Moyes: Everton “Desperate” to Strengthen with Transfer Time Running Out

David Moyes has admitted Everton are “desperate to get things moving” in the transfer market as the club struggles to make the impact it had hoped for this summer. The Everton boss believes the club’s recent history of battling relegation could be putting off potential signings.

Despite securing enough points for 12th and 13th-place finishes in the last two seasons — with margins of 22 and 23 points above the relegation zone prior to the 2023/24 points deductions — Moyes believes Everton’s prolonged spell near the bottom end of the table continues to damage their appeal in the transfer market.

“My first thought is yes, I’m surprised, because I think Everton’s such a big club, with great traditions and the new stadium’s an exciting move for us,” Moyes said. “But when you think again about it, we’ve been in or around the relegation positions for the last five years, not far off the bottom, so maybe there’s been reasons for it.”

Despite having funds available, Moyes says deals are proving difficult to finalise.

“The truth is we’re not getting a lot of the deals over the line at the moment, that’s a fact,” he told reporters in Chicago ahead of Everton’s Premier League Summer Series clash against his former club West Ham. “We’re desperate to get things moving on because we know time’s running out.”

While the club continues to be linked with a host of players, concrete progress has been limited. Club sources have distanced themselves from a move for Manchester City’s out-of-favour England international Jack Grealish, and efforts to sign Kenny Tete ended when the Dutchman opted to sign a new contract at Fulham.

One addition who has arrived is 19-year-old left-back Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich. But Moyes said he cannot promise the youngster will immediately step into senior action and stressed the importance of adding experienced players — something proving “troublesome” in this window.

Everton have made four signings so far, including Aznou and reserve goalkeeper Mark Travers. However, they have lost five seasoned first-team players, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré.

“The one thing I’ll do is I’ll tell the fans straight, and I’m telling it straight at the moment, we’re having a bit of a struggle getting ones in quickly,” he said.

“I think we still need six more players,” he added, underlining the gap between the squad’s current state and where he wants it to be.