Everton manager David Moyes has bolstered his squad with three early signings this summer, bringing in Chelsea's Tyrique George for £18m, Merlin Rohl for £18m, and Hayden Hackney for £16.5m. That £52.5m outlay has strengthened the midfield and wide options, but the question remains: which position should the Blues target next as they reshape their squad for the upcoming season?
Chris Beesley: Right-Back is the Clear Priority
According to ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley, the answer is straightforward: Everton should target a right-back, and then another right-back. He notes that ahead of the winter window closing, Blues boss David Moyes admitted the club had been actively searching for a new right-back for a year. Kenny Tete could have filled the void last summer but decided to sign a new deal at Fulham instead.
Nathan Patterson came close to leaving before the winter window closed and, despite featuring for Scotland in the World Cup, remains surplus to requirements. He has seen teammates such as Ben Godfrey and Jake O’Brien selected out of position ahead of him. Combine that with long-serving club captain Seamus Coleman departing after 17-and-a-half years, and Everton could really do with snapping up a couple of players in that problem position.
Both O’Brien and James Garner have done a job there, but the Blues need a specialist. It is a far cry from when Moyes had both Coleman and Leighton Baines at the peak of their powers during his first spell in charge.
Joe Thomas: Right-Back is the One
Fellow ECHO reporter Joe Thomas agrees that right-back is the priority. He says the arrivals of Hackney and George are welcome developments, particularly after so much business was secured late last summer. He adds: “None of us sleep until a right-back is secured. It would be rehashing the utterances of so many previous windows to say 'surely one is signed this time'. I'm not foolish enough to nail my colours to the mast on this, but... surely one is signed this time!”
Thomas also highlights other potential improvements: a left-back to compete with and cover Vitalii Mykolenko, especially one with attacking nous, and a defensive midfielder to free up the many box-to-box options Everton have. But he concludes: “Right-back is the one. If progress could be made on that front in the coming weeks then the window would be shaping up nicely.”
