It's appropriate that David Moyes’ first game in charge back at Everton is against Aston Villa - because the Merseyside club can learn from them how to succeed in the Premier League. Villa were deep in relegation trouble when Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in October 2022 and only goals scored was keeping them out of the relegation zone. Yet that same season, Emery guided them to seventh and qualified for Europe.
He topped that by finishing fourth last season and leading Villa into the Champions League for the first time since 1982. Emery has achieved all this success without spending oodles of cash and Everton can learn valuable lessons from Villa. And, with Everton hosting Villa in Moyes' first match back at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, Mirror Football takes a look at how their Premier League rivals are the perfect example of how to rebuild the club...
Everton have been handicapped in the transfer market because Sean Dyche had to make a profit for the last two summers. Finding goalscorers was his biggest failing and Villa have achieved the seemingly-impossible in buying them for knockdown fees. Supersub Jhon Duran was signed for just £18million from MLS side Chicago Fire in January 2023 and the Colombian has bagged 12 goals this season. Morgan Rogers cost £8million from Middlesbrough a year ago and the midfielder has contributed seven goals to earn his first England call-up.
Even the £5million they spent on Ross Barkley last summer was well invested and the former England midfielder has four goals and one assist, mainly from the bench. Villa have sold well too and they offloaded Douglas Luiz to Juventus last summer for £42.35million after paying Manchester City £15million for him.
