Defensive woes push Everton for Aznou and 5 more signings
Everton have submitted an offer for Bayern Munich's promising young defender Adam Aznou, but manager David Moyes admits the club still needs to make 5-6 more signings before the transfer window closes.
The defensive crisis was evident in Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, where Everton conceded all three goals in the second half without injured center-backs James Tarkowski and Jarrod Branthwaite.
This performance confirmed Moyes' concerns expressed earlier in New York, where he stated Everton needed "9-10 new signings." After the Bournemouth loss - their second preseason defeat following a loss to Championship side Blackburn - Moyes stood by his assessment:
"We've signed three players, so we still need maybe five or six more. I've never had to make so many signings in one window before."
Everton's summer business so far:
- Permanent signing of midfielder Carlos Alcaraz
- Goalkeeper Mark Travers joining the squad
- Record £27m signing of French striker Thierno Barry
The club has suffered significant departures, including striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure after their contracts expired. While Branthwaite is among four players to sign new deals, Moyes emphasized:
"We're working hard behind the scenes to complete more transfers."
About target Adam Aznou:
- 19-year-old Moroccan international left-back
- Joined Bayern Munich's academy at 16 after leaving Barcelona
- Made 4 appearances for Bayern's first team
- Spent second half of last season on loan at Real Valladolid
While confirming the offer, Moyes tempered expectations about the young defender's immediate impact:
"We've made an offer for Aznou. He's a young player with good potential, but we shouldn't expect too much too soon."
