JUST IN: “I am not overly concerned because…” – Moyes aims sly dig at Everton hierarchy with shocking transfer statement after pre-season defeat
Everton Fall Short Again in Summer Series as Moyes Issues Stark Warning to Club Hierarchy
Everton’s difficult pre-season continued with another disappointing result in the Premier League Summer Series, falling to a 2-1 defeat against West Ham United on U.S. soil. Despite taking an early lead through veteran midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, the Toffees once again failed to hold onto their advantage — raising fresh concerns ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Gueye’s goal initially gave Everton hope of turning their pre-season fortunes around. However, that optimism was short-lived following a costly error by newly signed goalkeeper Mark Travers. The former Bournemouth shot-stopper misjudged a cross, weakly punching the ball into the path of Lucas Paquetá, who took full advantage of the open net to restore parity for the Hammers.
The defensive woes continued for Everton as they conceded a second in comical fashion. West Ham’s summer acquisition, Niclas Füllkrug, picked up the ball near the halfway line and drove unchallenged through a disjointed Everton backline. Not a single defender stepped up to apply pressure, allowing the German international to coolly slot the ball into the bottom corner, completing the turnaround and sealing the win for West Ham.
This latest defeat adds to a frustrating run of pre-season fixtures for David Moyes’ side. Everton have failed to register a single win in their last four outings, having drawn against Accrington Stanley and suffered losses to Blackburn Rovers, AFC Bournemouth, and now West Ham. The string of poor performances has dampened pre-season expectations, but Moyes remains pragmatic about the situation.
Speaking after the match, the Everton manager offered a blunt assessment of the club’s struggles. “I’m not overly concerned with the results right now,” Moyes told Toffee TV. “We don’t have the players we need, and we knew coming here would be tough. This wasn’t about winning matches — it was about preparation and identifying what we’re missing.”
His message was clear: Everton are lacking both depth and quality, and unless reinforcements arrive, the challenges will only multiply when the competitive action begins. Despite bringing in Thierno Barry, goalkeeper Mark Travers, and young defender Adam Aznou, Moyes is adamant that more signings are required to make Everton competitive.
The club’s pursuit of key targets has been frustratingly fruitless so far. Everton failed in attempts to bring in promising talents such as Malick Fofana, Takefusa Kubo, and Douglas Luiz — all of whom were identified as crucial additions to bolster the squad in midfield and wide areas. With just a few weeks remaining before the Premier League opener, time is running out.
The Toffees kick off their league campaign with a challenging away fixture at Elland Road against newly-promoted Leeds United. Before that, they must navigate high-profile friendlies against Manchester United and AS Roma — matches that will likely test the squad’s resilience and expose the thinness of their ranks.
Moyes, visibly frustrated, hopes the board responds urgently to his plea for more transfer activity. Without immediate reinforcements, Everton risk starting the season on the back foot — and facing another long, grueling campaign.
The signs from pre-season are far from encouraging, and unless significant changes are made, the clouds hanging over Goodison Park could linger well into the season.