Everton’s Moyes on transfer window, fitness update and the challenge of Aston Villa (Full Presser)

Name: Everton’s Moyes on transfer window, fitness update and the challenge of Aston Villa (Full Presser)
Uploaded: 2026-01-16T15:23:35+00:00
Duration: 10 min 1 s
Channel: sportslounge.tv
Description: Everton manager David Moyes on the prospect of the club making transfers in the January window and the challenge of facing Aston Villa Finch Farm, Liverpool, UK

00:00David, just to check on availability, are you getting anyone back this weekend

00:10other than Jack Brealish from suspension?

00:12Probably not, no. There's one or two back in the grass but I don't think they're available for this weekend.

00:19Can you give us any idea of a time frame, thinking of Tim Iraboon and Keenan Dewsbury Hall and Carlos Alcaraz?

00:25No, they're getting closer but they're not training yet.

00:28How much of a positive though, kind of alluded to it, the fact that Jarrod Branthwaite is stepping up his training

00:33and Seamus Coleman we've seen out on the grass this week.

00:35Yeah, both Jarrod and Seamus have been back on the grass, they've been getting involved with training

00:40so good to get Jarrod back, good to get Seamus back as well. So yeah, they're back in amongst it.

00:46I know we keep asking you about transfers but it seems over the past week or so that you've been linked with more and more players

00:51which outside of these four walls kind of raises hopes that you might be able to do something.

00:56What's the reality though?

00:58The reality hasn't changed. We've said all along, we're looking, we're trying.

01:03It's not as if we're not shut ourselves off from the transfer window.

01:08We need players more than ever and we probably need them as soon as possible if we could make that happen.

01:15But more than likely this month is never done particularly quickly so we're still looking.

01:21I'm not sure we will get anything but we're trying.

01:25How do you assess where you're at? Because you're still, what, just four points off fifth place at the moment?

01:30Yeah, look, the league stuff has been okay. We've been doing okay in that.

01:35We're disappointed that we've gone out of the cups early. But no, we want to now finish in a strong position.

01:42We're going to try and work hard to get that. But obviously we need to get all our better players back.

01:48January was always going to be difficult just because, first and foremost, the two boys going to AFCON

01:55and we're thrilled that they've reached the final with Senegal.

01:58But that was two down before we even start, before you talk about suspensions and injuries

02:04and we've had a sort of batch of them in this month which hasn't helped.

02:08So, it's been a difficult period for us just to get things the way we want to.

02:12What have you made of what Villa have done since that goalless draw at home earlier this season?

02:16Because it was a game that you were actually pretty close to winning.

02:19Aston Villa have done remarkable in recent seasons.

02:24I think they've showed great investment.

02:28They've got Aston Villa back where they want to be in around the Champions League

02:31over the last few years in European football.

02:34So, I think Villa are now beginning to challenge all the top teams now.

02:38Obviously, their league position has shown how good they are

02:40and how far up the league they are.

02:43They're an excellent manager.

02:45So, there's a lot of good things Villa are doing.

02:47Thanks, David.

02:48Thanks for the name.

02:49Colton Niles at Premier League Productions.

02:51Hi there.

02:52Hi, David.

02:53Obviously, keeping on the Villa theme,

02:56how difficult is a trip to Villa Park with the way they're playing

03:00and how do you combat their threats?

03:02Well, we'll get threats from every Premier League team.

03:08We have to combat every Premier League team we come up against.

03:12It's always the same thing.

03:14Villa is a great stadium we go and play at Aston Villa.

03:17I think everybody enjoys going and playing there.

03:19We will as well.

03:20But they're certainly in good form.

03:23And Vinny alluded to it.

03:25The fact that you are still, I think three points it is,

03:28off the top six European positions with everything that's happened.

03:32The two boys at AFCON, the suspensions, the injuries.

03:35You're still in a great position, aren't you?

03:37No, we started the season really well and we're still in a really good position.

03:42But we want to be higher.

03:45Maybe two points more makes you feel a bit better because you're further up

03:49and maybe sitting in eighth or ninth if you do that possibly.

03:52So we've got to try and get back on it again.

03:55But it's difficult.

03:57We've not got the strongest squad.

03:59We've had quite a few injuries.

04:00We've had the boys away.

04:01So that's made it difficult for us.

04:04And just finally, on the two lads at Senegal,

04:07obviously everyone from Ineviton Persuasion is a Senegal fan this weekend.

04:11Yeah, no, we're thrilled for the boys.

04:13We're talking about it there.

04:15Just hope if they win they don't celebrate too long

04:17because I need them back.

04:19Thanks, Niles.

04:21We'll go to Julia at Radio Merserside.

04:23Hiya, David.

04:24Have you spoken to them both while they're out there?

04:26Or anyone here?

04:27No, I've not.

04:28No, I've left them alone.

04:30But they'll know that we're watching

04:32and they'll be watching us as well.

04:34I just wanted to ask, around the transfers,

04:37I know you've said to me before that you don't envisage anybody leaving.

04:40There have been some claims that you've knocked back a bid for Illiman NDI.

