over the last week.

On the face of it, the deal poses a problem for those who wish to be positive. Everton are getting a 31-year-old forward, on huge wages and at big cost, who is coming off the back of his worst injury to date. There are plenty of reasons to be concerned.

But on the flip side, this is still the player who was Everton’s best last season, and, by all metrics, remains an elite level forward.

So, we’re going to focus on that latter point, taking a deep dive into the data to see what Grealish still offers Everton.

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2025/26 Numbers

Whatever way you wish to spin Jack Grealish’s return, the numbers paint a very clear picture – he remains an elite player in several areas.

DataMB ranks wingers across seven metrics. They are Progressive Carries, Dribbles Completed, NPG (Non-Penalty Goals) npxG + xA (Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Expected Assists), Assists, Key Passes and Crosses Completed.

High percentiles indicate strong performance; low percentiles indicate weakness.

Broadly: 80+ is elite, 60+ above average, 40+ average, 20+ below average, and anything lower is poor.

Across these metrics, Grealish ranks as elite for Prog Carries (93.8), Dribbles Cmp (84.1), Assists (88.8) and Key Passes (62.2).

He is Above Average for Crosses Comp (62.2), Average for npxG + xA (53.0) and Below Average for NPG (28.0).

Grealish profiles as a high-level creative forward who progresses the ball, beats defenders, and creates chances at an elite rate. He’s very much a facilitator rather than a finisher – something David Moyes called him out for last season – but clearly one who elevates Everton’s attack.

Comparison with Ndiaye

Of course, if Everton had their way, then Grealish would not be arriving as Iliman Ndiaye departs. But it seems financial issues – whether that’s SCR or something else – are pushing the Senegal forward to the exit door.

The pair were forming an interesting relationship on Everton’s wings last season, now it will be a case of Grealish replacing rather than adding to what Ndiaye brings.

Fortunately for Everton, that’s something he’s more than capable of when comparing the data from last season.

Here we can see that Ndiaye did not rank elite in any category. He was Above Average for Prog Carries (70.8) and Dribbles Comp (69.4) and average for Key Passes (53.0). He was Below Average for NPG (32.8), npxG + xA (38.0), Assists (37.5) and Crosses cmp (28.5).

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The comparison with Grealish is staggering. The Manchester City man is better in all but one category, NPG, and the difference is only 4.8.

He offers better numbers for Progressive Carrie (+23), Dribbles Completed (+14.7), npxG + xA (+15.0), Assists (+51.3), Key Passes (+33.5) and Crosses Completed (+33.7).

Grealish brings a level of ball progression, dribbling quality and chance creation that Ndiaye simply doesn’t replicate.

The gaps are not marginal either. His progressive carries and dribbling sit more than 20 percentile points higher, his key passes and crossing are over 30 points stronger, and his assist output is more than double.

He remains a reliable wide creator and a player that Everton simply don’t have. That was clear last season and is evident in the stats. He is also, even at this stage of his career, a huge upgrade on Ndiaye.

Better Than You Think

Of course, that does not mean selling Ndiaye at this stage of the window is a good thing. It is not. Everton should aspire to keep such players.

It is also the opposite of the rosy, positive picture that Angus Kinnear presented in his series of interviews before the season started. All indications there were that Everton were fine and did not need sales before the end of the window.

But bringing Grealish back is not all doom and gloom. Yes, he is older and coming off the back of a bad injury. But his numbers last season proved he is an elite player.

If Everton were to chase a player with similar numbers, they would command a huge transfer fee.

Instead, they are getting an elite level player on loan. They are also, crucially, getting an elite level player who desperately wants to return to the club and play for them. What is that worth to a club in Everton’s current situation?

It may be short-term thinking, and there may be negatives, but they don’t override the obvious positives.

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They tell you never to go back, but Everton simply can’t help themselves. In a move that is very ‘old Everton’, Richarlison could be on his way back.

Talks are now advancing for the Brazilian to return to Merseyside as part of the deal taking Iliman Ndiaye to Tottenham.

We won’t get into the logistics of that move – Everton paying £35m for a player currently valued at £25m in the final year of his deal seems strange – but rather focus on the 29-year-old’s numbers and what player Everton are getting.

Is he the same player who scored 53, and assisted 15, in 152 games for Everton previously? Is he an improvement on Beto, who appears destined for a return to Italy? Is he even better than Thierno Barry? Let’s try and answer all three.

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2024/25 Premier League Numbers

First and foremost, let’s look at Richarlison’s numbers from last season. DataMB rate strikers across seven metrics – Non-Penalty Goals (NPG), Non-Penalty Expected Goals (npxG), Goal Conversion %, Aerial Duel Won %, Touches in Box, xA (Expected Assists) and Offensive Duels Won.

High percentiles indicate strong performance; low percentiles indicate weakness.

Broadly: 80+ is elite, 60+ above average, 40+ average, 20+ below average, and anything lower is poor.

Across these metrics, Richarlison receives on Elite score for NPG (80.1) while npxG (67.7), Goal Conversion % (67.4), Touches in Box (79.4) and xA (73.0) are all above average. Touches in box is just 0.6 away from an elite ranking.

Aerial % (38.7) and Offensive Duels Won (45.4) are below average and average. The former again, though, is at the high end of the below average scale.

This version of Richarlison profiles as a player who is a penalty-box forward with elite finishing, strong movement and surprisingly good creative output. But he offers limited aerial presence and only average ability in offensive duels.

Beto Comparison

The general assumption is that Richarlison will return to replace Beto, who appears destined to head back to Italy with Fiorentina. Everton fans are likely to be surprised about what the numbers say about him.

He receives an elite score for NPG (81.6), npxG (89.0) and Goal Conversion % (92.2). He is Above Average for Aerial % (60.6) and Average for Touches in Box (52.8). Offensive Duels won is Below Average (23.8) while xA (8.5) is Poor.

Beto profiles as a classic penalty box number nine. He’s an elite chance-getter, elite finisher and strong in the air. But he is very limited when it comes to creativity and offers weak duel ability. He is a striker who thrives on crosses, cutbacks and quick service, not someone who builds attacks or carries the ball.

If we compare the two players, we can see that Richarlison is massively more creative, gets into dangerous areas more often, is far better at holding the ball and winning offensive duels.

Beto is better for aerial duels, has a better npxG – meaning he gets better quality chances – and his finishing efficiency is elite (surprisingly).

Swapping Beto for Richarlison gives you a more complete, creative and self-sufficient forward. The Brazilian is a multi-dimensional forward who creates chances, wins duels, carries the ball and still scores at a high level.

Beto, meanwhile, is a single-dimension penalty-box striker. He solves one problem extremely well – finishing – but offers little else.

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Thierno Barry Comparison

And what about Everton’s current starting striker, Thierno Barry? Well, last season’s numbers paint an interesting picture.

The Frenchman did not receive any elite scorings but was close when it came to Goal Conversion % (78.7) and Aerial Duel % (79.4).

He was then Above Average for NPG (64.2) and npxG (67.7). Elsewhere, though, the numbers are concerning. He was Below Average for Touches in box (27.7) and Poor for xA (14.5) and Offensive Duels Won (6.0).

Richarlison offers an improvement when it comes to NPG, Touches in the Box, xA, and Offensive Duels. The pair are level for npxG while Barry has a better goal conversion % and aerial duel % as well.

Compared to Barry, Richarlison is a far more complete attacker who creates, carries, and wins duels. Barry is a simpler, more aerial-dominant finisher who relies heavily on the service provided to him.

That last point has been plain for all to see at the beginning of this season. The striker has four goals in three games to date – and should have added to that tally against Bournemouth – but the goals he has scored have all been put on a plate for him.

What the numbers do show is that if you have Barry and Richarlison as your striker options, you get players who give you goals, movement and aerial threat. But they do not cover all the bases by any means. In an ideal world, you still need someone who brings pace, ball-carrying or better hold-up play to complete the unit.

Heart versus Head

Ultimately, this deal is one that’s raised plenty of eyebrows among Everton’s fanbase.

A potential £35m fee for a player in the final year of his deal for a player who has missed 74 games – 420 days in total – since 2022 is certainly concerning.

He is also 29 years old – he turned 29 in May – and not the sort of long-term signing that many had hoped Everton would now focus on.

But a look at the numbers present a different outlook. Presented solely as a replacement for Beto, the improvements are obvious. Do the same for Barry, and the improvements are obvious again.

Everton gain a more complete striker than they currently have in several key metrics, and one who loves the club and has already put his body on the line for it in the past.

It’s not an ideal transfer by any means – the prices being touted should be considerably less for a start – but it is not as bad as some would think. In fact, there are plenty of positives based on the numbers here.

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You wait all summer for a right-back, and then you just go back to the one you could have had a year ago. How very Everton. Yes, Everton are back in for Fulham’s Kenny Tete.

Reports on Saturday evening indicated that Everton have finalised personal terms with the Fulham defender. Talks are now likely to see if a deal can be done with Fulham.

The Cottagers are likely to be interested, as they’re in the process of signing Andrei Rațiu from Rayo Vallecano so Tete may be surplus to requirements.

Should we all be excited or, does this feel like a last-minute scramble for a 30-year-old defender after your number one target – and the one we wanted, Guéla Doué – went elsewhere? Let’s take a look at the numbers.

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Last Season’s Numbers

DataMB rank full backs across seven metrics. They are Crosses Completed, xA (Expected Assists), Progressive Passes, Possession Won, Defensive Duel % (percent won) Aerial Duel % (percent won) and Progressive Carries.

High percentiles indicate strong performance; low percentiles indicate weakness.

Broadly: 80+ is elite, 60+ above average, 40+ average, 20+ below average, and anything lower is poor.

Kenny Tete receives one elite score, for Poss Won (89.0). He is Above Average for Defensive Duel % (71.1) and Aerial Duel % (67.3). Crosses Comp (52.6) and Prog Passes (47.9). xA (31.9) is just Average while Progressive Carries is poor (19.7) albeit just 0.3 short of Below Average.

