David Moyes is not wasting any time. While the ink on his return to the Goodison Park dugout is barely dry, the Scot is already reshaping his squad wi...
David Moyes is not wasting any time. While the ink on his return to the Goodison Park dugout is barely dry, the Scot is already reshaping his squad with the kind of decisiveness that has defined his best work. GoalZaza has learned that Everton are now on the verge of a significant double strike, closing in on deals for Chelsea winger Tyrique George and Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.The George situation is a fascinating subplot. Having spent the second half of last season on loan at the club, making 11 appearances, the young winger clearly left a mark. Chelsea inserted a 25 million pound option into that deal, a figure Everton ultimately chose not to trigger. Yet here we are, Moyes is now pushing to resurrect that arrangement. The interesting tactical nuance here is what George offers. He is not just a wide man who hugs the touchline; he has the ability to drift into half spaces and support the striker, giving Moyes that crucial tactical flexibility in the final third. The question now is whether the fee has shifted, or if a new structure of payment has been agreed to get this over the line.Meanwhile, the engine room is being addressed with the capture of Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney. The midfielder is expected to undergo his medical imminently. Hackney is a player who has quietly become one of the Championship's most intelligent operators. He can dictate tempo, break the lines with a pass, and perhaps most crucially for Moyes, he offers a goal threat from deep. For a team that often finds itself in the mixer come May, having a midfielder who can arrive late in the box and offer clinical finishing is a serious asset. This is not a flashy signing; it is a smart, functional one that suggests Moyes is prioritising grit and intelligence over mere star power.There is always a risk with a January window. Clubs ask for the moon and you often end up paying for the stars. But Everton's approach here feels measured. They are going back for a player they know, George, and bringing in a footballer in Hackney who is hungry to prove himself at the top level. If both deals go through, it sends a clear message from the boardroom and the technical area: this club is not just fighting to stay afloat; it is building for something more sustainable. The real challenge, of course, will be integrating these young legs into a team that has often played on the back foot. How quickly can they adapt to the low block and the brutal realities of a Premier League relegation scrap Moyes will be hoping the answer is 'immediately'.
