After the struggles to improve the senior squad during the latter stages of the summer transfer window, many Everton supporters would have been fearing for their safety in 2026/27.

David Moyes’ men struggled to add to the senior squad before the window slammed shut, with the failure to secure the signature of Folarin Balogun summing up their luck in the market.

However, the Toffees have managed to still start the new campaign in the tremendous form, subsequently avoiding defeat in all seven of their games across all competitions.

They have managed to do so after the departure of one key senior member of the squad, and the decision to sell the player appears to be a masterstroke.

Why Everton made the right decision selling McNeil

For years, winger Dwight McNeil was a regular starter within the Everton senior ranks and often popped up with key goals in their hunt to fend off relegation.

The 2024/25 campaign was his best on Merseyside, as the Englishman registered 11 combined goals and assists across all competitions, but it’s safe to say he endured a huge decline last season.

He failed to find the back of the net in any of his 25 appearances throughout 2025/26, with the hierarchy even rejecting offers from Nottingham Forest for the attacker.

However, this summer, the hierarchy decided to sanction a sale for the 26-year-old, with McNeil joining Crystal Palace and Brennan Johnson moving in the opposite direction.

During the first two games for his new side, the former Toffee has struggled to deliver, subsequently making just a single start and registering just a single shot on goal.

He’s already been dispossessed a staggering 2.2 times per 90 this campaign, with such a tally higher than 87% of players in England’s top-flight this term.

Out of possession, McNeil has been just as ineffective for the Eagles, as seen by his tally of being dribbled past 2.2 times per 90 - also placing him in the bottom 5% of attackers in Europe.

Why Everton need to sell one player this January

Despite the deal for McNeil being sanctioned this summer, it’s safe to say Moyes still needs to be brutal with numerous members of his senior squad to achieve any form of success.

The Toffees have now failed to finish in the top half in any of the last five seasons, with the fanbase crying out for progress during the 2026/27 campaign.

The unbeaten start is undoubtedly a positive start to the new season, but it’s crucial that the senior members of the squad maintain their impressive early form.

However, one player has struggled to deliver his best performances over the last few weeks, with the club needing to make the call and move Vitaliy Mykolenko on in the near future.

The Ukrainian left-back, who joined the club in January 2022, has featured in every minute of the club’s Premier League campaign to date under Moyes.

He’s been a consistent performer over recent years, but his performances have always left the supporters wanting more from the 27-year-old at both ends of the pitch.

Their demands have been warranted, as the full-back has only managed to score four times in his 166 appearances for the club - an average of once every 42 outings.

However, his underlying stats from the current campaign showcase why there’s still room for improvement in such an area and why he should be moved on in January.

Mykolenko has only created an average of 0.4 chances per 90 so far this campaign, whilst also only being able to pick out a teammate with 9% of his crosses into the box.

Both of the aforementioned figures showcase his struggles within attacking areas of the pitch, with the full-back ranking in the bottom 20% of all players in his position this campaign.

Even without the ball, the Ukrainian international has struggled to contain the opposition, which has seen him be dribbled past 1.2 times per 90 - the most of any defender in Moyes’ squad.

Such a figure also places him below 85% of other defenders in England’s top-flight, further reaffirming his struggles at both ends of the pitch over recent times.

There’s no denying Mykolenko has been a player who has helped the club get out of tricky moments, but there’s always a point in which a player achieves all they can.

It’s clear he’s not at the level needed for the club to progress in the near future, with a new left-back needed if the club are to have any chance of sustaining their early-season form.