Everton have work to do over the final hours of the summer transfer window, but there's no question that David Moyes and his coterie of recruitment staff are in position to patch over the holes in this Merseyside squad.

So much optimism gave way to the same creaking familiarity of mediocrity last season. Everton finished 13th in the Premier League for the second season in a row, a seven-game winless run to close the campaign ending hopes of venturing into Europe for the first time in nine years.

That has to be the objective now. But whether Everton manage to get it done depends on how they finish this transfer window, whether they secure their late targets and manage to effectively replace Iliman Ndiaye.

How Everton can replace Iliman Ndiaye

Fans just want some ambition. Everton are the only English club of the 21st century to have not celebrated anything: a trophy, promotion. Ndiaye felt different, like he could spark the kind of silver-laden change these fans so desperately crave, but he's on the cusp of a blockbuster move to Manchester City.

Ndiaye joined Everton from Marseille for around £15m in 2024. Sean Dyche oversaw the deal. The Senegalese forward has since grow into "one of the best players to watch in the Premier League", in the view of sports writer James Nalton.

Last season, he only scored six goals in the top flight, but struggled with a couple of injury setbacks and still influenced to a degree that most flashy forwards fail to match - not just in England, but across the continent.

Brennan Johnson has already arrived, but in a like-for-like switch with Dwight McNeil, who has headed for Crystal Palace. Jack Grealish is on the verge of a comeback, but the Three Lions playmaker will reprise his role on the left, whereas Ndiaye spent the lion's share of his second season on Merseyside as a right winger.

Can Everton pull something out of the bag at the eleventh hour? To be sure, time is running out, but the Toffees are aware that they cannot afford to leave themselves short-changed.

The powers that be might just have the perfect solution.

Everton submit last-minute bid to sign Ndiaye replacement

Time is running out, but Everton are operating on the premise that Manchester City will complete their £65m move for Ndiaye, putting the finishing touches on their big-money move.

According to Sky Germany, Everton have made an official deadline-day proposal to sign Jamie Leweling of Stuttgart. The 25-year-old German international hopes to stay in Germany for the forthcoming campaign, but Everton have submitted a €43m (£37m) bid.

Leweling is a two-sided winger who featured for Germany at the World Cup. He is versatile and explosive, not the fastest winger on the block, but undoubtedly talented enough to make a marked difference at Everton following the completion of Nidaye's move to Manchester.

Leweling might not quite match Ndiaye in regard to electric pace and lightning-rod movements, but goodness, what power. He has an X-factor about him that Ndiaye also brings in a different way, and he is arguably more naturally prolific.

The six foot attacker has played all over the park, but he is at his most clinical on the right, and that is where Moyes will surely unleash him; the contrast with the creative Grealish on the other flank could end up paying dividends for an Everton side in transition, easing the goalscoring burden on Balogun and Thierno Barry.

Everton would hit the jackpot by completing this transfer. Leweling might prefer to stay with Stuttgart, but there is no question that Everton are showing a vested interest as the transfer window reaches the final stage, and if they manage to break through in club-to-club negotiations, Moyes' persuasive negotiating skills really will be put to the test.