Tete profiles as a defensively‑strong, low‑progression right‑back whose game is built on duels, discipline and ball‑winning rather than creativity or carrying.

This is also seen in his numbers from 2024/25. They paint the picture of a full back who offered almost nothing going forward. His xA and crossing output were among the lowest in the league and his progressive passing was middling.

He did win the ball at an elite rate, but his defensive duel success was poor. It was a season where he defended well but struggled in direct contest and contributed very little in possession.

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The Composite Numbers

Compiling the numbers into a composite gives us a clear picture of the player that Everton might be signing. Here’s how they look:

Crosses completed: 43.25

xA: 16.45

Progressive passes: 46.85

Possessions won: 89.6

Defensive duel %: 55.1

Aerial duel %: 59.1

Progressive carries: 25.9

Across the two seasons, Kenny Tete averages out as a full-back with elite ball-winning (89.6) and solid numbers for defensive duel % (55.1) and aerial duel % (59.1).

But he offers very limited attacking output and extremely low creative threat – xA is 16.45 for example.

His progression numbers are in the mid-table range, while his carrying is firmly in the below average range (25.9).

The combined two-season profile is that of a defence first right-back who contributes little in possession and offers minimal final-third value.

Jake O’Brien Improvement

The positive, is that he does offer improvement on Jake O’Brien, simply because he’s an actual right-back rather than a centre-back out of position. Here’s how the two compared last season.

He offers far more reliable service from wide areas with Crosses Comp (52.6 vs 20.7) and considerably higher xA (31.9 vs 0.7).

Progressive passes are also higher (47.9 vs 15.0) and so are Progressive Carries (19.7 vs 5.0). He also dwarfs the Republic of Ireland centre-back for Possession Won (89.0 vs 10.0)

O’Brien is better for Defensive Duel % (86.0 vs 71.1) and there’s a massive – and expected – gap for Aerial Duel % (92.3 vs 67.3).

While the numbers aren’t exiting by any means, besides Possession Won, it does show the improvement having a right-back at right-back can bring. Sadly, we can’t offer a comparison to Merlin Röhl as he doesn’t have enough games in the position.

A Short-Term Option

On the face of it, Kenny Tete appears to be a short-term solution to a problem area. He offers a natural right-back for the position, and improvements in several areas on the player who held the position last year.

He also provides Everton with a player who can cover at left-back – with Adam Aznou set for a loan spell in Spain, and at centre-back. That latter point could allow them to sell Jake O’Brien late in the window.

He is also likely to be relatively cheap, with Transfermarkt currently valuing him at around £7m. Fulham are unlikely to demand a fee too much higher than that given they’re signing a new right-back themselves.

But as the stats show, the Dutchman is not a huge improvement by any means. Based on his numbers across the last two seasons, he is very much average to acceptable. He is also 30 years old and turns 31 in October. He is clearly not a long-term solution to the right-back problem.

Instead, he is more than likely a last-minute solution to an issue that needs to be sorted before deadline day. And he’s one that the manager and transfer committee had already agreed upon a year ago. Perhaps that is enough with little time left in the transfer window to look elsewhere.

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If there’s one league David Moyes has consistently trusted in the transfer market, it’s the Championship.

His first spell at Everton was built on smart, high‑value signings from England’s second tier. Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Tim Cahill and Andy Johnson all arrived from the Championship and became core players, proving Moyes could spot Premier League‑ready talent outside the top flight.

That trend continued at West Ham, where Jarrod Bowen stands as the defining example. Signed from Hull, he became one of the Premier League’s most reliable wide forwards and a reminder that the Championship remains a fertile market when the profile is right.

Everton have already dipped into that pool this summer with the signing of Hayden Hackney, voted as the best player in the Championship last season. It would be no surprise to see them return for more if the deals make sense.

So, who should the club be looking at? We’ve taken a deep dive into the data to identify the most suitable candidates.

Everton’s Data Driven Options

For this search, we’re using DataMB’s numbers. Their tool allows us to scan global leagues for players who fit specific positional profiles, returning percentile scores across key metrics.

High percentiles indicate strong performance; low percentiles indicate weakness. As a guide: 80+ is elite, 60+ above average, 40+ average, 20+ below average, and anything lower is poor.

To keep the search focused, we set every positional parameter to 60, meaning we were looking exclusively for players who rate above average across the board.

We began by assessing all available positions. The search returned one goalkeeper - Hull City’s Ivor Pandur - and no centre‑backs or full‑backs, which was the most surprising gap.

The midfield search produced one name, Southampton’s Shea Charles, while the winger search was more fruitful, returning six players.

Four of those came from Ipswich Town, Coventry City and Hull City, which makes them unrealistic targets, so our attention turns to Femi Azeez at Millwall and Southampton’s Léo Scienza.

Finally, the striker search delivered a single candidate: Norwich City’s Jovon Makama.

That leaves us with three viable profiles: Femi Azeez, Léo Scienza and Jovon Makama.

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Azeez and Scienza: Two Creators Worth Watching

We now move to the forwards in our group: Millwall’s Femi Azeez and Southampton’s Léo Scienza. DataMB evaluate wide players across seven categories:

• Progressive Carries

• Dribbles Completed

• NPG

• npxG + xA

• Assists

• Key Passes

• Crosses Completed

Femi Azeez

Azeez ranked elite in six of the seven categories: Dribbles Completed (97.9), NPG (85.4), npxG + xA (93.5), Assists (83.2), Key Passes (98.2) and Crosses Completed (99.7). Only Progressive Carries (70.8) fell below elite, though it still sat comfortably above average.

These numbers profile Azeez as a high‑end attacking midfielder or wide creator with an elite blend of end‑product, chance creation and final‑third execution.

He is a dynamic, high‑impact creator who produces meaningful output in every major attacking category.

Léo Scienza

Scienza also scored elite in five categories: Progressive Carries (99.2), Dribbles Completed (97.1), npxG + xA (93.5), Assists (94.7) and Key Passes (89.0). Only Crosses Completed (75.9) and NPG (69.9) fell below elite level.

His profile mirrors Azeez’s closely. Scienza is a high‑end, high‑impact creator who beats defenders, carries the ball aggressively, creates chances at volume and contributes directly to goals.

How They Compared To Everton’s Forwards Last Season

The next question is whether either winger would represent a clear upgrade on Everton’s existing options.

To assess that, we compared them to Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil, and we also included Jack Grealish. Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George are excluded due to insufficient minutes last season.

Dwight McNeil has been included for illustrative purposes, but has obviously departed. We elected to leave out Brennan Johnson given he was at Crystal Palace last season.

Across the seven DataMB categories, both Championship players score exceptionally well. Femi Azeez ranks top in four categories - Dribbles Completed, NPG, npxG+xA (joint‑first), Key Passes and Crosses Completed. Léo Scienza tops the other two - Progressive Carries and Assists.

The conclusion is obvious: either player would be a smart addition for Everton this summer.

Compared to Everton’s strongest wide options - Ndiaye and Grealish - the numbers show massive improvement. Grealish only competes meaningfully in progressive carries and assists, and even then Azeez and Scienza remain close enough that the gap is not dramatic.

If we apply a 20% Championship penalty to account for the difference between divisions, the picture barely changes. Azeez remains better than Ndiaye in every category and stays competitive with Grealish in most.

Scienza follows the same pattern. In this adjusted scenario, Grealish leads in progressive carries, assists and key passes, but Azeez and Scienza remain close enough that the Premier League‑to‑Championship gap does not meaningfully diminish their profiles

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Makama: The Striker Who Survives the Penalty

Jovon Makama is the sole striker identified by the search. The Norwich City forward impressed last season, scoring 13 goals in 31 games across all competitions, with 10 of those coming in the Championship. DataMB evaluate strikers across seven categories:

• NPG

• npxG

• Goal Conversion %

• Aerial %

• Touches in Box

• xA

• Off Duels Won

Makama scored strongly across all seven. He ranked elite for NPG (90.0), npxG (86.6), Goal Conversion % (85.5) and Off Duels Won (82.3). He also posted above average numbers for Aerial % (70.3) and Touches in Box (71.9), while his xA (62.8) shows he contributed creatively as well.

These numbers profile Makama as a clinical penalty box striker with standout efficiency and strong physical presence.

He consistently generates high-quality chances, finishes them at an elite rate and competes aggressively in duels. His blend of scoring, movement and physicality makes him and all-round final third threat.

How He Compared To Beto And Barry

The chart above shows how Makama stacked up against Everton’s current strikers, Thierno Barry and Beto. It’s a comparison that reflects well on the Norwich forward. He is clearly the most well‑rounded of the three.

Makama finished top in four of the seven categories - NPG, Touches in Box, xA and Offensive Duels Won. He ranks second for npxG, Goal Conversion % and Aerial %. The only area where Barry beats him is aerials, and even then Makama remained competitive.

It’s obviously important to note that Everton’s strikers have been competing in the Premier League, while Makama’s numbers come from the Championship. To account for that difference, we applied a 20% reduction to his metrics - the same adjustment used for the wide players.

Even with that penalty, Makama still scored strongly. He remained top for Touches in Box, xA and Off Duels Won, and second for NPG and npxG. He did drop to third for Goal Conversion % and Aerial %, but he still finished ahead of Barry in five of the seven categories and remained competitive with Beto in the metrics that matter most.

In short, even after adjustment, Makama projects well and certainly as someone who Everton should keep their eye on.

The Championship Shouldn’t Be Ignored

While it remains unlikely that Everton will turn their attention to the Championship right now, this analysis shows that there are genuine options available.

Femi Azeez and Léo Scienza posted such strong numbers last season that it is hard to imagine either remaining in the Championship for long. Both profile as high‑impact creators who would add something to Everton’s forward options, despite the Blues being strong in that area.

Jovon Makama is a striker whose underlying data will attract attention. He may need to score more consistently than he did last year, but the metrics paint a promising picture of a forward with genuine Premier League potential.