04:44Is there any truth in that?

04:45Evidently from the look on your face, no?

04:47No.

04:48Absolutely zero.

04:49Truth in that.

04:50So, if there is, I don't know anything about it.

04:53That's for sure.

04:54But as far as I'm concerned, that's...

04:56I've never even heard of it, to be honest.

04:58It's the first I heard.

04:59It sounds like somebody's made that up somewhere.

05:01You know what I mean?

05:02And I would imagine as well, he's somebody that although he's playing in AFCON,

05:06he's now in the final and he's put in some really good performances for Everson already this season,

05:12has been praised.

05:13He's someone, I suppose effectively, he's in the shop window,

05:15but he's a player that's really key to your plans here.

05:17Yeah, we have no intention of letting Illy go, none whatsoever.

05:21By the way, I'm sure there's a price for every player on the planet if you look around.

05:26But, you know, if you're asking me, we've got no intention of selling Illy.

05:29We need him back.

05:30We need him back to give us some creativity and help us score and make goals.

05:34So, we're missing him for all those good reasons.

05:37You are looking, as you say, but it's a difficult window to operate in.

05:41How does the leadership structure work in the transfer window here in Everson?

05:45Who has the final say and how's it operating?

05:48Well, I've got the final say if we want to buy a player or if we don't want to buy a player.

05:53But, obviously, I get told by my superiors how much we've got to spend and what we've got available.

05:59And I have to sort of work off those thoughts.

06:03So, I think Angus came out in the programme a few weeks ago and probably gave us all a pretty good answer coming from the CEO.

06:10So, I think we're in there trying.

06:14But, it doesn't mean that we're just going to take any players just for the sake of it.

06:19You've been using some of the under-21s with you in matches.

06:22I just wanted to ask about Braden Graham.

06:24He's someone that has been quite exciting.

06:27He's only a teenager, but what could he do?

06:29I appreciate it's a huge step up for him.

06:32Is there anything he can do that could maybe force his way into your thoughts at the moment?

06:37Well, I think Braden is doing well.

06:40It's probably at the moment we're needing him to build up his physicality, his all-round speed, etc.

06:46All those things that come from stepping up to the Premier League.

06:49But, no, we're pleased we're getting some of the young boys getting chances to be around it.

06:54And we'll see how they continue.

06:56But, obviously, it's not the young players which we're needing at the moment.

07:00It's the players we've got here who've been in, who are out of the team who we need at the moment.

07:03And they're the ones we really need back.

07:06I think it's because sometimes people think, well, just use the kids.

07:10Is it completely different to what they're used to going on in a Premier League game?

07:14Can you even sort of explain how different that is?

07:17Well, I think I've given as many 16-year-olds a debut as probably any manager in the Premier League over the years.

07:26So, I've got an idea of what it's got to look like to get into the team.

07:30The Premier League's got tougher, got harder.

07:32The level of players which are coming in know players from all overseas.

07:36Maybe when it was last year, 11, 12 years ago, when we were able to bloodquit a few youngsters,

07:41I think it has changed a lot since then.

07:44There's not so many young teenagers playing in the Premier League as there has been in the past.

07:49There is some you could easily reel off.

07:52But I think it is such a big step for a lot of the young ones to step up.

07:56And it's easy to say, why don't you just play some of the young ones?

08:00It's only when you're sitting in this seat, you're always trying to pick the team that gives you the best chance of winning.

08:05I don't know any manager who doesn't do that.

08:08Thank you. Good luck.

08:10Thanks, Julia. We'll go to Carl at the Press Association.

08:12Hi, David.

08:13Just a couple of quick ones.

08:15On the two Senegal lads, a bit tongue-in-cheek, have you had divided loyalties with wanting them to do well,

08:22but the better they do, the longer they're away?

08:25Yeah, well, actually, I thought maybe they'd get knocked out in the semi-final.

08:29I was thinking, oh, maybe I could get them back.

08:31Then I forgot there was a third and fourth playoff game.

08:34You're a fan of third and fourth playoff, say it.

08:36I think probably there's very few people are fans of third and fourth playoff games.

08:40Whether it be, I'm not even sure players would be fans of third or fourth playoff games, to be honest.

08:45No, so when I heard that last week, I thought, you know, before the game of Wednesday, I thought if they'd get knocked out, we might have got them back.

08:54But not to be.

08:55And just on the general transfer thing, you said you get given a number in terms of what the expectations are.

09:02I don't expect you to tell what that number was, but was it in line with what you thought you would be able to work with?

09:10I mean, I know every manager always wants more.

09:13All managers were always hoping to get bigger numbers, but I think it's been the sort of the club has outlined.

09:20You know, we spent in the summer, that was the main part.

09:23You know, it's not me who's saying it.

09:24You can see the CEO saying it as well, that we don't expect to be doing too much business.

09:28So that's where we are with it, really.

09:32I think we had a lot of players in with about 12 or 13 players out of contract in the summer,

09:36so it's been quite a big turnaround already.

09:39But I'm genuine, if I can get a couple of new players in, the club will certainly back me.