Moyes' new Fellaini: Everton ready to bid for "on fire" £19m star
Everton’s transfer window has been a fascinating mix of ambition, pragmatism, and sentiment.
Under David Moyes, the Toffees are working hard to reshape their squad following the departures of several key figures, including Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium has already seen fresh faces arrive, with Moyes bringing in talent such as Thierno Barry from Villarreal, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea, Tyler Dibling from Southampton, and Jack Grealish from Manchester City.
The latter made an immediate impression, providing two assists in the club’s 2–0 Premier League victory over Brighton.
Momentum has slowly begun to build.
Everton recovered from an opening-day defeat at a raucous Elland Road with back-to-back wins: the triumph against Brighton and a professional 2–0 dispatch of Mansfield Town in the EFL Cup.
For Moyes, however, the task of reinforcing his midfield remains urgent.
The Scottish manager has never hidden his preference for industrious, disciplined footballers who combine physicality with tactical intelligence.
It is no surprise, then, that his latest target happens to be a player with whom he shares a deep personal and professional bond.
This towering talent could well be cast in the role once played so effectively at Goodison by Marouane Fellaini.
Everton plotting move for Moyes reunion
Reports from Football Insider suggest Everton are preparing an improved bid for a player Moyes knows better than most: Tomáš Souček.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Czech Republic international, now 30, was first introduced to English football by Moyes during his second spell at West Ham in 2020.
What followed was a highly productive partnership.
Under Moyes’ guidance, Souček became a mainstay in the Hammers’ midfield, making over 200 appearances and establishing himself as one of the most reliable performers in the Premier League.
West Ham, however, are reluctant sellers.
Having already rejected Everton’s opening offer, the East London club are holding firm at a valuation of £19 million.
With his contract running until 2028, they retain leverage, though the recent arrivals of Mateus Fernandes from Southampton and Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco have added considerable depth to their midfield department.
That recruitment drive, coupled with a poor start to the campaign which has seen the Irons lose heavily to Sunderland and Chelsea, could create circumstances in which a deal becomes feasible.
From Everton’s perspective, the move would represent a deliberate attempt to reintroduce a profile of player Goodison Park has missed since Fellaini left for Manchester United in 2013.
Reports suggest the player himself is keen on the move, eager for another spell under Moyes in what could be one of the more emotive transfers of the summer window.
Why Soucek can be Moyes' new Fellaini
The parallels between Souček and Fellaini go well beyond stature.
Moyes’ Everton sides of the late 2000s were built on work ethic and tactical discipline, but they were also elevated by Fellaini’s unique capacity to blur the line between midfield and attack.
The Belgian was capable of breaking up play, bullying defenders, and popping up with crucial goals – qualities Souček has replicated at West Ham.
During his West Ham tenure, the towering midfielder was trusted implicitly by the Scottish coach.
Souček has netted 42 times and registered 13 assists across 248 games for West Ham, while also writing his name into the club’s history books by helping them win the Europa Conference League in Prague – his hometown – against Fiorentina.
Matches Played
35
Goals
9
Assists
1
Progressive Carries
9
Progressive Passes
74
On a purely footballing level, the Czech international looks an excellent addition to Moyes’ evolving side.
His statistical profile underscores exactly why Everton are pressing to secure his services.
Standing at 1.92m, Souček has long been regarded as one of the Premier League’s most dominant aerial presences.
According to FBref, last season he averaged 3.47 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, a figure that places him among the most effective midfielders in Europe when it comes to contesting the ball in the air.
For an Everton side that relies on set-piece opportunities, this could prove invaluable.
His influence, however, extends far beyond his heading ability.
His work rate is exceptional, as reflected in his defensive and transitional metrics.
He recorded 1.61 tackles per 90, complemented by 1.44 blocks, providing reliable cover in central areas.
Where Fellaini once provided an outlet for direct balls, shielding possession and driving his team forward, Souček offers the same avenue in a modernised form.
He is adept at progressing the ball through carries, averaging nine progressive carries per 90, which speaks to his ability to break lines and drive his team forward.
While his passing accuracy of 73.8% is not elite, his 74 progressive passes per 90 underline a willingness to take risks and move play vertically, something Moyes has historically encouraged.
In the final third, Souček continues to be a consistent goal threat.
Averaging 1.93 shots per 90, with 0.60 of those on target, he boasts a shot accuracy rate of nearly 31%.
That productivity translated into ten direct goal involvements last season, impressive numbers for a player often tasked with the less glamorous defensive side of midfield work.
His ability to time late runs into the penalty area remains one of his defining attributes, as highlighted by Joe Cole’s description of him being “on fire” when he netted in three consecutive games for the Hammers in 2023.
For Everton, this mixture of stamina, power, and goal threat would offer a dimension currently missing in their midfield.
The loss of Doucouré, who combined industry with forward penetration, has left a void that needs filling.
Souček is one of the few realistic options who can provide comparable output while also bringing proven Premier League pedigree and leadership qualities honed across more than 80 caps for the Czech Republic.
The emotional element should not be overlooked either. Moyes is not simply chasing a functional squad piece; he is targeting one of his most trusted operators.
The Fellaini comparison may feel nostalgic, but it is apt.
Both players are midfielders who thrive when trusted as disruptors rather than facilitators, who can dominate aerially and arrive late in the box to devastating effect.
Everton fans know better than most how valuable that can be. Souček’s familiarity with Moyes’ tactical demands means the adaptation period would be minimal.
The Everton manager has always valued loyalty and understanding, and in that respect, the midfielder is a tailor-made signing.
The new Barry: Everton chasing late move for another "special" English star
Everton are interested in signing an England U21 star.
1 ByWill Miller Aug 29, 2025