Of course, the question always remains whether these players can make the step up. But David Moyes has shown faith in Championship talent before, and he has already done so this summer with Hayden Hackney.

If Everton find themselves needing new options in the final days of the window, the Championship could once again prove a fertile hunting ground.

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Everton rescued a late point at Bournemouth thanks to James Tarkowski’s strike, to ensure it was four points from their first two Premier League games.

The Blues had found themselves behind before half time when Alex Scott fired in from close range.

But it could have been different after a strong opening half in which several world-class saves from Bournemouth keeper Đorđe Petrović, and profligacy from Thierno Barry, denied them a lead.

A difficult second half followed in which Bournemouth were unfortunate not to add to their advantage before Tarkowski took advantage of a defensive mix-up at a corner to fire home a later leveller.

Here’s Five Things We Learned.

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Everton Fans Are United

It may have been a miserable afternoon, rescued by Tarkowski’s late goal, but there was one shining positivity – Everton’s fanbase is united.

The early afternoon reports of Nottingham Forest’s efforts to sign Harrison Armstrong were met with derision across the fanbase. While fans on social media decried it, the fans who’d made the trip to the South Coast also made their feelings clear.

The youngster was treated to his own song by the travelling Toffees in which the club’s ownership were warned that they face potential riots if they sanction a sale. On this front, at least, it appears Everton supporters are united.

Keep The Faith

It is sometimes easy to feel despondent as an Everton fan, and there was plenty of negativity to add to that ahead of this game.

The news of a potential departure for Harrison Armstrong – added to reports around Iliman Ndiaye – and this was set up to be a miserable weekend for Everton. Scott’s goal, and Everton’s failure to convert their chance, only added to a creeping sense of misery.

Indeed, that appeared to creep in to Everton as the chances went and the rain lashed down. But, instead, up stepped Tarkowski with a late equaliser to seal a good point and perhaps remind everyone that keeping the faith can be worthwhile.

Patience Required

After two very positive results against Crystal Palace and Preston, this result was perhaps a reality check for Everton.

Fans may want rapid growth and a push for Europe, but it is clear this squad is short. Plenty of work needs to be done before deadline day, as David Moyes has made clear. This current squad is also made up of young talent, who will regularly blow hot and cold.

The likes of Thierno Barry, Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong need time to develop. There will be bad moments, patience will be required until Everton are at their best.

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Barry Back To Earth

It would be remiss to completely ignore Thierno Barry, given the central role he played in this game.

On another day, the French striker could have had a hattrick. Instead, he was left wondering how he hadn’t added to his early-season goal collection. His performance here was a reminder that he remains a work in progress.

The tough reality is that he should have scored and seemed to know it as his head dropped noticeably as the game progressed. If we’re looking for positives, at least the striker was in the position to get the chances he did. On another day, he may be the hero.

More Refereeing Frustration

Everton fans would be wise to gear themselves up for another year of refereeing frustrations. It seems they still have no friends at PGMOL.

Chris Kavanagh has a long and easily searchable history of refereeing offences against the Toffees. He can add his decision not to give Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a penalty here to that list.

Mistake or not from the Bournemouth defender – the rules make it clear that even mistaken fouls in the box are penalties anyway – Everton should have been awarded a penalty. The fact it wasn’t even reviewed, or Kavanagh sent to the monitor, bordered on outrageous.

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Earlier this week, we took an in‑depth look at the Championship and how Everton could uncover value before deadline day.

That piece stemmed from a wider search across Europe, where several Championship players repeatedly appeared as strong matches for the profiles we were targeting.

For this search, we used DataMB’s tool, which scans global leagues and returns percentile scores across key positional metrics. High percentiles indicate strength; low percentiles highlight weakness.

As a guide: 80+ is elite, 60+ above average, 40+ average, 20+ below average, and anything lower is poor.

To keep the search focused, we set every positional parameter to 60, meaning we were only looking for players who rate above average across the board.

When that global search surfaced multiple Eredivisie players, we decided to dig
deeper.

Three names stood out: Twente’s Bart van Rooij, Feyenoord’s Anis Hadj‑Moussa, and PSV’s Couhaib Driouech. Jordan Bos also appeared, but as a left‑back - a position Everton are not currently prioritising - he was discounted from the final shortlist.

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The Right‑Back Who Keeps Appearing

Given Everton’s pressing need to recruit a right‑back before the window closes, Bart van Rooij may actually be the most intriguing name on this list.

DataMB ranks full‑backs across seven core metrics:

• Crosses Completed

• xA

• Progressive Passes

• Possession Won

• Defensive Duel %

• Aerial Duel %

• Progressive Carries

Across all seven, van Rooij never drops below an above‑average score. He is elite for progressive passes (99.3) and possession won (94.8) and posts a strong defensive duel percentage (76.6).

His remaining metrics - crosses completed (63.3), xA (68.8), aerial duels (65.6) and progressive carries (66.8) - all sit comfortably above average.

Van Rooij’s profile describes a full‑back who delivers elite progression and ball‑winning while remaining above average everywhere else. He is a well‑balanced, ball‑secure defender who blends progression, defensive reliability and steady creative involvement.

Things become particularly interesting when you compare him to Everton’s leading right‑back candidate, Alistair Johnston. We’re using the Celtic defender’s 24/25 numbers here; you can read our full profile of him via the link above.

Van Rooij wins three of the seven metrics - possession won, defensive duels and progressive carries - while Johnston takes the other four: crosses completed, xA, progressive passes and aerial duels. His edge in progressive passes is marginal, just 0.1.

The Feyenoord man profiles as the more complete, defensively secure, ball‑progressing full‑back. Johnston is the more attacking, final‑third creator, but carries a major defensive flaw: his extremely low possession‑won score raises clear concerns about ball‑winning intensity.

Even with a 20% Premier League tax applied, van Rooij still profiles well. He shifts from a high‑end all‑rounder to a steady, above‑average defender both defensively and offensively. If other options prove difficult, he is a name Everton may do well to consider.

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Two Forwards With Numbers You Can’t Ignore

Feyenoord’s Anis Hadj‑Moussa and PSV Eindhoven’s Couhaib Driouech produce numbers that simply cannot be ignored.

Forwards are ranked across seven key categories:

• Progressive Carries

• Dribbles Completed

• NPG

• npxG + xA

• Assists

• Key Passes

• Crosses Completed

Both players score exceptionally well across these metrics.

Hadj‑Moussa posts 90+ in six of the seven categories: progressive carries (91.9), dribbles completed (95.7), NPG (90.3), npxG+xA (97.1), key passes (90.3) and crosses completed (92.9). Only assists (74.3) fall outside the elite bracket.

He profiles as a high‑end, high‑impact wide attacker who delivers elite output across almost every major final‑third metric.

Driouech is even better. He scores elite in every single category. His lowest metric - crosses completed (84.8) - is still comfortably elite, while progressive carries (97.1), dribbles completed (90.0), NPG (87.4), npxG+xA (93.6), assists (98.8) and key passes (90.3) all rank impressively. He profiles as a winger, or forward, who has everything.

Unlike most attackers, who typically show one or two weaker areas, Driouech’s dataset is clean across the board. Every metric sits in the elite range, making him one of the most complete attacking profiles you could hope to find.

And given he was close to Rangers in a deal around €8m, he could be a bargain - or a risk worth taking.

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How They Stack Up Against Everton’s Current Options

The obvious question is how the Eredivisie pair stack up against Everton’s current wide options.

The table above shows the comparison with Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil and Jack Grealish, and across all seven categories the two Dutch‑based attackers dominate. Grealish only breaks into second place for progressive carries and assists.

Even with a 20% Premier League tax applied to both Hadj‑Moussa and Driouech, they still come out on top in most areas. Grealish wins progressive carries (93.8 vs Driouech’s 77.7) and key passes (86.5 vs Hadj‑Moussa’s 72.2), but the broader picture remains the same: both Eredivisie players continue to profile extremely well, even after a significant reduction.

If Everton need wide options this summer - particularly if Ndiaye departs or Grealish does not return - there is no reason either player should not be examined closely. Their numbers, even post‑tax, make a compelling case.

Could Everton Find Value in the Netherlands?

Of course, there is an important caveat with both forwards. These players operate for the two strongest sides in the Eredivisie - PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord - and that inevitably inflates certain metrics.

Playing in dominant, high‑possession teams will always skew attacking output to some degree.

And even for van Rooij, it’s no stretch to say that playing right‑back in the Netherlands is a completely different prospect to doing it in the Premier League. The physicality, tempo, and defensive demands are significantly higher in England.

Swapping the Eredivisie for the Premier League has historically been difficult. Across the last 20 years, only a small handful of players have made that jump successfully - and most of them, such as Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Luis Suárez, went on to become elite‑level performers.

But there have been far more flops than successes, something Everton can personally attest to. That risk must be weighed carefully.

Yet if this analysis is anything to go by, there may well be diamonds waiting to be mined in the final days of the window - provided Everton are willing to look closely, apply the right filters, and accept the calculated gamble that comes with shopping in the Eredivisie.

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Everton still haven’t signed a new starting right-back, despite it being perhaps the pressing issue heading into the summer transfer window.

Over the weeks the Blues have seemingly scrolled through an exhaustive list of potential options in their search for a signing.

From Genoa’s Brooke Norton-Cuffy to Celtic’s Alistair Johnston and Strasbourg’s Guéla Doué – who we’ve argued they should buy regardless of price – there’s been no shortage of links.

Crystal Palace’s Daniel Muñoz is another. But reports have indicated that Everton are hesitant about the Colombian as they view him as more of a right wing-back than a natural right-back.

But does the data support that argument? We dove into the numbers, courtesy of DataMB and Data’Scout, to find out.

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Career So Far

First and foremost, it’s worth mentioning that Daniel Muñoz has clearly shined as a right wing-back for Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner.

Since joining the Eagles in 2024, Transfermarkt state that just four of his appearances have been as a right-back. One of those was last season, while three were in 2023/24. Since moving to the Premier League, he’s managed just 352 minutes as a right-back.

