Everton were slipping down a slope last season, headed for trouble with Sean Dyche in the dugout and Farhad Moshiri watching from above.
But David Moyes replaced Dyche, lifted the Toffees up, up, up. The relegation candidates finished 13th in the Premier League, comfortably away from the drop zone. Now, as they leave Goodison Park and step into a new home at the Hill Dickinson, with plenty to look forward to.
Thierno Barry has joined for £27m, replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the striker went by the wayside at the end of his contract. Mark Travers has signed to provide competition for Jordan Pickford; Charly Alcaraz’s buy option has been triggered after his promising loan stint.
However, there’s been something of an exodus on the blue half of Merseyside. Departed players need to be replaced, with the midfield still a priority for Moyes and technical director Angus Kinnear.
Everton searching for midfielders
With Abdoulaye Doucoure having left at the end of his deal, Everton need new midfielders. The latest name to crop up belongs to Douglas Luiz, who, one year after leaving Aston Villa for Juventus in a £42m deal, is being touted for a return to the Premier League.
Reports from Italy claim Everton have actually tabled their opening offer for the Brazilian ace. However, their £26m bid falls below Juventus’ £35m valuation.
However, according to Football Insider, Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher is also of interest to the Merseyside outfit, though he’s worth a pretty penny at £50m and is also attracting intrigue from Newcastle United.
However, given his homegrown status and style of play, which would see him dovetail right into Moyes’ system, this could be a statement signing and a half.
Why Everton want Conor Gallagher
Gallagher left Chelsea for Atletico Madrid in a deal worth £33m last summer, with Enzo Maresca having informed the versatile midfielder he would be consigned to a bit-part role if he remained at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca’s flowing ball-playing style of football precluded Gallagher’s involvement in a prominent role, but Everton don’t need to worry about that: Moyes is rooted in his tactical principles, limited in possession but industrious and organised and direct.
An intense pressing force, Gallagher would slot right in, maybe even more complete than Luiz, the other top midfield target. Hailed as a “machine” by former Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo, who also noted the 25-year-old “helps me a lot when we need to recover the ball”, it would be money well spent.
Luiz has struggled to adapt in Italy, only starting three Serie A games last season – albeit, this was marred by injury problems. Gallagher, meanwhile, hasn’t been a week-in, week-out starter for Diego Simeone’s Atletico, but he’s proved his worth, ranked among the top 10% of La Liga midfielders last year for ball recoveries and the top 11% for tackles won per 90, as per FBref.
And when looking at his last Premier League campaign, ranked against Luiz’s with Aston Villa, you begin to see that Everton might strike gold by signing the former Blue.
Matches (starts)
37 (37)
35 (35)
Goals
5
9
Assists
7
5
Touches*
70.4
70.1
Pass completion
92%
89%
Big chances created
11
10
Key passes*
1.4
1.5
Dribbles*
1.0
0.7
Ball recoveries*
6.0
5.3
Tackles + interceptions*
3.5
2.4
Duels (won)*
5.7 (50%)
4.2 (51%)
Gallagher is crisper in possession, with more ground-covering energy and defensive sharpness too. Luiz might have outscored him in 2023/24, but he took penalties, with four of his nine strikes above coming from the spot. All seven of Gallagher’s were from open play.
There is little question that either player would have a positive impact on Moyes’ project. Both have shared qualities that align with Moyes’ vision, with the way the Scotsman wants to play.
But Gallagher might be that little bit better, and he would pack a punch that might even steer the Toffees back into the top end of the Premier League table.
He’s Ndiaye 2.0: Everton make contact to sign £22.5m "sensational prospect"
Everton will be hoping they can add to their attacking output this summer
ByJoe NuttallJul 18, 2025