Everton were just a point above the relegation zone when Sean Dyche left the club in January. David Moyes was brought in as the replacement, but fans expected the Scot to struggle on his return to Goodison Park.
However, the former West Ham United boss led the Toffees to an impressive run and ultimately secured Premier League safety in style.
Moyes has made a terrific impact, but he now faces a big job to ensure the squad is ready for the next season. Below we have discussed three La Liga players the Merseyside club can target this summer.
Borja Mayoral
Moyes will look to bolster his attacking options this summer, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin out of contract and Armando Broja due back at Chelsea after the expiration of his loan. They have been credited with an interest in Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, but a deal will be difficult to pull off due to the huge competition for the 22-year-old.
Everton could look to sign Borja Mayoral, who has been on the books of Getafe since 2022, scoring 38 goals in 114 appearances. The 28-year-old’s fitness issues limited him to only seven La Liga starts in 2024-25, but he still scored five times for his team.
Thierno Barry
Thierno Barry joined Villarreal last summer from Swiss Super League club FC Basel. The 22-year-old hit the ground running at the Estadio de la Cerámica, scoring 11 times and registering four assists to help his team qualify for next season’s Champions League.
At 22, Barry has his best years of football ahead of him and he could be a smart acquisition for Moyes’ side. But with the centre-forward contracted to Villarreal until 2029, the club may demand a huge fee for a deal this summer.
Nicolas Pepe
Nicolas Pepe failed to live up to his billing in the Premier League after joining Arsenal in 2019. But he has been doing well since joining Villarreal last summer.
The Ivory Coast international endured an injury-plagued season but scored a goal and helped set up two more in the Yellow Submarine’s victory against Osasuna. He also performed well in their subsequent wins against Leganes and Barcelona. Everton could look to sign Pepe in the summer transfer window, and a return to the Premier League could be appealing for the winger.
Stats from Transfermarkt