Ask an Everton fan what their club’s priority should be as they step into the looming summer transfer window, they will tell you that David Moyes’ side need more quality in the final third.
Recent losses in the Premier League have highlighted the Toffees’ deep-rooted offensive issues that need sorting out if the 2025/26 season is to promote a new breed of success.
New owners, The Friedkin Group, ran the gauntlet when bringing Moyes back to the club in January, but it certainly seems to have worked out, Everton leaping away from the relegation fodder.
The seeds have been planted, but Everton need to fix some playing-squad issues in offence. However, defensive problems also simmer under the surface, with plenty set to change this summer.
The state of play in Everton's defence
Last time out at Goodison Park, Everton fought hard to get something from their match against Manchester City but ultimately fell short in the second half, losing 2-0.
Compounding the defeat, James Tarkowski was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury, since confirmed to be a muscular tear that will require surgery. The unflappable centre-half will miss the rest of the season, his recovery creeping into pre-season.
With Jarrad Branthwaite’s future reportedly not necessarily at Bramley Moore, there’s plenty of uncertainty around Moyes’ backline.
Furthermore, Everton’s contractual situation is going to have a marked impact on the defence, with Michael Keane, Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young all out of contract this summer.
Moyes recognises skipper Coleman’s value and would allegedly like to extend his deal for the leadership and experience benefits, but Young is not a spring chicken anymore and must leave, having become the Scotsman’s new version of Phil Neville.
Moyes must ditch Moyes' new Phil Neville
Neville is fondly remembered for his time at Everton, and Young will depart with a similarly positive legacy, having arrived as an ageing veteran – previously of Manchester United’s parish – but putting in a shift and a half during his time.
However, the 40-year-old needs to leave when his contract expires in the coming months.
Like Neville, Young formerly played for United and was capped by England, working industriously even earning praise from Antonio Conte for being a “machine” of an athlete when plying his trade with Inter Milan.
The 48-year-old completed 385 appearances for the Red Devils before moving to Everton for a fee in excess of £3m. He was 28 at the time, a further similarity to Young given he spent a good chunk of his prime years in red before moving to Inter Milan, then back to Villa, then finally settling at Goodison.
Man United
261
19
33
Aston Villa
247
38
53
Watford
110
22
9
Everton
66
2
4
Inter Milan
59
5
9
Not just walking the same pathway toward Merseyside as Young, Neville was also a versatile defender, chiefly placed as a right-back but wandering over to the alternate side and even featuring in a deep-lying midfield position.
Since starting Moyes’ first game of the (second) Moyes era, a home defeat against Aston Villa, Young has been consigned to cameos ever since.
Young has earned his keep at Everton over the past few years, but he’s now 40 years old and must not see his contract renewed ahead of the new chapter at Bramley Moore.
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