Everton’s failure to bring in a new centre-forward on transfer deadline day has attracted widespread attention – and rightly so.
David Moyes’ side are in purgatory after Richarlison’s exciting return to Merseyside collapsed and last-minute transfers for Folarin Balogun and Joshua Zirkzee were put on hold.
Beto was sold and, more worryingly, Iliman Ndiaye joined Manchester City for a fee of £65 million in August. Everton’s advantage in attack has disappeared and now Moyes needs to find an internal solution.
Tyreek George stepped up early in the season, and now Tyler Diebling has to step up as well.
Why Tyler Diblin could be a game-changer for Everton
Last summer, Everton spent £40 million to bring Dieblin to the club from Southampton. He shines amid a lackluster group of Saints strugglers, who will suffer relegation at the end of the 2024/25 season.
His former youth team coach Andy Goldie once said that Dieblin was “world class talent“, a man who can continue to wreak havoc at the highest level. However, he has yet to show consistency on Merseyside.
Everton beat Ipswich Town before the international break, with Dieblin replacing the ill Brennan Johnson after the game. He was unstoppable, charging at the Tractor Boys and creating two chances despite taking just nine touches.
This is the kind of full-steam ahead style of football that Dieblin needs to play more consistently. He has been featured too often so far, but perhaps the England teenage star is starting to show his quality as he carried the ball seven times, created two chances and provided an assist against Wolves in the Carabao Cup.
Dieblin is an excellent prospect but he has yet to prove he can do it consistently in the Premier League for Everton. With the club now so starved of attacking talent, it stands to reason that a former youth player should not be allowed to leave Merseyside at all.
Everton have lost Diebring to promotion
There’s a reason why Moyes is so reluctant to give Dieblin the minutes he wants in the Premier League. He made a brief cameo this season, and although it was impressive, he will be on the bench for all of Everton’s league games after January 2025/26, playing a total of one minute.
Would Moyes have more faith in Moyes, who was emerging at Hull City, if he were still at the club?
Cao had previously been on Liverpool’s radar before the international break when he scored a fine consolation goal in Hull City’s defeat by Newcastle United at St James’ Park, and although he is yet to start in the top flight following his £13m move from Nice in the summer, the right-winger has already impressed and it looks like he will be given more opportunities to impress when club football returns.
Joe is quick, always dangerous and could beat Dieblin at Everton if he was in the team. He certainly has more senior experience, having scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in 90 appearances for Nice. Previously, he played for Angers and Real Sociedad in Spain.
Mohamed-Ali Cho – Career Statistics by Position | ||
|---|---|---|
Location | app | Goals + assists |
right winger | 61 | 12+8 |
center | 59 | 4+3 |
left winger | 18 | 2+4 |
attacking midfielder | 2 | 0+0 |
Such versatility would be an invaluable asset to Everton’s attack in 2026/27, where a lack of depth will require Charlie Alcaraz, Johnson and George to fill in for Tierno Barry at No.9. Beto is gone and Ndiaye can no longer work his magic for the club.
Cao’s consistent performances over many seasons in France appear to have set him up for success in the well-oiled Hull City machine. He was starting to get on track. Journalist Antonio Mango said long ago that Cho had a “The ceilings are incredibly high” It’s still early days, but the Tigers are already starting to reap the rewards of Cho’s careful development.
Sadly, that’s not the case for Everton. The 16-year-old slipped through the gates of Finch Farm for no apparent reason and is now playing for Premier League rivals, showing plenty of promise while also hinting at more to come.
The French winger’s smooth dribbling and natural directness in attack would make him the perfect player for Ndiaye to play for Manchester City.
Alas, Moyes will have to make do with what he has. Diblin now has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.