David Moyes responds to Everton’s reported deadline day rejection

David Moyes responds to Everton’s reported deadline day rejection David Moyes Dismisses James Garner to Chelsea Rumours as Everton Squad Issues Mount David Moyes has shut down the suggestion that Chelsea tried to sign James Garner on Deadline Day, and he did it without any ambiguity. The Everton manager was asked directly about claims of a late move from Stamford Bridge and his answer left no room for interpretation. “What was said was completely untrue, so I don’t know where that’s come from. There’s no truth in that whatsoever.” That should settle it. Chelsea were scrambling in the final hours of the window, that much is clear, but Garner was not part of it according to the Everton boss. With Enzo Fernandez heading to Manchester City, Chelsea were hunting for midfield cover and looked to have a deal lined up for Monaco’s Lamine Camara before that collapsed. Garner then surfaced in the rumour mill. Moyes has now binned that story. Photo IMAGO James Garner rumours put to bed From Everton’s perspective, the timing of the claim never made much sense anyway. Moyes closed the window with only 18 senior players in his squad, hardly the sort of position where a manager waves through a key midfielder on the final day. Everton were trying to do business of their own and came away short. Talks for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun broke down right at the end, while a late loan move for Joshua Zirkzee was turned away by Manchester United. They have also been linked with West Ham’s Taty Castellanos, another sign that the club know reinforcements are required. Photo IMAGO Everton transfer window leaves Moyes frustrated The bigger issue here is not Chelsea. It is Everton’s window and the obvious dissatisfaction of their manager. Beto, Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson all left and none of them were replaced. That has left Moyes thin on numbers and, plainly, unimpressed. He said: “If you want success, then you all need to be aligned. I think we’ve got new owners in who are still finding their way at the club. I think as we get to know each other a bit more, it will be better. “I know what I needed and I know what it’s like to build a squad for the Premier League. I know the numbers you need. I’ve been around long enough to know that, but some things went against us and some things could have gone better. “Ultimately, we didn’t want to lose a lot of the players, but for different reasons that had to happen. They’re all going to have to be able to muck in as we’ve got a real small squad now.” Everton academy may get unexpected opening That last line matters. Everton’s academy players may now get minutes not as a development exercise, but because there may be little alternative. Moyes acknowledged as much when he said: “It gives opportunities to some people who have not had them and sometimes in football you need to be given that chance so that you can show what you can do.” That is the reality at Everton. The James Garner to Chelsea story has been dismissed. The squad shortage has not. And unless results hold up, that will be the part people remember.