Everton's summer target list already says plenty about where the work is. They have not made a signing yet, and the clearest thread is a search for right-back solutions that fit the budget as much as the squad plan. David Moyes wants upgrades, but the club also need value after finishing 13th with 49 points.
Right-back comes first
The most eye-catching line from the list is simple enough: Everton probably need two right-backs. Raoul Bellanova is one name in the frame, with Atalanta holding a player they paid €25 million for less than two years ago. Bellanova has also played 207 minutes across his last five matches and carries a 6.68 average rating in that span, which suggests a player who has been involved rather than frozen out.
That does not make him a perfect fit. A liverpoolecho.co.uk columnist put it bluntly: “Yes, Everton desperately need a right-back, in fact they probably need two, but I’m not sure whether the Italy international fits the bill.” The same target list also includes Guela Doue, who is described as a right-back with 7 assists for Strasbourg last season.
The fee gap shapes the chase
Doue is the clearest example of the money question. The reported asking price is £40 million, and the column says that figure appears to be out of Everton's range. That is the problem running through the wider search: the club are not looking for glamour buys, they are trying to solve a structural issue without overpaying for it.
Everton finished 13th in the Premier League with 49 points, 13 wins, 10 draws and 15 defeats. Those numbers do not scream crisis, but they do explain why the summer is being framed around reliability rather than reputation. The squad needs more dependable options, and the right side of defence looks like the first place to start.
The names linked so far are very different in profile. Bellanova is a 26-year-old right-back at Atalanta. Doue is younger, carries attacking output, and comes with the kind of fee that makes recruitment awkward. If Everton do move on any of them, the club's first signing of the summer will say as much about budget discipline as it does about the player chosen.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →