Everton's summer rebuild has a clear split at the top. The club's supporters poll is dead even, with 47% saying a right-back is the priority and another 47% choosing a striker, while Everton are aiming to improve on back-to-back 13th-placed Premier League finishes. David Moyes has already been blunt about one part of the job, saying: "Quite simply, Everton have to sign a right-back."

Right-back is the clearest need

The poll tells you why the debate is still open. Supporters are not lining up behind one obvious fix, even though Moyes' own view is direct enough. Everton still have not signed a specialist right-back, and Jake O'Brien could be used there again if needed.

That is why the opening of pre-season matters. Dundee visit on Saturday at 2pm, which gives the club an early chance to test what the squad looks like before the rest of the summer business is sorted. The broader picture is a side that collected 49 points from 38 league matches, scored 47 goals and conceded 50. It was stable, but it was also short of a clean attacking edge and still thin in at least one defensive slot.

The squad is crowded in other areas

The case for another forward is real enough, but the rest of the squad is not empty. Tim Iroegbunam, Carlos Alcaraz and Harrison Armstrong are among the midfield options Moyes is weighing up, while James Garner was the club's Player of the Season and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pushed him close for the honour. In wide areas too, there is enough uncertainty that departures may have to shape arrivals.

Dwight McNeil has just 12 months remaining on his contract, which is part of why the squad-building picture is less straightforward than a simple shopping list. Moyes also said: "The highly rated Armstrong, too, may feel a full season out on loan will be better for his development," while he added of a winger move, "It would take something like that to persuade Everton to do business."

Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed No.1, but the situation behind him is less settled. Mark Travers has been reportedly targeted by promoted Coventry City, and Everton still need a specialist right-back. That is the clearest reason the summer does not yet look like one problem with one fix. Everton's own fans have split the debate, but the squad profile gives Moyes a pretty firm answer on where the first signing should land.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →