Everton after Moyes - The challenges ahead

Exit interviews

Moyes has taken his backroom staff along to Manchester United, which is quite the expected move when a manager makes a change to a bigger club, and it leaves Everton in a mess. Martinez also followed the tradition and shifted his quota of loyal staff to Goodison Park, but it is not the same equation.

Moyes is at Manchester United, a club which has its feet dug into the ground, ready to dive into the new season, whereas Martinez needs a much greater effort to tie up all the loose ends.

One of these loose ends is the squad. Talents like Fellaini are already being pulled into transfer speculation, courtesy their former manager who clearly shares a bond with these players. Moyes literally raised the talent at Everton, adding the buy-out clauses that now plague him, but he will have the first refusal for certain.

In case of Marouane Fellaini, David Moyes will have the first refusal

Martinez needs to clamp down on any unwanted attention and latch on to any talent that may play a part in his vision for the club. Fellaini certainly makes the cut, unless his transfer money will be used to channel others, but the outgoing talent usually raises red flags for teammates, eventually leading to questions and discussions which dilute the manager’s word. Everton do not want to be in the middle of a tug of war, and they urgently need a Plan B.

Stop Loss

Martinez has already signed winger Gérard Deulofeu on loan from Barcelona, and Arouna Kone has been picked up from sinking Wigan. James McCarthy seems next, but will apparently cost £8 million, which is a little wayward honestly. Antolin Alcarez and Joel Robles have also been thrown a lifebuoy.

But these signings have put the current crop under pressure.

For instance, Nikica Jelavic has expressed his concern after Kone was brought in. A clear sign of merging squads, Everton players cannot afford to be at the wrong end of a monumental shift. Then there is also the case of Leighton Baines, the 29-year-old left back, who will appreciate a move to an interested United, but how soon will Martinez come to terms with the eventual void is a major issue.

Everton need to move fast and quick to plug gaps and tap the talent. If Martinez wants to pick up from where Moyes left, it is going to be a grueling transfer window and an even more harrowing season.