"We can't have Jake O'Brien in that position ever again." That sentiment from an Everton supporter this week captures the mood perfectly. Everton finished 13th with 49 points and a minus-3 goal difference, closing form LLDDL across their final five matches. A new right-back is not a luxury signing. It is essential.

The crisis crystallised when Jake O'Brien shifted from right-back to centre-back after Jarrad Branthwaite's injury. Pushed into an unfamiliar role, O'Brien averaged a rating of 6.3 across 10 end-of-season appearances, with a low of 5.5 in a 1-3 defeat to Sunderland. The data showed a defender struggling in an unfamiliar position, particularly in defeats. Emergency cover is necessary in a crisis. It is not a foundation for the season ahead.

Joe Thomas, Everton's correspondent at the Liverpool Echo, lays out what the club needs: "I do think Everton need two viable options in each full-back position and, while James Garner provides good cover, really I would like to see competition and cover there." One signing might patch the immediate crisis. Two creates depth and genuine competition for the shirt, a system where injury does not unravel the entire shape.

The targets and their World Cup credentials

Guéla Doué and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are the names at the top of Everton's shortlist. Both emerge from World Cup 26 with tournament pedigree that speaks for itself. Doué featured in 4 matches for Ivory Coast, averaging a 6.82 rating, with performances ranging from 6.3 against Japan to a 7.48 peak against South Korea. His consistency across different opposition profiles suggests a defender who adjusts well to varied tactical demands. Wan-Bissaka's summer was similarly solid: a 6.93 average across 4 England appearances, including a 7.9 display against Spain. That peak rating came against elite opposition, a detail scouts monitor closely.

Tournament football tests defenders at a level domestic play rarely matches. Doué and Wan-Bissaka both performed when every mistake carried consequence, each emerging with solid credentials in knockout stages. Everton's scouts know what they are getting: defenders already tested at the grandest stage, not prospects still learning the rhythm of elite football.

The window to move is narrow but real. Thomas outlined the timing: "There is still more than six weeks to go and the team at Everton know they will be judged on this, so even with the World Cup, there is plenty of time to get a player over the line—the likes of Guela Doue and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, two of the players they have looked at, are now well into their post-tournament breaks."

Everton's targets are resting between tournaments, not fighting for minutes in club pre-seasons or weighing other offers. The market window exists, but it will not remain open indefinitely. The clock is moving faster than usual summer transfer windows, and the club knows it.

The wider picture

As Everton hunts for defensive reinforcements, other squad decisions shape what the club can deliver. Idrissa Gueye, now 36, is a free agent, and Thomas made the club's thinking clear: "Everton are keen to reduce their reliance on a player who will turn 37 in September and he may well believe he can still play a significant role elsewhere."

The point is not that Gueye is finished. It is that Everton's midfield needs to evolve. Freeing wages and minutes opens space for younger profiles and capital for defensive recruitment.

Doué and Wan-Bissaka offer the battle-tested profiles Everton needs. The club has six weeks to move before pre-season begins.

FAQ

Why does Everton need a new right-back this summer?

Everton finished 13th with a minus-3 goal difference after defensive struggles. Jake O'Brien, forced to play centre-back after Jarrad Branthwaite's injury, averaged 6.3 across 10 appearances. Correspondent Joe Thomas argues the club needs two viable options at right-back for depth and competition.

Who are Everton's right-back targets?

Guéla Doué and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are Everton's primary targets. Both impressed at World Cup 26, with Doué averaging 6.82 for Ivory Coast and Wan-Bissaka averaging 6.93 for England. Both are currently resting after the tournament, giving Everton a narrow window before pre-season begins in six weeks.

Why are Doué and Wan-Bissaka good fits for Everton?

Both defenders performed at the highest level during World Cup 26. Doué appeared in 4 matches for Ivory Coast, averaging 6.82, while Wan-Bissaka averaged 6.93 across 4 England appearances, including a 7.9 display against Spain. Tournament football tests players under maximum pressure, and both proved themselves capable.

When must Everton complete their right-back signing?

Pre-season begins in six weeks. That is the critical deadline Everton's board faces to complete the signing of a new right-back. After that window closes, the opportunity to integrate a new player before the season begins diminishes significantly.

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