Signing a right-back is arguably the biggest priority at the moment for Everton, but The Friedkin Group’s latest stance will not go down well.
Seamus Coleman has left the club, and the expectation is that Nathan Patterson will be sold – Eintracht Frankfurt have expressed an interest.
Just focusing on Everton’s right-back search, who should the club bring in this summer and why? 🤔
From Spence, to White, to Norton-Cuffy, there have been links to so many players so far…
Last weekend, David Moyes fielded Merlin Rohl at right-back against Dundee.
Although the German did well, it was yet another square peg in a round hole, and fans are concerned that a new signing still hasn’t been made.
And now, The i Paper have made a worrying claim about the club’s stance on signing a new right-back.
Everton prepared to wait to sign new right-back
The i Paper have reported this morning that Everton will not be rushed into signing a new right-back.
They write: “Spurs defender Djed Spence had admirers at Everton but his excellent World Cup performances may now put him out of the club’s reach and Toffees’ sources indicate that they are prepared to play the waiting game for the ‘ideal’ candidate to fill the right-back slot.”
If this really is Everton’s attitude to signing a new right-back, then it’s cause for real concern.
This is a position that has needed attention for some time.
Jake O’Brien had some good games there at first. But it’s clear his best position is in the middle, and the O’Brien-Jarrad Branthwaite partnership needs to be given a proper chance.
| Notable Everton right-back links |
| Ben White |
| Djed Spence |
| Rico Lewis |
| Guela Doue |
| Raoul Bellanova |
| Brooke Norton-Cuffy |
He simply cannot be the regular right-back again in 2026/27.
And neither can Rohl, nor James Garner.
Everton need to sign a natural right-back who can potentially lock down the position for years to come – just like Coleman did.
At the moment, it seems the club are not treating this situation with enough severity.
Everton have had plenty of time so far this summer to get somebody in and they haven’t. They have known it’s a problem position, and yet there has still been no movement. Money is obviously tight, but this is not going to wash with fans.
Arguably, this should have been sorted even before the deals for Hayden Hackney, Tyrique George and Rohl.
By taking this stance, Everton are now likely going to head into the new season with either Rohl or O’Brien at right-back, or a new player who – crucially – will not have had a full pre-season with the team.
So The Friedkin Group, David Moyes and the recruitment team are making life difficult for the new signing before he has even arrived at the club.
Fans have been growing irritated in recent days, but this development really does risk their fury.
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