1. James Garner
Everton have been looking at central midfield options this summer, and with Idrissa Gana Gueye officially back with the team, the Toffees have been looking at possible pairing options. Garner, who can also play fullback, has seemingly been relegated to a bench role after playing over 40 games in the 2023-2024 season for Everton.
Although he is certainly not a top midfielder by any means, there are other positions that Everton are looking to invest heavily in, and a strong performance in pre-season could make Everton reconsider their midfield as a spot to completely revamp.
2. Nathan Patterson
Everton were close to signing Kenny Tete for the right back position, but alas, that ship has sailed, and Patterson is currently Everton's best option at right back. Since it is almost guaranteed that the front office will bring in some competition, Patterson's future at the club is incredibly cloudy.
A strong performance in pre-season could save his Everton career. However, I think it's clear that bodies are needed in that position, and while it's unlikely that Patterson will start, there's still some use for him.
But, if he doesn't perform soon, maybe Everton will look to move him to another club before the Premier League season begins, which would mark an end to his unremarkable Everton career, which held so much promise at the start.
3. Dwight McNeil
McNeil has been one of Everton's best performers since his arrival at the club in 2022. Unlike other positions, though, Everton have invested a lot into the forward positions, possibly leaving McNeil as the odd man out. We could see a scenario where Ndiaye, Charly Alcaraz, and a big right-wing signing all force McNeil to settle for rotation minutes.
Charly and McNeil will both try to prove to Moyes that they deserve to be part of Everton's front four this next season, but McNeil honestly has more to lose than Charly, which is why this pre-season might make or break his future as a key contributor for the Toffees.