Everton

Sophie Trifonoff
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST)

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On injuries in the squad, Moyes said he was pleased with James Garner's quick recovery. Hayden Hackney is "touch and go" after rolling his ankle last week, with Christian Noorgard remaining out of the squad.

• "No final decision" has been made on Jack Grealish making a permanent move to Everton from Manchester City. He added: "There's no guarantee and to name one person would be wrong. We are in the recruitment business at the moment and looking to see if we can bring some players in if possible."

• Moyes is "not in a hurry to sell our best players" after Iliman Ndiaye was linked to a move to Manchester City.

• On the performances so far this season, Moyes said: "We've played well in the games and also we've been trying to create more chances - I think that's certainly evident in the games against both Crystal Palace and Preston. That's a positive for us, we took some of the chances the other night [in the League Cup] and we had some bigger ones against Crystal Palace we could have taken."

• On players stepping up to play out of position, he said: "When you've got a small squad like we have, we need players who are going to be flexible, play different positions and accept different jobs at different times."

• On Merlin Rohl playing out of position, Moyes said: "He's done really well and he's not a player who's questioning being out of position, so we're really happy with him."

• On Everton's away support, Moyes said: "It's difficult for supporters so we don't take it for granted. I think our away support over last season was fantastic."

Hit play above to hear more from Moyes or listen on BBC Sounds here

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Everton left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko has been speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about the contract extension he signed in June: "It was an easy decision. We talked to the club maybe a year ago and I said I am happy to stay if they want me. There wasn't a big problem for the club or me - we just signed and I was happy.

"I had two reasons for signing a contract - because my family and I are comfortable here, and the people in the building and the stadium. I am happy to work with them every day."

When asked about his aims for the season: "Hopefully we win more games than last season and we can get to Europe. We have a good group, probably the best in my time at Everton. I'm pretty sure we can do it if we do everything right."

Listen to the full discussion below or on BBC Sounds here

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The Friedkin Group are rarely seen and barely heard - so when they announced via chief executive Angus Kinnear that they regarded missing out on European football last season as "failure" it came as a surprise, not least to David Moyes.

Everton were in one of the nine European places on offer to English clubs when Merlin Rohl gave them the lead against Sunderland in their penultimate game of last season.

Instead, in keeping with a collapse that saw them fail to win any of their last seven league games, Everton lost 3-1 at home to the Europe-bound Black Cats, before a final-day defeat at Tottenham left them in 13th place.

In an interview with BBC Radio Merseyside, Kinnear said: "They viewed it as a failure because it was a failure. The Friedkins are winners, they want to win and we didn't win anything."

Moyes' response when this was put to him was intriguing. It begs the question whether the 63-year-old is on the same page as Everton's American powerbrokers, who also own Italian club Roma, when it comes to ambition.

He said: "I'm surprised they were disappointed because there was never any time anyone said to me, 'David, you have to make Europe or you have to be in and around the top end'.

"Everybody wanted to make sure we moved into the new stadium safe, while not having too difficult a season, and we certainly did that last year."

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman told BBC Sport: "I was a bit surprised at the statement and the timing because, as Moyes said, I don't think anyone was saying for much of last season that not getting into Europe was a failure.

"I do think when you get on the cusp of something and it slips away, it can feel like you've failed, but I would call it a disappointment rather than a failure."

It is clear Moyes wants the Friedkin Group to deliver more backing before the summer transfer window closes to improve and bolster a squad which ran out of steam so badly last season.

He said: "For us to be a side which is competitive, we have still got a lot of work to do. Hopefully we are able to try to do some of it. We need more players.

"Our squad is not big enough and we need to get more quality in some areas, if we can do. I'm not sure we will, but it's not for me and the want of trying, that's for sure."

The messages were certainly mixed, adding to a summer of differing fortunes in the transfer market, that even led Prime Minister and fanatical Evertonian Andy Burnham to say: "There is one thing I would just ask, sign a right-back."

This is what makes the final few days of the transfer window so vital for Moyes, who is in the final year of his contract, and Everton.

Moyes has made his views clear - now can his wish align with Everton's owners to deliver?

Read the full article here

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City hold an interest in signing Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, who has rejected multiple contract offers on Merseyside.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal held a strong interest in signing the Senegal international this summer, but the 26-year-old reportedly turned down the move.

David Moyes' side are under no pressure to sell Ndiaye, whose contract runs until 2029, and are likely to demand a significant fee in the region of £70m to even consider a sale.

Jack Grealish's preference would be to go the other way and return to Everton should he leave City in the remaining days of the transfer window, sources have told BBC Sport.

The 30-year-old has appeared as a substitute in City's opening two games of the season, but new boss Enzo Maresca is open to letting the Englishman leave the club before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

Grealish spent last season with the Toffees, scoring twice and providing six assists in 20 appearances, before sustaining a season-ending foot injury in January.

Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear recently told BBC Radio Merseyside the club have "remained in contact" with the player.

Grealish's former club Aston Villa are also believed to still be interested in re-signing their ex-captain, but City sources say there have been no concrete offers from any club so far this summer.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Everton's 4-0 Carabao Cup second round win over Championship Preston North End on Wednesday.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: Solid cup performance. For once didn't feel too nervous watching us against lower league opposition. Barry looks full of confidence and our midfield options look good. Moyes press conference was interesting, suggesting a rift in the transfer area, which wouldn't be good for the next few days!

Anton: As arrogant as this sounds, finally, Everton score the type of victory we should against a decent Championship outfit. Good to see a strong line-up out there (although no Jake O'Brien on the pitch makes me extremely concerned - we simply cannot be contemplating selling him, surely). Obviously delighted that Barry got his hat-trick - that'll do his confidence wonders (slight knock though?) - and Dibling did look lively and a bit more confident in himself. In years gone by this is exactly the type of cup tie we'd lose and so we have to be happy to come away with such a comfortable victory.

Matty: Picking a near full-strength team last night paid dividends. Too many times under Moyes he used cup games to rotate the squad. Only making two enforced changes proved to be the right choice, with an emphatic win. A long cup run is long overdue for us, silverware even more so.

Thomas: No idea why Moyes felt the need to be so agitated with the press in the build-up to this game, it's otherwise been a comfortable opening two games of the season. Could do without his negativity and not starting Jake O'Brien tonight was criminal - we must keep him over Keane.

Andy: So obvious Rohl is not a right-back, O'Brien much better all-rounder and to sell him would be a massive mistake. Love Tarkowski but he is starting to look slow. O'Brien is the future at centre back and we need a right-back now.

Everton are lining up a deal to sign Guinea-Bissau forward Franculino, 22, from Midtjylland and also prepared to sanction the sale of defender Jake O'Brien. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Everton boss David Moyes speaking to Sky Sports: "It ended up a bit more comfortable than I thought it might've been but obviously a really good result. We played well at times, our football was quite good. We needed to finish things off a bit better in the first half but really pleased we scored four goals."

On Thierno Barry and his motivation: "I told him he has to do a lot better than he did before, that's it. We want goalscorers, we want centre forwards to score goals and he's got some.

"I don't think it's easy for anybody coming to the Premier League in their first season, especially centre forwards, it's difficult for them. He'll learn a lot more, he'll see a lot more and he's come in with a much better attitude generally so whoever's working with him is doing a good job."

On Brennan Johnson and whether he can find his home at Everton: "We want to find what he did at Tottenham when he was scoring all those goals. His assist was a brilliant assist and his finish as well. The people who've watched Brennan over the years would tell you that looks a bit more like him… we don't want to bring him on too quick we want to sort of introduce him but he's done well when he's come on tonight."

On whether fans can get carried away at the moment: "No they can't. I think we've got a lot of work to do and I still feel that for us to be a side which is competitive I still feel that we've got a lot of work to do. Hopefully we're able to try and do some of it.

"More players. Our squad's not big enough. We need to get more quality in some areas if we can do."

On whether he feels they will be able to do that before the window closes: "I'm not sure we will but it's not for the want of trying that's for sure."

• Hear more from Moyes on BBC Sounds or hit play above

Thierno Barry speaking to Sky Sports after his hat-trick: "I say this season needs to be mine. I try a lot this summer for that so I'm very happy to score my first hat-trick with Everton. I work a lot for that, I'm very happy, my team-mates helped me a lot also."

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the Carabao Cup third round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Premier League teams in the order they were drawn.

The matches will be played in the weeks commencing September 7 and September 14.

• Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough

• Manchester United v Brighton

• Manchester City v Norwich City

• Sunderland v Hull City

• Ipswich Town v Arsenal

• Coventry City v Aston Villa

• Bournemouth v Lincoln City

• Liverpool v Tottenham

• Chelsea or Luton Town v Leeds

• Millwall v Newcastle United

• Everton v Wolves

• Reading v Brentford

• West Ham v Fulham or AFC Wimbledon

Read more and see the full draw

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Get in touch with your views

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

There are three Premier League teams in action on Wednesday in the second round of the EFL Cup, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham Hotspur v Charlton Athletic

• Preston North End v Everton (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off 19:45 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v West Bromwich Albion" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Everton match", for example.

See the full Carabao Cup second-round fixture list

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After Everton's CEO Angus Kinnear told me exclusively last week that the club's owners called last season "a failure" eyebrows were raised when David Moyes angrily insisted staying up in the Premier League is the more important aim.

The Friedkin Group were left unhappy when the first full season at Hill Dickinson Stadium ended without a trophy and no European qualification. I was told "appropriate pressure" was put on this summer as the American consortium bought Everton Football Club to win but flash forward just seven days and quotes have emerged from the manager that almost feel defeatist with just one game played.

Ahead of tonight's League Cup game at Preston David Moyes was asked how important the cups are to him this season and his answer has left fans irritated.

"Of course we all want to win the cups," he explained. "Yes the cups are hugely important, would it be more important than staying in the Premier League? I'll ask you the question: Is winning a cup more important than staying in the Premier League? What would your answer be?"

The tone of the Toffees boss has left some questioning if he is on the same page as the owners and the CEO. Last season there was frustration at the third round exits in both the League Cup and FA Cup with tactics fiercely criticised. Jordan Pickford was rested for the League Cup which saw supporters angered after seeing Newcastle end their trophy drought in the tournament the season before.

Evertonians deserve a cup run. For too long they have dragged their team over the line time and time again. They were the glue holding an increasingly fractured club together as PSR charges hit, points were deducted, favourite players sold and the club's hierarchy disappeared.

When The Friedkin Group took over at the end of 2024 it signalled much-needed stability and an end to the financial chaos that had become synonymous with the Toffees. They oversaw the move to a new stadium and have assured fans they are winners. The manager talking down the chance to hunt for a trophy for the first time in 31 years isn't the team talk supporters want to hear in the build up to a potential cup run. It now leads to questions around whether Moyes can be the man the owners are able trust to return Everton to a side that can fight it out for silverware and it has heaped even more pressure on tonight's trip to Deepdale.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Jack Grealish is back in the fold at Manchester City... for now.

The 30-year-old is into the final year of his reported £300,000-a-week contract at Etihad Stadium and was discarded by Pep Guardiola in the Spaniard's final season in charge, being allowed to join Everton on a season-long loan deal.

Grealish came on during the Community Shield defeat by Arsenal and played the final eight minutes of City's late comeback win over Bournemouth in Sunday's Premier League opener.

The winger appeared to be in good spirits while sitting on the bench against the Cherries and thanked City fans on social media afterwards for a "nice welcome" on his home return.

Though he has been handed a new lease of life under Guardiola's successor Enzo Maresca, no guarantees are being offered that Grealish will remain a City player come transfer deadline day on Tuesday, 1 September.

Heading into the final week of the transfer window, clubs sources have left all options open for Grealish's future - staying at the club, going out on loan again or leaving permanently.

Maresca has not ruled out a move either, saying after Sunday's game: "He is here and it is my duty to coach Jack and to try to get the best.

"Then it is one more week to go and we will see what happens. Not only with Jack but also other players."

Grealish looked to be getting back to his best during his loan at Everton, contributing two goals and six assists in 20 appearances before his injury.

City sources say there have been no concrete offers for Grealish so far this summer, with a return to Hill Dickinson Stadium looking the most viable option, should he move away.

Everton are yet to make an approach and try to agree a deal, but he remains of interest to the Toffees.

Leeds United and Crystal Palace have registered an interest in Everton and Ireland defender Jake O'Brien, 25. (Football insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

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The third-round draw for the 2026-27 Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday, 26 August following the conclusion of Preston North End vs Everton.

Nine Premier League clubs taking part in European football join the 23 first-round winners from across the English Football League.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Brighton and Crystal Palace will enter the competition at this stage, as the top eight Premier League clubs from the 2025-26 season plus Crystal Palace as Conference League winners.

It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports following the conclusion of the third round tie between Preston North End and Everton, kicking off at 20:00 BST.

Unlike the opening two rounds of the competition, the third round draw is not regionalised.

However, before the match at Deepdale there will be a pre-draw determining which of the Champions League and Europa League clubs will play at home or away in round three.

In order to avoid potential scheduling issues, the eight Champions League and Europa League clubs cannot be drawn against each other in round three.

When the draw takes place, the first eight fixtures decided are the ones involving clubs in the Champions League and Europa League. The remainder of the draw will be an open draw as usual.

Due to clashes with opening weeks of the Champions League and Europa League seasons, the third round will be played across two different weeks. They are the weeks commencing Monday, 7 and Monday, 14 September, 2026.

Everton manager David Moyes believes journalists can "half answer their own questions" around the importance of cup competitions.

The 63-year-old will return to familiar territory in the Carabao Cup second round on Wednesday night (20:00 BST), as the Toffees travel to a ground where he made an impact as both a player and a manager.

Everton reached the third round in both domestic cup competitions last season, with Wolves knocking them out of the Carabao Cup and Sunderland reigning supreme on penalties in the FA Cup.

The Toffees boss responded to general media queries around the significance of cup competitions, stating: "This is a question every journalist asks every manager and, in some ways, I think: 'Are those journalists dead stupid? Do you think none of the managers want to win the cups?'

"If I asked you: 'Would it be more important than staying in the Premier League?' - what would your answer be? Your answer will half answer your own question.

"I can't think of any manager who wouldn't want a good run in a cup competition."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Everton simply must sign a recognised right-back before the window shuts. It has been a glaring problem for more than a year.

It is a weakness recognised by everyone at the club but either a prime target cannot be agreed upon or is out of reach.

Talented midfielder Merlin Rohl took on the job for the opening game against Crystal Palace, while Jake O'Brien and James Garner have also been pressed into service.

Time to finally make a decision and get one in. Maybe David Moyes will also look at adding another striker with questions still hanging over Beto and Thierno Barry.

Chelsea outcast Liam Delap is one name regularly linked with Everton.

What business do you think still needs to get done before 23:00 BST on 1 September?

Get in touch with your views here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

I was at St James' Park on Sunday and when I regained my composure after the beautiful and poignant celebrations of the great Kevin Keegan's life, I quickly understood the devil-may-care approach that Matthias Jaissle's Newcastle United side brought to the party.

Liverpool were champions two years ago. They have spent many hundreds of millions of pounds since, on a squad which still looks threadbare, but on Sunday they were matched by a very young midfield duo delivered at a fraction of the cost.

Florian Wirtz (£116m) and Alexander Isak (£125m) were stifled by 20-year-old Lewis Miley, who cost nothing, and 18-year-old Sean Steur, who was signed for a measly initial £20m from Ajax. Putting that sort of youth up against world superstars would have been considered foolhardy until very recently, but the new coaches aren't bringing any fear with them into their new roles.

It is not just the newbies either, Everton's engine room under Davie Moyes had Premier League debutant Hayden Hackney (£24m from Middlesbrough) beside 19-year-old Harrison Armstrong, a Toffees academy graduate. They were still trusted to control the midfield and duly dispatched Crystal Palace.

This was always going to be a season of upheaval with all the managerial changes but it might be even more substantial than that. It could be the dawn of a complete shift in outlook.

Arsenal with their quality and experience might still see off the wannabe challengers in the end. Then again, weren't they riding the crest of this wave of organised chaos, utilising set-piece bedlam, as they won the title last season?

The big take: The league is always exciting but hasn't always given us enough tales of the unexpected, this season promises to be different. The newcomers appear to have a lack of fear and a love of chaos.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.