TA: Everton Wanted Doué but Found Him Too Expensive; Maitland-Niles Makes Immediate Impact

According to The Athletic, Everton wanted to sign Guéla Doué but found him too expensive, while bringing in Maitland-Niles has already paid off.

There has already been plenty written and said about their painful ending to the final stage of the summer window: they failed to sign enough cover at full-back, players left, and more importantly, Balogun’s transfer collapsed at the final moment, leaving Moyes with only one recognised first-team striker.

The irony of this match was that the player who stole the headlines was actually the signing they completed on Tuesday — Maitland-Niles. And if Gana had not suffered cramp after replacing Leao and moving to right-back for a few minutes, he might not even have entered the game.

It was 95 minutes and 10 seconds when the 29-year-old, who had come on as a substitute in the 77th minute, delivered the decisive moment. His shot flew like a missile into the top-right corner of the south stand goal at Hill Dickinson Stadium, leaving goalkeeper Lammens with no time to react.

Considering he had scored only six goals in 119 appearances for French club Lyon over the previous three seasons, this was not a bad finish. After the match, Maitland-Niles, still looking unable to believe it, said: “I can’t put into words how I feel right now.”

“That was a brilliant goal,” Moyes said. “The technique. Everyone will look at how he put it away with the goalkeeper unable to move. We are still getting to know Ainsley — how he trains and how we want to play. That will take a little time.”

Everton, this is what happens when you sign a right-back.

Maitland-Niles was a market bargain, with the total cost of his signing around £4 million. Everton looked at many options and tried many players to fill the position, from Crystal Palace wing-back Daniel Muñoz, to Nottingham Forest’s move that ultimately returned the player to Glasner’s squad, and then Fulham’s Castagne and Tete.

They had originally wanted to pursue their top target Guéla Doué, but the price put them off. The player later joined German club Bayer Leverkusen from French side Strasbourg for a reported €37 million fee. In the final stages of the window, after the Tete deal failed to progress, Everton turned to the Arsenal academy graduate to provide more experienced competition for Leao, who is still adapting to his new full-back role.

The impact of the new signing was immediately visible and helped Everton secure a draw. Against a mid-table-level Manchester United side, the value of this point was clearly more than just one point.

The emotions at the final whistle said everything. It reflected Everton’s resistance and unity when facing the adversity they have often encountered in recent years. After all, problems created by themselves are still problems.

Leao was restricted at right-back by the improving Rashford. The team’s only left-back, Mykolenko, was also far from convincing and was partly responsible for the goal in which Mbeumo opened the scoring. Moyes described that concession as “very poor.”

There was no reliable striker option on the bench unless Chermiti can regain form. Summer signing Nørgaard is not expected back until before the international break between late September and early October. Gana spent most of the summer sidelined after hernia surgery and is still recovering his condition.

Manchester United often exploited Everton’s 4-1-4-1 formation, repeatedly pushing into the space beside lone defensive midfielder Gana while also using Rashford against Leao’s disadvantage in the matchup. At times, they almost cut through Everton however they wanted.

Remember, this was still a relatively complete Everton side, with only Nørgaard missing.

The key now is ensuring England international centre-back Branthwaite, and even Barry, remain fit. Any further injury crisis would immediately expose them.

Because of how the summer window ended, the relationship between supporters and the club hierarchy, including ownership issues involving the Friedkin Group, has become tense. It is difficult to understand how Everton have returned to a position repeated in recent seasons: once again relying on a manager, this time Moyes, and the supporters to drag the team through difficulties.

That is why this match felt so dangerous, and why securing a positive result was so important.

Yet Everton on Sunday truly came together, fighting through in the way they do best. Maitland-Niles’ goal was crucial; after a difficult week, this could be a moment that lifts the team’s confidence. Eight days earlier, captain Tarkowski had rescued a point in stoppage time against Bournemouth.

Moyes and his team will keep fighting.

The Scot said: “I told them there would be no excuses, and the players agreed. Everyone really bought into that. Sometimes when you have fewer players available, it means everyone has to be ready at all times. Of course I wanted to win, but for the supporters this was a good moment. When you are behind, you need players to hold on. Everyone kept running and fighting, and that was done so well.”

After the match, Moyes was asked whether Everton often perform better when facing difficulties. His answer reflected the club’s current situation.

“I would say we are quite good at that, but I don’t want to always be in those moments,” he said. “What I want is a club that is building, ambitious, and trying to challenge all the top teams. I want every top team to see that we are competitive.”

Everton achieved that on Sunday. At least for now, that is what matters most.