In comparison, 103 appearances have come in ‘right midfield’. So, on face value at least, it’s easy to see why Everton see him as a wing-back more than a full-back.

But that’s just for Crystal Palace in the Premier League. across his career, Muñoz has actually played more as a right-back (186 appearances) than a wing-back/right midfield (109). He’s also managed more goals (23) and assists (22) playing in that role than the latter (14/19).

There’s also his international career to consider. Since making his debut for Colombia in 2021, 49 of Muñoz’s 51 appearances have been as a right-back. So, in reality, there is no reason that the 30-year-old cannot play in that position.

The DataMB Numbers

So what do DataMB’s numbers show? Their numbers are percentile-based metrics normalized per 90 minutes, meaning they show how a player ranks against full-backs in the top seven leagues rather than literal per‑game event counts.

High percentiles indicate strong performance; low percentiles indicate weakness.

Broadly: 80+ is elite, 60+ above average, 40+ average, 20+ below average, and anything lower is poor. Full backs are ranked on seven categories:

• Crosses Completed

• xA (Expected Assists)

• Progressive Passes

• Possession Won

• Defensive Duel (Percentage Won)

• Aerial Duel (Percentage Won)

• Progressive Carries

Across these seven metrics, Daniel Muñoz only managed two elite numbers across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons. That was an 81.3 score for xA last season. And a 94.6 score for Possession Won in 2024/25.

D. Muñoz’s 2024/25 season at Crystal Palace saw him post percentiles of 45.2 in crosses completed, 75.3 in xA, 19.5 in progressive passes, and an elite 94.6 in possession won, alongside 42.4% defensive duel success, 28.8% aerial duel success and 41.9 in progressive carries.

In 2025/26, his profile shifted: crosses completed rose sharply to 72.3, xA climbed to 81.3, while progressive passes dipped to 16.7. Possession won dropped significantly to 56.4, defensive duel success fell to 22.2%, aerial duel success improved to 40.9%, and progressive carries declined to 8.7.

In summary:

• Elite: xA (25/26), Possession Won (24/25)

• Above Average: Crosses (25/26), xA (24/25), Possession Won (25/26)

• Average: Crosses (24/25), Defensive Duels (24/25), Aerial Duels (25/26), Progressive Carries (24/25)

• Below Average: Progressive Passes (24/25), Aerial Duels (24/25), Defensive Duels (25/26)

• Poor: Progressive Passes (25/26), Progressive Carries (25/26)

Strengths And Weaknesses

Looking at this data, it’s easy to see that Daniel Muñoz s a crossing‑first, chance‑creation full‑back whose best work comes from delivering balls into dangerous areas.

He retains some ball‑winning instincts, but his defensive reliability has declined sharply, and his ability to progress play - either through carrying or passing - is now a clear weakness.

The 25/26 season shows a player who became more specialised: better at creating, worse at progressing, weaker in duels, and less involved overall.

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Why The Data Points To A Wing-Back Profile

A look at the numbers shows that Everton may be right in their assessment of the Colombian. His statistical numbers align far more closely with a wing-back than a full-back.

Why? Because they are overwhelmingly final-third, delivery-based and chance creation orientated. On the other side, his weaknesses sit in the areas full-backs typically need to excel in.

While his crossing output is high and his xA reached elite level, his progression metrics collapsed, progressive passes fell from below average to poor and progressive carries dropped from average to outright poor.

Defensively, his duel success rate also declined sharply from average to below average, making him less reliable in 1v1 situations. While he still won possession at an above average rate, the overall pattern is obvious: Muñoz is an attacking‑first wide player who thrives when he can push high, deliver, and create, and struggles when asked to progress play or defend aggressively.

Of course, Muñoz’s numbers are skewed by the role he has played under Oliver Glasner over these two seasons. But if Everton are looking at this data, it is easy to see why they see Muñoz as a wing-back rather than a full-back. The data actively supports that interpretation.

Comparison With Guéla Doué

Daniel Muñoz and Guéla Doué offer almost opposite profiles in the 2025/26 data.

Muñoz is the final‑third creator, posting above‑average crossing (72.3) and elite xA (81.3), but his progression numbers collapse - just 16.7 in progressive passes and a poor 8.7 in progressive carries - while his defensive duel success (22.2) is well below average.

Doué, by contrast, is all‑phase full‑back, combining strong crossing (74.6) with far lower xA (38.7), but dominating the metrics that define modern build‑up and defensive reliability: an elite 91.8 in progressive passes, above‑average 78.6 in possession won, solid 44.1 in defensive duels, and outstanding 81.3 in aerial duels.

Even his progressive carries (30.2) dwarf Muñoz’s output. Where Muñoz profiles as a specialist wing‑back who thrives high and wide but struggles in deeper phases, Doué looks like a complete, multi‑tool full‑back capable of progressing play, defending aggressively, and contributing across all thirds of the pitch.

We’ve already argued Doué is the ideal candidate this summer – and Everton should just pay big for him – and this backs that up.

At a reported £20m, Muñoz gives you elite xA, above average crossing, poor progression, below-average defensive duels and poor carries.

He is a wing-back, which Everton don’t need or want. For a club needing a right-back, that fee would be poor business, You’d be signing a player but still have a hole in your squad.

At a reported £35m fee, Doué gives you elite progressive passes, elite aerial duels, above average possession won, solid defensive duels, good progressive carries and above average crossing.

He profiles as a complete, all-phase right-back who improves build-up, defensive structure, aerial security, ball progression and final-third contribution.

He is also only 23-years-old, meaning there is plenty of room for progression and resale value. He is, clearly, the better deal, even if he is more expensive.

Are Everton Right To Avoid Muñoz?

On the face of it, Everton walking away from a £20m deal for Daniel Muñoz looks like a strange decision.

They need a right‑back urgently, and here is one who is affordable, Premier League‑proven, and fits the profile David Moyes usually trusts.

At 30, he’s also at an age where Premier League sides no longer hesitate; he could easily give Everton two or three solid seasons while they search for a long‑term successor.

But the data tells a very different story. A deeper look shows that Muñoz is not a right‑back at all - he is a wing‑back. His numbers don’t just lean that way; they depend on that role.

The metrics that matter for a full‑back in a back four - progression, defensive duels, ball‑carrying - are either below average or outright poor, while his strengths sit entirely in the final third.

Asking him to play as a traditional right‑back would be a misuse of his profile and a risk Everton don’t need to take.

In that context, Everton’s decision becomes far more understandable. The data backs their assessment: Muñoz is a good player, but not the right one for the role they need.

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Sean breaks down the positives from that result including Thierno Barry banging in the goals. He then discusses another week of Moyes comments angering fans before a preview of the weekend's clash with Bournemouth.

In this episode:

• Preston review - Positives, Barry Man of the Match & Key Players

• David Moyes frustration - The Everton manager's latest disappointing comment

• Bournemouth preview

• Everton View Articles summary

• & More!

Don't forget to subscribe to The Everton View on Substack for match analysis, data deep dives, opinion articles and various long-form pieces.

Everton progressed to the third round of the Carabao Cup with a comfortable 1-0 win over Preston North End.

The Toffees fielded a strong starting line-up for the trip to Deepdale and that showed as they dominated the opening half an hour, culminating in Thierno Barry’s opener in the 25^th minute.

Barry then added a second with a reaction finish in the 58^th before bagging his first hattrick for the Bluess with a tap-in in the 70^th minute.

He then teed up Brennan Johnson for his first Everton goal, and their fourth of the evening, less than two minutes later in a comfortable victory.

Here’s Five Things We Learned.

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Contradictory Moyes

David Moyes’ comments before this game had led to plenty of criticism, with Everton fans very much perceiving him as being willing to sacrifice the cups to ensure Premier League safety.

But the Everton manager didn’t follow that mantra with his starting 11. Only Michael Keane, James Garner and Tyler Dibling weren’t from his starting 11 against Crystal Palace. And given one of those is Everton’s best midfielder, it is hardly a case of giving a squad option his chance.

It was a surprising line-up, to say the least, and hinted that Moyes perhaps values the cups more than he’s letting on. Or, at the very least, that he’s learned his lesson from the horror show at Wolves a year ago.

Departures Coming

Perhaps two of the biggest surprises in the starting XI were the players not included; James O’Brien and Beto.

Reports this week have indicated that the defender wants to move on before deadline day. His absence here hinted that is on the cards. It certainly felt like Everton decided not to take any risks. The same can be said of Beto.

The cup competitions have been the striker’s domain in recent years but with interested clubs back in Italy, Everton opted for Thierno Barry once again. It would not be surprising to see rumours about both players pick up in the coming days.

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Barry Bonus

It used to be that you would only judge a striker on goals. If we revive that old system, then Thierno Barry is scoring highly early on.

He started the season with a goal against Crystal Palace and bagged his first hattrick in a Blue shirt here with a superb performance that also saw him assist Brennan Johnson’s first Everton goal as well.

The biggest positive for the striker is that, like against Crystal Palace, all three goals here were proper striker’s goals inside the box. The striker has promised Barry 2.0 and he’s delivering.

Garner Gains

If it was surprising to see James Garner get minutes from the substitute bench against Crystal Palace, it was even more surprising to see him starting here.

Garner had been expected to miss the early weeks of the season after surgery in the summer but instead he appears to be well ahead of schedule.

For Moyes to start him here was a very positive sign, with the Everton manager not one to risk players unnecessarily. If Everton can get Garner fit and firing, it will be an early boost at the beginning of the campaign.

Dibling Dilemma

After a solid and promising pre-season Tyler Dibling was perhaps unfortunate to miss out on minutes against Crystal Palace.

He was instead given his chance to impress from the outset here, but it was a mixed evening from the 20-year-old. For most of this game, it felt like he had reverted to the unsure, unconfident player that disappointed last season.

Unlike Tyrique George, the former Southampton man appears to be one Everton need to be patient with. He’ll have to show more to force his way up the pecking order based on his showing here.

