Everton have undergone an incredible transformation since David Moyes was placed at the wheel, driving up the Premier League table, away from the danger zone and toward the comfy security of mid-table.
But Moyes isn’t going to stop there. He won the Conference League with West Ham United, remember, led the Hammers through three successive campaigns on the continent.
But Merseyside is his home, Everton his club, and he wants to get them back on their perch, having struggled to impress for so long.
With The Friedkin Group replacing Farhad Moshiri at the head of the table, Moyes has been told he will have money to spend this summer, with Kevin Thelwell also exiting his role as Director of Football at the end of the term, succeeded by Leeds United’s Angus Kinnear.
Thelwell has helped to guide Everton through a turbulent period, and though he had his ups and downs, he can leave with his head held high after a promising final transfer window in 2024.
Everton's recent transfer business
Everton emerged from the 2023/24 campaign bruised but not broken. Financial breaches had allowed PSR to clamp down on Merseyside and extract eight hard-earned points from Sean Dyche’s squad, but this wasn’t enough to send them spinning to the second tier.
Thus, spending was always going to be difficult, but the sales of Amadou Onana, Ben Godfrey and homegrown Lewis Dobbin generated finances in the £70m ballpark, allowing for several deals that needed to hit the mark.
Jake O’Brien has come into his own at right-back since Moyes took to the helm, while Orel Mangala was excellent before cruelly seeing his season ended prematurely in January due to injury. He’s a loanee, but Everton have the option to sign him permanently.
Jesper Lindstrom hasn’t been brilliant on the right flank, yet to score, but at least he’s only on loan – and has provided something of a steady and industrious outlet.
Then there’s Iliman Ndiaye, signed from Marseille for £15m. Pure magic on the alternate wing, notching eight goals from 28 matches across all competitions. He’s played 24 times in the Premier League in the Toffees, but three of his six strikes came in the five appearances under Moyes’ leadership.
Thelwell did his best and fans have been receptive to his efforts, thankful for them. However, that’s not to say he invariably hit the mark when shopping, with Everton still needing to get rid of his worst signing despite the flop last kicking a ball for the Blues in 2023.
Thelwell's worst Everton signing must go
Everton have missed the mark on more than a few occasions in the 12 years since Moyes left for Manchester United, picked as Sir Alex Ferguson’s heir.
While he hasn’t been the most costly blunder, Neal Maupay’s got to be down at the nadir, certainly one of Thelwell’s biggest misfires during his time at the decision table.
After several decent Premier League campaigns in Brighton, Frank Lampard’s Everton moved to sign Maupay for a £15m fee, but his time at the club quickly devolved into a nightmare.
Maupay bagged just the one goal across 32 appearances in all competitions for Everton. Notorious for his reputation as a wind-up merchant, the French striker endured his most pitiful spell by the banks of the River Mersey.
2023/24*
Brentford
31
6
3
2023/24*
Everton
2
0
0
2022/23
Everton
27
1
0
2021/22
Brighton
32
8
2
2020/21
Brighton
33
8
2
2019/20
Brighton
37
10
3
His revival at Brentford further frustrated the Everton fanbase, but not nearly as much as his remarks last year: “Whenever I’m having a bad day, I just check the Everton score and smile.” A brazen thing to say given he’s still on the books.
With four goals and four assists apiece in Ligue 1 this season, starting only 12 matches under Roberto De Zerbi, Maupay is enjoying something of a renaissance – but that doesn’t mean he’s got a future on Merseyside.
Earning around £48k per week, the 28-year-old Everton player is still earning more than Ndiaye (£45k-per-week), emphasising the woe that cannot be shaken from this deal-that-shouldn’t-have-been.
While Marseille are likely to be covering a portion – if not all – of his salary – it still represents a hefty pack packet that was agreed upon when Everton initially welcomed him to the club with high hopes that he would become their abiding talisman.
Marseille have the option to keep Maupay at the Stade Vélodrome for about £3m, which would be decent business if Everton succeed in recouping at least something for one of their most infamous modern players.
Perhaps Thelwell orchestrated one last piece of good business in the Frenchman’s loan package. Without question, though, Maupay’s signing was a “disaster” – a sentiment shared by journalist Paul Brown – and those of an Everton persuasion just want him off the books.
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