Moyes pushes for transfers ahead of Leeds opener

Everton manager David Moyes outlines squad gaps and signs after a pre-season loss to Roma, signaling a push for new players.

Moyes presses for transfers as Everton face injuries before season opener

Everton were beaten 1-0 by AS Roma in their final pre-season match at Hill Dickinson Stadium. James Tarkowski, Thierno Barry and Iliman Ndiaye created chances for the Blues, but Matias Soule hit the decisive goal after a spell of changes around the hour mark. Moyes praised Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for bringing quality in his Everton bow and said the first half was acceptable while the second half faded as Roma grew stronger.

The manager confirmed there is a lot to do before the season opener with Leeds United in eight days and signalled a push for more transfers. He noted gaps on the right and in midfield and flagged a lack of creativity in pre-season. Injuries also piled up, with Vitalii Mykolenko forced off early, Nathan Patterson being examined for a potential hernia and Harrison Armstrong sidelined with a thigh strain.

Moyes turns the pre-season stage into a test of Everton's transfer strategy. His bluntness about squad needs underscores a gap between ambition and resources, even as the club has added players like Mark Travers, Adam Aznou and Carlos Alcaraz. If the window does not bring credible cover on the right and in midfield, the start of the season could expose weakness that fans will blame on planning rather than luck.

The injuries heighten the risk. Mykolenko's early exit and Patterson's ongoing assessment add urgency to the transfer push, while the threat of a slow rebuild could invite public scrutiny. In this context, Everton faces a delicate balancing act: strike targeted, affordable additions or risk a spike in criticism if early results lag behind promises.

Highlights

The window will test Everton's balance of ambition and resources in real time.