'As things stand...' - How many players Everton will sign as Merlin Rohl deal edges closer
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Credit: Imago
Harri Burton
Mon 1 September 2025 16:08, UK
David Moyes wants further recruitments before the transfer deadline as Everton close in on a deal for Freiburg’s Merlin Rohl.
Jack Grealish has been an instant hit at Everton, with Tyler Dibling, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Thierno Barry trying to find their feet as the Toffees hit the ground running in the 2025/26 campaign.
Despite an opening-day defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road, Moyes’ side sit fifth in the Premier League table after three matches, most recently beating Wolves in a five-goal thriller at Molineux.
Rohl, an attacking midfielder by trade but also capable of playing out wide, will add more attacking flair to the forward line at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, though the Blues could do with reinforcing other areas.
Full-back positions have usually been a concern for Everton, even under Sean Dyche, and an injury to Jarrad Branthwaite has left Moyes short of options at the back, which the manager wanted to address.
Credit: Imago
Taking to X (1 September), the Daily Mail’s Dominic King wrote: “Everton getting closer to completing a deal for Merlin Rohl,” who arrives from Freiburg on loan.
He continued: “But that, as things stand, he’s going to be the only addition to the squad before the deadline.
David Moyes wanted a defender, but no suitable deals can be done.”
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Dibling was the biggest talking point over the last few weeks, but after just three Premier League matches, Grealish is looking like the Toffees’ most important signing of the summer.
However, with James Tarkowski and Michael Keane making up the centre-back partnership, supporters will have wished for another defender before the 7pm deadline on Monday, 1 September.
Branthwaite has been sidelined yet again, and if the team’s defensive frailties had not been highlighted enough, their close call against Wolves showed everything the hierarchy needed to know.
Credit: Imago
The Old Gold scored their second with 10 minutes remaining, and had it not been for Jordan Pickford, three points away from home could easily have turned into a single one.
It is unlikely that the young defender is out for a long period, but with Aston Villa, Liverpool, Man City, and Tottenham all on the horizon, it could be a difficult few games.
Clearly, Moyes saw the weakness and wanted to address it before the window closed, but that seems unlikely, with just hours remaining until the deadline.