How Everton’s stunning new-look £273m side could line up in 2026 - if Man United and Lazio targets are signed

After David Moyes’ early success in his second stint at Everton was dismissed by some as a flash in the pan, it now looks like the Toffees could return to European football under the Scot if they continue on their current trajectory.

Of course, that will hinge on whether he’s allowed to further strengthen his squad in January with right back and striker particular positions of need.

Moyes’ signings at the Hill Dickinson Stadium have been spectacularly hit-and-miss with the Toffees’ second most expensive arrival Tyler Dibling failing to register a goal contribution yet - though he’s at least been better than the top player in that list, Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Meanwhile Thierno Barry has flattered to deceive, but they’ve been covered by the way Moyes has turned around the careers of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye and Jake O’Brien. So who could be next on that list as an Everton January signing?

Sanchez can be new Coleman at right-back

The plan on Merseyside still seems to be to return O’Brien to his natural position of centre-back, where he’s made just a quarter of his appearances in royal blue.

Everton failed to bring in a right-back to facilitate that in the summer but it’s set to be their top target position in January and Juanlu Sanchez has been heavily linked with a move to the Toffees.

Aged only 22, the Sevilla youngster has already racked up 65 La Liga appearances and started this season as Matias Almeyda’s preferred option at right-back. Priced at €20 million (£17m), that could prove to be a bargain for a player who is still raw but has all the tools to become both a defensive lynchpin (he’s particularly strong at defending dribblers) and a key attacking asset.

And of course, O’Brien’s presence would mean Moyes could ease him into Premier League life rather than throwing him into the fire.

Mainoo can sprinkle stardust on Everton midfield

Kobbie Mainoo and Everton pushed for a loan move in the summer that was blocked by Ruben Amorim, which seems a strange decision in hindsight given Mainoo has been allowed just 68 minutes since the transfer window shut.

Mainoo is a microcosm of everything that’s gone wrong with Manchester United in the last two seasons - a player who started all of England’s knockout games in their run to the Euro 2024 final yet now hasn’t even been called up to a Three Lions squad in over a year.

Having just turned 19, Mainoo was named player of the match and scored as the Red Devils stunned Manchester City in the 2024 FA Cup final and looked set to be a future captain for his boyhood club yet Amorim’s steadfast refusal to adjust his system even slightly to fit the generational players at his disposal means Mainoo’s very future at Old Trafford is now in doubt.

His price tag plummeted from £70m to £45m by the end of the last transfer window and will have fallen even further since then, so a loan move to Everton with the opportunity to revive his fortunes and raise his price tag under a manager so adept at developing talent looks more attractive by the minute.

Mainoo is simply too talented not to thrive and the environment Moyes has created at Everton would surely bring out the best in him while the 20-year-old’s presence on the ball could further enhance the Toffees’ ability to play quickly up the field and give Grealish and Ndiaye possession in space high up the pitch. It’s either that or he signs for Napoli and immediately becomes a Ballon d’Or contender…

Everton must avoid Man United trap at striker

It must’ve been pretty harrowing for Everton fans to see that the answer to their striker troubles could be signing Joshua Zirkzee on loan. The less said about that rumour the better, which means we can focus on the murmurs linking Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Having starred for Girona, Castellanos endured a difficult debut campaign at Lazio but bounced back in style in his sophomore season, notching 14 goals. And he’s carried that form into 2025/26 netting twice in six games, putting him well on course to hit double figures again if he stays fit this season.

Everton were chasing the 27-year-old this summer with the Serie A club closed to potential sales but they’ve reportedly now opened up bidding, aiming for £30m, and if he continues his strong Serie A form he’ll be well worth a punt by the Toffees whose owners want to make a splash in the next two transfer windows.

Everton 2026 starting XI if predictions come true: Pickford; Sanchez, O’Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Mainoo, Garner; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Castellanos.