‘Just boring’ – Premier League club told to make Jack Grealish and Liam Delap double swoop or risk relegation fight

Aug 20, 2026 - 23:45

Everton have been told to become less ‘boring’ in the transfer market and make an ambitious double swoop for Jack Grealish and Liam Delap.

The Toffees have made five summer signings thus far, although they’ve gone under the radar with the total fees amounting to £74million.

David Moyes looks on before the friendly between Everton and Dundee — Everton have been warned they won’t improve on their 13th place Premier League finish lasts season unless they take drastic action in the transfer market

And former Everton defender Ashley Williams feels they need to show more ambition in the transfer window and said the best they can hope for is a 13th place finish in the Premier League table as things stand.

“I just think it’s a little bit boring,” Williams said on Kick Off about Everton’s summer window. “If you’re an Everton fan, it’s so boring at the minute. Everyone else around you is talking about incomings, outgoings, what you’re trying to do.

“What are Everton trying to do? I don’t get it. The best thing they could hope for is 13th again this season. They’re not going to improve on that with the squad they’ve got.

“They’ve brought in a couple of players. They’re not going to get you any higher at all.

“You still don’t really have a striker. You’ve lost Seamus Coleman, which is never mind right-back position, just what you’ve lost in the dressing room is massive.

“It’s just a lack of ambition that I’m seeing from Everton at the minute. You’ve just moved into this massive, unreal stadium that you’re trying to call home.

“David Moyes did an excellent job to steady that first season in a new stadium, which we’ve seen be difficult before. Yes, it’s not the most expansive and attractive football to watch, but they didn’t need that last season. They just needed to be a stable club.

“They didn’t need to get into Europe last season. They’re not ready for that at all. But this season, you’re stable, you’re in a new stadium, you did a good job. Now let’s see, let’s show a bit of ambition to do something. Get the fans a little bit excited for that first game of the season.

“Well, with all due respect, Christian Norgaard, Merlin Rohl, Hayden Hackney, they’re not getting the fans excited at all. There’s still no striker. You’ve got Beto and Thierno Barry. They’re not going to take you any higher than 13th.”

Everton urged to make Delap move

Williams then urged the Merseyside club to pursue striker Liam Delap with Chelsea keen to offload the former Ipswich man.

Liam Delap chases the ball during Chelsea's match against Western Sydney Wanderers — Nottingham Forest are frontrunners to sign Delap but Williams wants to see Everton put a bid in

“Bring some people in the door,” Williams added. Liam Delap, go and get him. Do everything you can do now to go and get him through the door because he needs a team that want him.

“Throw everything at him. I don’t understand why. I really don’t get what they’re doing. It sounds a little bit like David Moyes doesn’t really get the direction either.

“I’m guessing he’s given them targets. Surely these are the players I want. This is the type of profile of player I want.

“They haven’t delivered on anything. There’s nothing to talk about. The fans have got nothing to talk about. It’s just boring for them at the moment.”

Everton also told to sign Grealish

Presenter Natalie Sawyer also suggested another English star whose future remains unclear in Grealish as a player Everton could try and re-sign before the September 1 deadline.

“Absolutely. I’d snap your hand off for Jack Grealish right now because he’s the type of they need quality players like him to enjoy,” Williams responded.

Jack Grealish looks on during the Community Shield — Grealish spent last season on loan at Everton and is in the final year of his Manchester City contract

“I do like what he needs to up his actual productivity. But if you if they can get Jack Grealish back in as well as others, you absolutely take him.”

Everton warned about relegation fight

While Williams and fellow pundit Lianne Sanderson don’t believe Everton will get relegated, they’ve been warned that the season could be an uncomfortable one.

“I don’t think they’ll go down but they’ll be down amongst it,” Sanderson said.

“Barry scored eight goals last year and Iliman Ndiaye scored six. That’s nowhere near good enough. They need someone that can put the ball in the back of the net, but my concern is in the midfield.

“New stadium. It’s fantastic, the Evertonians are so passionate… I think when you don’t strengthen, and maybe that’s David Moyes’ frustration.

“I liked David Moyes when he was at West Ham and I know West Ham fans used to call in the show and hammer me, no pun intended, because they used to say his style of football was no good. So sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.

Hayden Hackney on the ball during Middlesbrough's match against Bristol City — Everton have brought in one of the stars of last season’s Championship in Hayden Hackney, but the Kick Off panel aren’t inspired by these signings

Yes, his style might not be great, but when you look at that squad, it doesn’t excite me at all. They haven’t strengthened… I think they’re going to struggle.”