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Everton fans have been told before not to fall in love with a loan player. It’s a fool’s game that usually ends in heartbreak. But with Jack Grealish, they barely had a choice. From day one, it felt like a love affair waiting to happen.

Grealish didn’t just look the part in Royal Blue; he slotted in as if he’d been built for Everton. His performances only reinforced that impression, and at times it even seemed like he’d fallen back in love with football.

He was smiling again, gliding past defenders, and making Everton fans believe a brighter season could be built around him. Being the biggest fish in a smaller pond, just as he was at Aston Villa, clearly suited him. It’s the kind of environment he thrives in.

But even amid the optimism, one question lingered: what happens in the summer? Now that question sits front and centre. The loan is completed, but Everton haven’t said goodbye, not yet. Grealish, meanwhile, continues to post on social media as if he’s an Everton player.

Early reports suggested Everton wanted another loan deal. If it becomes a permanent move, they won’t be offering much.

In Manchester, the word is that Enzo Maresca wants to assess Grealish himself before any decision is made. Some even believe Maresca could be the ideal coach to revive Grealish’s City career. Talks have, reportedly, been held about bringing Grealish back.

Now, with less than a week of the window left, what do Everton do? Should they follow their heart, or their head?

The Heart Says Yes

If Everton follow their heart, the answer is obvious: sign Grealish immediately. He was Everton’s undisputed star last season, a dramatic upgrade on every other wide option.

He also eased the burden on Iliman Ndiaye. His presence on the left freed the Senegal international to play with more freedom on the right. The pair were also building a growing relationship that was only to Everton’s benefit.

Had Grealish not been injured late in the season, Everton might well be playing European football. His absence was sorely felt when other options needed to step up in the final weeks.

There’s also the commercial impact: Grealish sells shirts, attracts new fans, and puts Everton firmly on the radar. He remains a big name, and his impact, on the pitch and off it, is tangible.

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What the Numbers Really Show

DataMB’s numbers show just how good Grealish still is.

All winger metrics are percentile‑based and normalized per 90 minutes. They don’t represent literal match counts; instead, they show how a player ranks against wingers in the top seven leagues. High percentiles indicate strong performance in that area; low percentiles show relative weakness.

The data confirms Grealish remains an elite ball‑progressor. He ranked in the 93.8th percentile for progressive carries, showing elite ability to move the team up the pitch through running.

He also sat in the 84.1st percentile for successful dribbles, underlining his strength in 1v1 situations and his reliability in retaining possession under pressure.

But where he truly excelled was in creation. He ranked in the 88.8th percentile for assists and the 86.5th percentile for key passes, making him a productive final‑third playmaker.

Compared to Everton’s other wide options last season, Grealish operated on a completely different level. His 93.8th‑percentile progressive carries and 84.1st‑percentile dribbling put him miles ahead of Iliman Ndiaye, who sat in the 70.8 and 69.4 percentiles, and light‑years beyond Dwight McNeil, who ranked in the 13.3 and 17.1 percentiles.

His creative output also far outshone his Everton teammates. While Grealish posted 88.8th‑percentile assists and 86.5th‑percentile key passes, Ndiaye dropped to 37.5 and 53, and McNeil collapsed entirely to 24.2 and 5.9. Even in crossing, McNeil’s only real strength, Grealish still matched him with a 62.2nd‑percentile score. Grealish wasn’t just better; he was significantly superior.

Premier League Comparison

Even against the Premier League’s elite, he held his own. His 93.8th‑percentile progressive carries put him right alongside Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (83.1) and only just behind Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku, who sits at the absolute top of the dataset (100th percentile).

In dribbling, Grealish was again strong, ranking in the 84.1st percentile, which keeps him competitive with Saka (94.1) and not far off Doku’s perfect score (100.0). He admittedly fell away when it came to end‑product: his 53rd‑percentile npxG+xA is solid but nowhere near Saka’s elite 95.7 or Doku’s 64.6.

Yet in pure creation, Grealish remained excellent. His 88.8th‑percentile assists and 86.5th‑percentile key passes show he can match the final‑ball quality of both Saka (88.8, 97.1) and Doku (82.7, 98.6).

Grealish may not be as explosive as the Premier League’s very best, but in progression and chance creation he still performs at a genuinely high level. In short, Grealish is:

• An elite ball‑progressor; one of the best carriers in the dataset

• A strong 1v1 winger who reliably beats defenders

• A high‑level creator; one of Everton’s best final‑third playmakers

• A consistent chance‑creator who regularly supplies shooting opportunities

The Fee, the Wages, the Reality

If we’re discussing numbers on the pitch, we also have to confront the numbers off it. There’s no avoiding the reality: Grealish is expensive.

First and foremost, any transfer fee would be sizeable. Manchester City’s reserves may be vast, but they are unlikely to sanction a cheap deal for a player who once cost them £100m. Even the fact that Grealish’s deal at the Etihad expires next summer is unlikely to change that stance.

The loan deal last summer included a £50m option to buy. Even half of that would take a sizeable chunk from Everton’s remaining budget. Transfermarkt currently value him at £20m.

Everton have already succeeded in talking clubs down this summer with Middlesbrough and Chelsea, but doing so with Manchester City would be a far tougher task.

As would convincing them to sanction a new loan deal. It seems unlikely that would be signed off without Grealish either signing a new deal at the Etihad or Everton agreeing to a mandatory clause for next summer. At that point, Grealish will be 31 years old and turning 32 at the start of the season.

Everton also have to consider what they’ve already spent. Last season’s loan involved an initial £12m outlay. Then there was the wages. Reports on that front varied. Some had Everton paying around £90,000 a week of his £300,000 a week wages. Others had it at £225,000 a week.

At the lower 90k figure, that means an outlay of around £4.68m last season. The 225k figure has them spending £11.7m in wages alone. That means in the lower wage scenario, Everton have already spent £16.68m. In the higher wage scenario Everton have spent £23.7m.

So, paying £20m, which seems a fair figure for a player of Grealish’s talent, becomes a very different prospect. Even at the lower end, they will have spent £36m for a player in the final year of his deal and valued at considerably less.

Even another loan deal, which seems unlikely given his contract at Manchester City expires in a year, would be costly.

Then there’s the wages for the future. Everton’s wage structure would not allow a £300k a week player. Even half of that would be a push. Estimates from Capology currently have Jordan Pickford as Everton’s highest earner at £150,000 per week.

Do Everton want to risk signing a post‑30 player to club‑high wages? That feels like the kind of deal which led to issues in the past. Some would argue the money would be better spent across the squad, or on younger players like Tyrique George who can be developed and potentially sold for a significant fee in future.

Big Fee Comparison

But the numbers on the pitch justify the spend. That becomes clear when you compare Grealish directly to Morgan Rogers and Crysencio Summerville. Rogers has joine Chelsea for £116m. Summerville has moved to Al‑Hilal for a potenital £75m.

Across last season’s data, Grealish outperformed both in progressive carries, dribbles completed, assists, key passes and crosses. He lagged behind them in goal threat, with Rogers well clear and Summerville offering more end product, but the underlying picture is unmistakable.

Even inside an Everton attack that ranked among the Premier League’s weakest, Grealish remained an elite creator. That profile should command a premium, especially when set against the fees currently being paid for attackers with less creative output.

There are caveats. Age is one, Summerville and Rogers are considerably younger. And Everton still need to see how Grealish recovers from the foot injury he suffered at the end of last season. But there is no denying, he remains an elite level player.

The Unseen Cost

But then there is also the unseen cost of another deal. Everton have strenghtened well in wide areas this summer.

Tyrique George has been signed permanently, while Brennan Johnson has replaced Dwight McNeil. Throw in Tyler Dibling, who looked revived across pre-season, and it means David Moyes has four, very good options across the two positions.

Do they need Grealish, when the money to acquire him could be spent elsewhere on the squad? Perhaps to help fund a big, last minute move for someone like Guéla Doué?

Then there’s the impact his arrival has on someone like George. He has had a very impressive pre-season after signing permanently from Chelsea. He was also in man of the match form in the win over Crystal Palace.

Would he be happy to spend another season playing behind Grealish with limited minutes? Do Everton want to risk George developing rapidly courtesy of the game time he could enjoy in Grealish’s absence?

Ask fans at this point, following the youngster’s impressive performance against Crystal Palace, and they would argue that they shouldn’t.

Risk vs Reward: Everton’s Call

That’s the dilemma the Blues face: the risk of relapse or diminished returns versus the reward of a player who, when fit, still competes at a level comparable to footballers commanding £60m and £116m fees.

It’s why Everton find themselves in a difficult position when it comes to signing Jack Grealish again.

If they follow their heart, the answer is obvious: do the deal and bring him back. And they would be backed by the numbers too. They show both the level player he still is and the impact he has on Everton’s play. There’s simply nobody else like him in the Everton squad.

Finding another player of that level, at a price Everton can afford, would be a difficult task. Never mind finding one who would want to join Everton in their current guise.

But as has so often been the case with Everton in recent years, the finances complicate everything. It will be an expensive move, now and in the future.

Can Everton afford the transfer fee and wages involved after their outlay already? Can they afford the kind of outlay required when the squad needs money spent elsewhere in the final days of the window? Can they risk the development of George, just to get a big name back in?

They’re all very difficult questions to answer, and in turn make the question of signign Jack Grealish again even more tricky, even if Everton fans might not think so.

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I think it’s fair to say few Everton fans saw that win over Crystal Palace coming. After a week of interviews and Moyes putting everyone on a downer, we’d all anticipated the worst.

Instead, Everton produced a composed and professional victory from the Blues – their first opening day win since 2021 – and the perfect start to the new season.

By the end of the game, it felt like a comfortable home win for the Toffees. But most walking away from the Hill Dickinson Stadium will have known things could have been very different.

A better team than Crystal Palace certainly would have taken advantage. Only a world-class save from Jordan Pickford, Jean Philippe-Mateta missing a sitter and some last-minute defending stopped it being ugly for Everton.

