Everton are looking to bolster their squad this summer ahead of a potentially exciting 2025/26 season.
Everton’s mathematical safety was confirmed at the weekend, with Ipswich Town losing to Chelsea in the Premier League.
Ahead of the defeat to Manchester City, David Moyes revealed he has now visited the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. He had previously suggested he was waiting for the club’s safety to be confirmed.
Evertonians have been delighted with Moyes’ second spell in charge so far, and there is genuine optimism that the good times could return under the Scot.
But in order for that to happen, Everton will need to be very active this summer.
A string of players are leaving the club, either through their contracts expiring or being bought by other clubs. Loan players are also set to return to their parent clubs.
Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom both stand to return to their parent clubs this summer, and so, a new winger should be on the agenda.
And there’s one possible avenue Everton may wish to explore.
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Former Everton target Leon Bailey increasingly likely to leave Aston Villa
It’s been reported by Give Me Sport that Leon Bailey is growing ‘increasingly likely’ to leave Aston Villa.
The Jamaica international has struggled to feature prominently this season for Villa.
In January, they brought in Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio on loan, making minutes even harder to come by.
It is suggested by GMS that Bailey is set to become more ‘open-minded about walking away from Aston Villa if it becomes clear that he does not fit into Emery’s future vision.
It’s very possible this update may now place Everton on red alert.
Because the club had interest in Bailey in the summer of 2021, just before his move to Villa.
A report from The Athletic claimed that former sporting director Marcel Brands had scouted Bailey ‘extensively’ during the winger’s time at Bayer Leverkusen.
But it was Villa who would land the star, for a fee in the region on £25 million (BBC Sport).
Rafa Benitez missed out, but did then bring in Andros Townsend to Goodison Park on a free transfer.
Everton should consider Bailey transfer swoop, he’d be Jack Harrison upgrade
Everton could do worse than to make some enquiries about Bailey this summer.
It’s been a tricky season for him, having scored just two goals and made four assists across 36 appearances.
Increased competition and some injury problems have seen him falter recently, so perhaps a change of environment is what he needs. And what better environment than Bramley-Moore Dock, which is the new home of a club on the up.
In the 2023/24 season, Bailey shone for Villa, scoring 14 goals and making 14 assists in 52 appearances.
We have all seen Jack Harrison’s struggles this season and his lack of output in the final third surely makes a permanent move to the Toffees unlikely. Harrison does wants a permanent move to Everton, but it remains to be seen if his wish will be granted.
Right winger Bailey has shown during his time in English football that he is an exciting player who can make things happen, and he could well light up Everton’s new stadium if Moyes wants to take a chance on him.
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