David Moyes, Everton's manager, has revealed that the team is in dire need of new players, especially with eight key players set to miss the upcoming match against Aston Villa. The manager's admission comes as a surprise, given that Everton only brought in one new player, Charly Alcaraz, on loan, during the last winter transfer window. Moyes has been discussing Everton's January transfer window plans in the pre-match press conference, highlighting the team's current struggles and the need for reinforcements.
The substitutes' bench for Everton's recent match against Sunderland was notably weak, with only four players having made previous first-team appearances for the club. Although Jack Grealish, a former Aston Villa star, returns from suspension, none of Everton's injured players are expected to return to the lineup on Sunday. This means that Everton will be without several key players, including Jarrad Branthwaite, Seamus Coleman, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carlos Alcaraz, Tim Iroegbunam, Michael Keane, Idrissa Gueye, and Iliman Ndiaye, who are either injured or participating in the Africa Cup of Nations final with Senegal.
Despite the challenges, Moyes remains optimistic about the team's chances of making new signings. He stated that the club is actively looking for players and is trying to find the right opportunities. However, he also acknowledged that the January transfer window is often slow, and Everton may not be able to sign any new players. Moyes emphasized the team's need for new talent, especially with the current injuries and suspensions, and expressed hope that they can find the right players to strengthen the squad.
Meanwhile, Everton's Under-21s defender, Will Tamen, has signed on loan for League Two neighbors Tranmere Rovers for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. This is Tamen's first loan spell since joining Everton from Burton Albion at the beginning of the last season. He has been a regular starter for Paul Tait's Under-21s, making 18 appearances in all competitions and captaining the side on numerous occasions. Tamen also featured for the first team in pre-season, coming off the bench in the first friendly of the summer at Accrington Stanley.