Instead, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall turned the game on it’s head with as superb solo goal.

Then Moyes made some adept, smart changes at the break – the kind of changes he’s often accused of not being capable of making - to ensure Everton secured all three points.

Below, I’ve gone through the first half and the second half to demonstrate the clear changes in style and system that saw Everton to victory.

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First-Half Problems

This is our first example, less than two minutes into the game. Merlin Röhl has tucked inside as Everton’s defence has shifted over to the ball side.

Subsequently, the Crystal Palace wide man is left in acres of space, due to Iliman Ndiaye’s failure to track back and help the German out.

This is the first big chance of the game, eventually culminating in Jean-Philippe Mateta firing over the bar from close range. Nketiah ends up in behind after Tarkowski mistimes his header.

As the Crystal Palace forward lines up a ball across to Mateta, look how far behind the play Röhl now is. It’s not his fault – Mykolenko is level on the opposite side so it’s where he’s supposed to be - but it’s obviously a problem.

A minute and a half later and Everton are again exposed on their right-hand side. Now, Röhl has tucked inside for Tarkowski, who is out of position.

Look at the space that Crystal Palace’s wide player has to exploit. You can also see Ndiaye, higher up the pitch, hasn’t tracked back to cover.

This was another close call for the Blues. Röhl has covered Everton’s backline as they’re exposed.

In this instance he blocks the cross and the danger passes. But look at the space for Tyrick Mitchell in the box. If the cross makes it across, it’s a simple tap in.

There was also an issue with the midfield two, Hayden Hackney and Harrison Armstrong. Both were excellent going forwards and progressing Everton up the pitch, but they didn’t quite have the defensive side nailed down.

In this instance, Armstrong loses out to Adam Wharton in a 1v1, leaving the Crystal Palace midfielder with acres of space in midfield. Hackney is miles out of position, covering unnecessarily for Mykolenko and leaving the midfield empty.

Wharton, who spent most of the opening 20 minutes pinging balls around with glee, has the freedom of the midfield to do as he pleases. Fortunately for Everton, their defensive shape is good as Ndiaye has tracked back to cover.

Another two examples before half time. In this, we can see Röhl has pushed forward, playing more like a wing-back than a full-back.

The rest of Everton’s defence are in line, but he’s not made the necessary recovery run to be where he should be.

Everton’s midfield isn’t as tight as Moyes would probably prefer it to be either. Wharton again has time and space to pick a pass should he please.

Here’s the last example in the 39^th minute. Röhl has again tucked inside and Ndiaye has not come back to cover.

Röhl is aware of the Crystal Palace man behind him, but he’s too far over, perhaps protecting Tarkowski. But it leaves a big open space, particularly as Ndiaye has not come back.

Everton then go on to break the deadlock through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall just before the break. But it is evident when Everton come out after half-time, that Moyes had made adjustments to ensure there’s no repeat of the first-half.

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Second-Half Changes

Here’s a clear example. Tarkowski has pushed forward to win the header, but Röhl has now retreated to cover.

There is no danger of a Palace breakaway on his side should Everton lose the ball in midfield.

Three minutes later Crystal Palace have possession but Everton are locking them down on the left-hand side.

Röhl and Ndiaye are close together and backed up by Harrison Armstrong in midfield as well.

Hayden Hackney, meanwhile, is slightly deeper covering his man while Dewsbury-Hall is level with Armstrong.

George is with the wing-back, while Mykolenko has tucked inside to effectively make a back three. Thierno Barry is the only player in front of the ball.

This image demonstrates the changes clearly. Ndiaye has dropped so deep he’s now part of a back five, with Röhl tucking in.

George, on the opposite side, also has the overlapping run well covered with Mykolenko inside the width of the penalty area.

Look how close together Everton’s defensive unit is. They’re all within touching distance, mostly in a straight line. In fact, they’re effectively playing in the width of the six yard box (12 yards), on the edge of the box.

The midfield three is also tight, forming a neat triangle, with Dewsbury-Hall also dropping back. Everton have every outfield player behind the ball.

It’s defensive, but with a two-goal lead, Everton don’t need to be adventurous. It’s extremely difficult for Crystal Palace to find a way through.

Here’s a very similar structure 15 minutes later. Everton are in a near perfect straight defensive line.

Their midfield three is in a neat triangle once again, with Hackney as the deeper sitting midfielder.

Ndiaye and George are offering defensive support in front of the ball. Barry is the only player not defending. Wharton is forced to go sideways, rather than forward. The freedom he had in the first half, particularly the first 20 minutes, has gone.

This is the last example, from the 84^th minute. We can again see Everton’s defensive line in unison, as well as the central midfield three.

Röhl is now closer to his man, while Brennan Johnson is offering defensive support as well. Again, Everton are in control of the situation.

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Moyes Deserves Credit

First-game win optimism may be taking over, but the second half was perhaps one of the most complete Everton have managed in a while.

The result could have been very different had Crystal Palace taken their chances. Nobody can argue against that. Everton could have very easily been 3-0 down inside the first 30 minutes.

But they weren’t, and instead Dewsbury-Hall took the game by the scruff of the neck. Once he scored, Everton never looked back.

They controlled the rest of the game from that point and looked like a well-balanced attacking and defensive unit.

Moyes deserves credit for this. It was clear that he and his team had looked in the first half and knew things needed to changing.

They did that, and effectively locked Crystal Palace out of the game. The visitors still had chances, but they were half chances at best. There was no repeat of the open spaces and clear-cut opportunities detailed above.

The Everton manager deserves credit for identifying the problem, fixing it during the break and ensuring Everton were comfortable from that point onwards.

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Somehow, with just a tiny sectiom of the transfer window remaining, Everton haven’t signed a new right-back.

Heading into the summer transfer window, it was the one position Everton desperately needed to strengthen. Instead, the issue remains unresolved.

Over the weeks Everton appear to have moved through an exhaustive list of options around Europe. From Brooke Norton-Cuffy, to Alistair Johnston and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the Blues appeared to have looked in every nook and cranny.

None of those names have moved beyond the interest phase. Angus Kinnear this week has acknowledged that the hunt for a signing is ongoing.

"I don't think we are in a bad position on that. The players we thought we had the option of are still available for us...,” he told BBC Sport’s Giulia Bould in one of several interviews released last week.

It hints that the man they really want, is still available. Who that is, remains to be seen.

If Everton fans had their way, there’s one name they’d already be moving for: Strasbourg’s Guéla Doué. The 23‑year‑old has earned admirers across Europe with his performances in Ligue 1 and for the Ivory Coast at the World Cup.

The problem is that Doué may be out of Everton’s reach. Transfermarkt value him at €20m, but reports have indicated a valuation around £35m. It has been stated, on several occasions, this may be too much.

But across all the analysis we’ve done, one conclusion keeps emerging: Doué is already outstanding and a potential star of the future. So the question becomes: should Everton spend big to try and get him?

What The Numbers Say

Put simply, Guéla Doué would offer an immediate upgrade across every metric, especially in a direct comparison with Jake O’Brien.

Starting with DataMB, the contrast is immediate. Doué grades far higher in every possession and progression metric: elite in progressive passes (92nd percentile), strong in possession regains (79th), and far more productive with his crossing.

O’Brien, by contrast, is almost the inverse. He is outstanding in defensive duels (86% won) and aerials (96% won), but offers very little in ball progression or creative involvement — his highest percentile in those areas is just 20.7 for crosses completed. He is, fundamentally, a centre‑back shoehorned into right‑back.

Data’Scout reinforces what DataMB already shows: Doué is a high‑involvement, high‑progression full‑back, while O’Brien is a low‑involvement, duel‑heavy defender.

Doué ranks elite (80+) for passes received and progressive passes, and is just shy of that level for interceptions, successful crosses and even goals. He sits above the 50th percentile in every other metric except progressive runs. The comparison to O’Brien is stark.

O’Brien only comes out on top in aerial duels - 99th percentile to Doué’s 95th - and defensive duels won, 81% compared to 42%.

The numbers make the conclusion unavoidable: Everton need more from their right‑back, and Doué offers that in abundance. Spending big would make sense. The Blues would receive an immediate upgrade on their current option, a player with qualities O’Brien simply does not possess. That alone justifies the spend.

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The Premier League Comparison

If Everton needed further convincing, comparing Doué to some of the Premier League’s best right‑backs only strengthens the point.

For this comparison, we’ve used Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber, Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes and Tottenham’s Pedro Porro.

Against those three profiles, Doué holds his own impressively. He’s miles ahead of Timber in crossing and progression, close to Porro in progressive passing, and not far off Nunes in possession regains.

He does not rank top in any category, but comes second for crosses completed, xA, progressive passes and possession won. He is third for defensive duel percentage, aerial duel percentage and progressive carries. He is consistently competitive with the Premier League’s best across the board.

The Deeper Data

The Data’Scout numbers provide a much richer, nuanced picture of where Doué sits in a Premier League context. In short, he is already operating at a level comparable to the best in the league.

He is outstanding for possession, ranking in the 84^th percentile for passes received, ahead of Timber and Porro but behind Nunes. His progressive passing is second only to Porro, and it’s the sae for crossing as well. Even in defensive metrics, he remains competitive.

He tops the four for aerial duels won, and is just shy of elite status for interceptions in the 79^th percentile, ahead of Timber and close to Porro. The aerial numbers would be of particular interest to David Moyes, who is known to value Jake O’Brien’s height and physicality at right-back.

What this comparison shows is balance, something that has been evident across all our analysis of the Strasbourg defender so far. He scores strongly across every band of the profile.

He’s not the best, yet, but the numbers are impressive for a player of his age. He’s a right-back who can progress the ball, defend aerially, contribute creatively and is comfortable in possession.

Playerprint’s Profile

Playerprint’s Player DNA Profile offers us a clear look at what type of player the Strasbourg full-back is.

Their scores rate 80+ as elite, 60+ as above average, 40+ as average, 20+ as below average and anything below 20 as poor. Doué’s numbers make for very good reading indeed.

He doesn’t score elite in any category, but he is above average for Progression (65.3), Carrying (74.2), Aerial (73.1), Defending (63.2) and Final Third (61.2).

Passing (47.7), Shooting (42.8), Hold‑Up (50.8) and Tempo (50.7) all sit in the average range. Decision‑making (30.3) is below average, while Recovery (14.7) is firmly poor.

Doué profiles as a modern, athletic, progressive full‑back whose game is built far more on physicality and ball‑carrying than on refined technical output.

Overall, the numbers suggest a direct, energetic, defensively reliable full‑back who excels in carrying, duels and progression, but isn’t a technical playmaker or an elite final‑third contributor.

But a look at Jake O’Brien using the same numbers highlights the obvious improvements again. O’Brien’s numbers paint the picture of a duel‑heavy, aerially dominant, low‑progression full‑back — with elite Aerial output (100.0) and strong Recovery (66.4), but very limited impact in the areas modern full‑backs increasingly need.

His Progression (31.5), Carrying (6.5), Passing (40.6), Tempo (37.3) and Decision‑making (18.3) all sit at the bottom end of the spectrum, while his Final Third involvement (68.8) is more about arriving high than creating danger.

Doué progresses the ball, carries under pressure, makes cleaner decisions, contributes more reliably in advanced areas, and wins possession rather than just competing in duels. In short, you move from a physically imposing but limited defender to a modern, progressive, technically capable full‑back — with aerials as the only area where O’Brien holds a clear advantage.

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Should Everton Spend Big on Guéla Doué?

Everything in the data shows that the question isn’t should Everton spend big on Doué, it is why wouldn’t they?

Everything in the data points, across two websites, point in the same direction. Doué is the profile Everton have been missing, the numbers justify paying a premium to get him.

He is a vast improvement on Jake O’Brien – that is not to disparage his efforts – but he’s already competitive when it comes to Premier League benchmarks. In fact, he’s not just competitive in the latter, he’s consistently second or third in key metrics.

Even allowing for the inevitable adjustment that comes with stepping up from Ligue 1 to the Premier League, Doué’s underlying profile remains strong enough that the projected drop‑off doesn’t materially change the upgrade he represents over O’Brien.

Doué would be the kind of expensive signing who would pay off twice. He’s not only an immediate improvement, but he’s young enough, balanced enough and consistent enough that his profile should only strengthen as he develops.

Everton would not be buying a finished product by any means, but they would be getting a player who is good enough for the Premier League already and still has headroom to grow into an elite full-back, and quickly.

£30-40m is a sizeable fee, and a sizeable chunk of Everton’s remaining budget, but on this occasion, it would be spending that is more than justified.

The alternative is another season of improvisation in a position that demands a proper solution. For Everton, that should make Doué a gamble worth taking.

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• The game overall and Everton's performance

• Key players and big moments

• Man of the Match vote

• And more...

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Everton opened their Premier League campaign with a win for the first time since 2021, beating Crystal Palace 2-0.

The hosts were fortunate to reach half-time level. Jordan Pickford produced an outstanding save to deny Eddie Nketiah, while Jean-Philippe Mateta missed from point-blank range.

Palace paid for those misses minutes before the break. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struck a fine opener and settle any nerves at the Hill Dickinson stadium

Hayden Hackney and Iliman Ndiaye then combined to set up Thierno Barry’s close-range header early in the second half and see Everton on their way to all three points.

Here’s Five Things We Learned.

An Impressive Debut

Hayden Hackney showed no sign that he will need time to adjust to the Premier League.

Starting alongside Harrison Armstrong, the summer signing was composed in possession, energetic without the ball and willing to compete. This was an assured all-action display from last season’s Championship Player of the Year.

His quick thinking also helped create Barry’s goal, capping an excellent debut. Moyes may think he needs time, but the midfielder doesn’t look like he does.

Dewsbury-Hall Steps Up

With Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gana Gueye gone, Everton need new leaders. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall looks ready to fill the void.

The former Chelsea midfielder, one of Everton’s strongest additions last summer, remains central to David Moyes’s side.

His opener was both technically superb and timely, arriving after a difficult first half. It was a moment of quality and authority. Dewsbury-Hall is not shying away from being a leader in this team.

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Attack Offers Encouragement

Everton may not yet have signed Jack Grealish, but their current attacking options are showing plenty of promise.

Barry, Ndiaye and Tyrique George linked effectively throughout, stretched Palace’s defence and produced several purposeful moves. Ndiaye, in particular, does not look like a player who has his mind on a transfer before deadline day.

Grealish would add proven quality -that’s undeniable - but George’s appears determined to prove that he’s ready to be first-choice.

Barry Shows Progress

Thierno Barry began the season by answering his critics in the most direct way: with a goal.

The striker still has room to develop, but he carried his sharp pre-season form into this game and linked well with Ndiaye, George, Dewsbury-Hall and Armstrong.

His close-range header from Ndiaye’s delivery was a classic centre-forward’s finish as well. The striker has stated publicly he wants more this season – and perhaps to prove his detractors wrong. This was an ideal way to do both.

Pickford Remains Decisive

Everton supporters need no reminder of Jordan Pickford’s quality. They’ve seen what he has to offer on more occasions than they can count.

His save from Nketiah was another emphatic demonstration of his abilities and should rank among the season’s best stops regardless of what happens for the rest of the campaign.

It was even more impressive given his limited pre-season minutes after England’s World Cup campaign. A little rustiness might have been expected, but Everton’s goalkeeper didn’t show an ounce of it.

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Sean breaks down why David Moyes sounded frustrated, why Angus Kinnear sounded optimistic, and what their contrasting messages really tell us about where the club stands with two weeks left in the transfer window.

In this episode:

• Moyes’ concerns and why he thinks Everton aren’t ready

• Kinnear’s optimism and what he sees in the squad

• The right‑back issue - the hinge point of the whole debate

• The gap to Europe and why both men might be right

• Crystal Palace preview - what the opener will reveal

Subscribe to The Everton View — where all the detailed Everton writing lives.

Somehow, the 2026/27 Premier League season is only days away. After a summer of World Cup football, transfer business and a compressed calendar, it’s almost crept up unnoticed.

It also seems to have caught Everton off guard. At least, that’s how it feels after David Moyes and Angus Kinnear both emerged from the shadows over the last 48 hours.

Following a summer of silence from the Everton manager and CEO, both have now gone public with their views ahead of Saturday’s opener against Crystal Palace.

The problem? Their assessments don’t match.

Moyes insists Everton still need significant work in the window and are “far off” where they want to be. Kinnear, meanwhile, has taken a far more optimistic stance — arguing the club are happy with their business, satisfied with the squad, and not behind schedule.

So who is right? Both, because they are judging Everton against different standards. Kinnear sees a squad improved enough to build on last season; Moyes sees one still short of the level normally required for Europe. That distinction, rather than a clash between the two men, is the real argument.

Moyes Is Right About Crystal Palace Readiness

Moyes is right about the immediate problem: Everton are not ready for the opening weeks in the shape he envisaged. The squad may ultimately be strong enough, but injuries and the unresolved right-back position leave his starting XI well short of the plan.

The obvious problem is the right-back spot. Quite how Everton have gotten to this point without a new, starting right-back signed is anyone’s guess. It should have been the number one target, regardless of the price.

Instead, the club appear to have cycled through an exhaustive list of options that, strangely, keeps getting added to. Fulham’s Timothy Castagne is the latest to be added to that list.

The search appears to have shifted between defensive specialists, attacking wing-backs and more balanced options. That variety may reflect changing availability or price, but it also raises a legitimate question about whether Everton established a clear profile early enough.

Everton have had more than a year to identify and recruit a starting right-back. With the season beginning, that player should already be integrated and ready to face Crystal Palace.

Everton may be waiting for prices to fall or for a preferred target to become available. That strategy could still pay off, but it leaves the squad compromised for the opening fixture.

Whatever happens before the window closes, failing to secure a starting right-back before the opening game is a recruitment failure. Röhl has impressed in pre-season, but a club with European ambitions should not begin the campaign by converting a central midfielder who has never played the position; relying on a centre-back there would be no more convincing. That compromise explains Moyes’s caution.

Midfield Issues

There are further problems in central midfield. In an ideal world, James Garner would be fit, sharp and carrying several pre‑season games into August. Instead, he’s recovering from surgery and still building fitness.

Garner is Everton’s most complete established midfielder and central to how Moyes wants the side to play. His absence from the opening weeks weakens the team’s control and makes a fast start more difficult.

The same applies to Christian Nørgaard. Everton would have wanted him ready to offer defensively stability in midfield. Instead, he’s nursing a minor issue and has yet to play. The chances of him featuring in the first few weeks are slim.

That leaves Everton likely to start against Crystal Palace with Hayden Hackney and Harrison Armstrong in midfield. Both have impressed in pre-season, but Hackney is adapting from the Championship and Armstrong has limited experience at this level, making the partnership a significant opening-day test.

On that alone, it’s easy to see why Moyes believes Everton are far off it. He will face Crystal Palace without a natural right‑back - unless Nathan Patterson is suddenly trusted - and with his third‑ and fourth‑choice central midfielders. It’s no surprise he wants more business done.

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Kinnear Is Right About The Squad’s Progress

Kinnear is also right about the broader direction. Everton remain short in key areas, but the squad has been upgraded and several existing players now look capable of larger roles. His optimism rests on progress across the summer, not a claim that the work is complete.

Everton’s work so far has been genuinely strong. Hayden Hackney was the Championship Player of the Season and looks ready to step up. He’s already shown his quality in pre‑season, and Moyes has a long track record of turning Championship talent into Premier League‑ready players.

Once fit, Christian Nørgaard will add experience, leadership and defensive discipline to a younger squad. He also gives Moyes a specialist holding midfielder, a profile Everton have lacked.

Tyrique George is another encouraging addition. He is young, developing and has already shown in pre-season why Everton moved for him, giving Moyes another direct option in wide areas.

Swapping Dwight McNeil for Brennan Johnson could also prove to be excellent business. Everton have moved out a player who didn’t fit and replaced him with one who offers evolution. Johnson nearly showed his value against Lille - pace in behind, back‑post finishing - two qualities Everton have lacked badly.

Squad Already Strong

Tyler Dibling also deserves mention. After a difficult first year on Merseyside, he now looks ready to contribute rather than leave on loan. Moyes has given him meaningful pre-season minutes, and Dibling has responded with sharper, more determined performances that make him a genuine first-team option.

Everton may have lost Jack Grealish for now, but they have options, the kind that were missing last season. That alone is a major positive. And the possibility of Grealish returning later in the window remains another potential boost.

A word for Merlin Röhl, too. He would have been well within his rights to question what was happening this summer. He has never played right‑back in his professional career. Instead, he treated it like a challenge. Kinnear’s comments suggest he - and Moyes - have been pleasantly surprised by how well he’s adapted.

Röhl now looks like a serious squad option after spending much of last season on the fringes. He feels like a classic Moyes player: hard‑working, good attitude, versatile, and quietly talented.

Thierno Barry remains a work in progress, but he has looked sharper throughout pre-season and appears determined to improve on last year. At 23, there is still considerable scope for development.

Look across the squad and right‑back is the only area that causes real concern. With Jarrad Branthwaite back, Everton have their best central defender available. Even Adam Aznou - forgotten last season - looks ready to challenge Vitaliy Mykolenko.

When the injured midfielders return, Everton should have greater depth through the centre, while competition on the wings is already stronger than last season. Those gains justify Kinnear’s optimism. They do not remove the need for a starting right-back or guarantee that the squad can sustain a European challenge, but they are cause for optimism nonetheless.

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Are Everton Ready for Europe?

The disagreement becomes clearer when Everton’s European target is defined. Against last season’s unusually low qualifying threshold, the squad looks close. Against the points totals normally required over a ten-year period, Moyes’s demand for further improvement is far easier to justify.

Everton finished four points short of a Europa Conference League place last season and five short of the Europa League, but that narrow margin is misleading.

Last season’s qualifying threshold was unusually low; over the past ten years, fifth place has averaged around 67 points and sixth roughly 63. The more meaningful test is whether Everton can add 12 to 15 points and push into the 60s.

Judged against that ten-year benchmark rather than last season’s anomaly, Moyes’s dissatisfaction is understandable. The unresolved right-back position and reduced midfield options leave Everton short of the depth normally associated with a sustained European challenge.

Moyes’s pessimism is therefore less about denying progress than questioning whether it is sufficient.

Different Standards, Same Unfinished Job

The interviews can be framed as Moyes versus Kinnear, but their underlying message is similar: Everton have improved, but more work remains necessary before the window closes.

Moyes is judging the squad against the demands of the opening weeks and the club’s European ambition, while Kinnear is judging the progress made across the summer. Their tones differ, but their assessments are not mutually exclusive.

Both men are right because they are answering different questions. Kinnear is assessing whether Everton have improved enough to move forward; Moyes is judging whether they are equipped to reach the club’s European target.

The squad is stronger, but the unresolved right-back position, midfield injuries and the gap to a typical European points total mean the rebuild is not complete.

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Having watched all of Everton’s pre‑season games this summer - and analysed each of them - it feels right to take a step back and review the whole thing this week.

Crystal Palace are up on Saturday to kick‑start another Premier League campaign and, all things considered, Everton look in good shape.

A late equaliser for Lille may have dampened the mood slightly, but overall it’s been a positive pre‑season for the Toffees. David Moyes will certainly feel his side are ready for a potential push for Europe.

Here are the Positives, Negatives, and Remaining Questions ahead of Crystal Palace.

The Positives

Youngsters Stepping Up

Potentially the biggest positive of Everton’s pre‑season has been the performances of several younger players.

Tyrique George has looked like a man determined to cement a first‑team place from the outset, producing a series of impressive displays throughout the summer. The deal to sign him from Chelsea already looks like very smart business.

Harrison Armstrong entered pre‑season looking likely to head out on loan again, especially with Everton adding to their midfield ranks. Instead, James Garner’s absence opened a door - and he’s taken the chance with both hands.

The 18‑year‑old hasn’t looked out of place in Everton’s midfield, nor against strong opponents like Newcastle and Lille. His performances have left Everton with a genuine dilemma about what to do next. At this point, letting him go would feel foolish.

Adam Aznou may also have changed the trajectory of his season. He seemed destined for a loan after barely getting a sniff last year, but he appears to have convinced Moyes to give him a real opportunity. Reports now suggest he’ll stay on Merseyside.

The biggest winner among the younger players, however, is undoubtedly Tyler Dibling. Written off by many after a disastrous first season, he’s looked transformed this summer - fitter, sharper, confident, and finally in rhythm with his teammates. This could be the season he starts to repay that heavy price tag.

Merlin Röhl

The decision to sign Merlin Röhl permanently this summer raised eyebrows, especially given his limited minutes — in midfield, particularly — last season. Instead, the German has quickly proven to be a smart addition.

Drafted in as an emergency right‑back, he’s done nothing but impress. In fact, he’s comfortably been Everton’s best performer across pre‑season. The 24‑year‑old has treated the challenge of playing in defence as an opportunity rather than a setback. His attitude, effort, physicality and quality have all stood out, and he’s even helped bring more out of Dibling on the right.

Nobody will be thrilled about him playing right‑back long‑term, but Röhl has emerged as a classic David Moyes player this summer.

Barry Improvement

Eight goals in his first season wasn’t a poor return for Thierno Barry, but it was clear he needed to improve. A 14‑game run without a goal to start his Everton career, and just two in his final nine, made that obvious. This summer, though, there have been plenty of signs that progress is coming.

Goals aside, Barry has looked sharper, more aggressive, and more determined to prove a point. His recent comments before and after games show he knows he must do more - and is embracing that challenge

There’s still plenty for the 23‑year‑old to work on, but this has been a positive pre‑season. He now appears to be ahead of Beto in the striker pecking order.

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The Negatives

No Right‑Back

It is almost insulting that Everton still haven’t signed a right‑back at this stage of the window. With less than a week until the Premier League opener, the issue remains unresolved.

Everyone - even those outside Everton - knows this is a problem that needs sorting. Yet there’s been no real urgency to fix it. Instead, Moyes has shoehorned Merlin Röhl into the role and continued to use Jake O’Brien there at times.

The question is why? Indications are that Everton are prepared to wait for the right profile. That’s meant to sound like pragmatism — maybe even transfer intelligence - but increasingly it feels more like an inability to decide what that profile actually is.

The lack of a signing has only added to frustration among the fanbase and continues to divert attention away from the obvious positives.

Defensive Deficiencies

While Everton appear to be improving going forward - and now have a host of different options, particularly out wide - their defence remains a concern.

Jarrad Branthwaite’s staggered return is a clear positive; he is simply leagues ahead of those around him. But the rest of the unit leaves plenty to be desired.

James Tarkowski is slowing considerably and looks set for a difficult campaign; Michael Keane is not a long‑term answer; and Vitaliy Mykolenko has regularly been found wanting across several pre‑season games.

The defeat to Stuttgart was especially concerning, with Everton’s defence exposed throughout. It’s been a running theme across pre‑season, and major improvement is required.

Moyes Silence

Managers are not obligated to speak during pre-season, and we’ll hear from Moyes in a few days anyway, but his silence has been deafening across pre-season.

Quite why the Scot has avoided all media remains a mystery. The fact that Lille’s manager – Davide Ancelotti – has appeared on Everton’s own media channels ahead of Moyes is almost embarrassing.

The silence causes bigger issues, though. It leads to questions about what’s going on behind the scenes, whether Moyes is entirely happy and if he is sending a message to those above or him. It’s easy to imagine he is unhappy about his contract situation, which is yet to be discussed as he enters the final 12 months of his deal.

They are questions and speculation Everton could simply do without. If Moyes is not happy, it would be better to hear it than him play the surly, silent Scotsman.

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Remaining Questions

Right-back hunt

The big, obvious question is whether Everton will sign a right‑back before the window closes.

The optimist would argue that of course they will, and that the club have simply played their cards close to their chest to secure the best possible deal.

The pragmatist would say it’s now a case of wait and see. Merlin Röhl’s comfort in the role has perhaps led to a re‑evaluation of the players Everton were targeting. That, though, won’t satisfy fans who see right‑back as the key issue that must be resolved.

Further transfer business

Transfer business naturally dominates the rest of the questions. Will Jack Grealish return? At this point, it looks unlikely unless the finances suit Everton.

What happens with Beto? He’s now in the final year of his deal and seems destined to leave, especially with no talk of a new contract. Thierno Barry’s strong pre‑season only pushes him closer to the exit.

Then there’s Nathan Patterson - the only recognised right‑back in the squad - and Tim Iroegbunam. The latter’s injury is untimely, as a move to Hull looked certain and would have provided Everton with a healthy profit. Carlos Alcaraz is also out of contract in a year and currently appears more out than in.

What Is Everton’s Best XI?

Almost quietly, Everton have had a decent window. The right‑back issue means it can’t be rated higher than a 7/10 for now, but the five arrivals so far have added much‑needed competition.

Everton now have a midfield packed with talent and options, with James Garner - their best player - still to return from injury. Christian Nørgaard, in particular, adds something they simply didn’t have last season.

The same can be said of Brennan Johnson. He brings pace, runs in behind and verticality that Dwight McNeil never offered. He also gives Everton an added dimension in the forward line.

It’s left David Moyes with options, and the ability to rotate his squad in areas where he couldn’t last season. Improved performances from Tyler Dibling and the continued emergence of Harrison Armstrong only add to that list.

It will be interesting to see what Moyes settles on as his best side - or, if he finally shows a more adaptable approach, something Everton fans have been crying out for.

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