“We’re short in certain areas” – David Moyes assesses his squad ahead of the league opener

David Moyes Admits Everton Still Need Reinforcements Ahead of Premier League Opener

Ahead of Everton’s 2025/26 Premier League opener against Leeds United, David Moyes acknowledged in his pre-match press conference that the squad still requires further additions.

Speaking to reporters at Finch Farm, the Toffees’ manager admitted, “We’re light in certain areas, though we’re alright in others. We’ve done some good business, and I’m happy with the players we’ve brought in—but I still need more. We need greater depth. The aim is to keep strengthening.”

So far this summer, Everton have signed seven players while parting ways with nearly a dozen from last season’s squad.

When questioned whether he hopes to bring in three or four more signings, Moyes responded, “Honestly, I’d possibly say even more. But right now, I’d take any of those numbers if we can get them.”

One area of concern remains the right flank, where the departures of Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom have left Everton without a natural wide attacker. The club has pursued several targets for the role, including Francisco Conceição, Johan Bakayoko, and Omari Hutchinson—all of whom slipped through their grasp. Their most high-profile pursuit, however, was Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, with three rejected bids and a significant valuation gap stalling negotiations.

Asked about Dibling and whether a deal could still materialize, Moyes said, “Like many Premier League managers this summer, I’ve found getting deals over the line really tough. That’s one name you’ve mentioned, but we’ve bid for plenty of players—I won’t name them out of respect for their clubs. The reality is, we’ve struggled to finalize many of them. I think several clubs are in the same boat.”