While in many ways Everton's summer transfer window has been quite useful, there's a case to be made that, up until the signing of Tyler Dibling yesterday, the club has ignored its three biggest areas of weakness: right wing, right back, and additional depth in the midfield.
Now, at least Everton can cross one spot off the list, but it took them most of the summer to procure one of those needs, which can't make supporters feel good about the club's ability to bring in at least two more players before the window closes.
In truth, the Toffees could probably use as many as three or four more players, although that number seems unlikely to be met. In addition to a true right back and cover for Idrissa Gana Gueye in the midfield, true depth at right wing to pair with Dibling wouldn't hurt, nor would a versatile player who can slide into various spots along the back line in a pinch.
But the fact of the matter is that in order for Everton's 2025 summer transfer window to be successful, they need, at a bare minimum, to fill those final two major needs. It probably wouldn't allow them to move all of their younger players, like Tim Iroegbunam and Harrison Armstrong, out on much needed loans, but it would be fair to assess that window as successful.
For a right back, rumors are centered around Barcelona teenager Hector Fort, with the bulk of the scuttlebutt focusing on a possible loan for the 19-year-old.
In theory, this could be a good move, in that it brings in a talented, modern fullback who could potentially link up well with Dibling on the right side. But in practice, a loan would mean that David Moyes would need to trust Fort almost immediately to step in and play, something he has yet to do with another teenaged fullback Everton signed this summer from a European giant: Adam Aznou.
If Moyes won't play the kid, then bringing in Fort would feel superflous, and the preference would be for Everton to grab a veteran who can fill in as a stopgap at the position, maybe someone like Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon, who was linked with Everton earlier in the window.
Someone like Maitland-Niles makes sense because he could also play in the midfield if needed. With Gana set to go away for AFCON later this year, that will be a slot that will need filling during that period.
The move, then, might be both Fort and AMN, allowing Fort to work his way into the squad while the former Arsenal man starts at right back, with the hope that the Barcelona teenager seizes the role as the season goes on.
This is just one solution to the problem, but without at least adding a right back and another midfielder, the window will feel slightly incomplete. Solid, but still missing all the pieces to be considered fully successful.