Everton haven’t always come out the other side of a summer transfer window with instant hits on the pitch.
Nobody connected to the Premier League giants looks back on the summer of 2021 with much fondness when it comes to the capture of Moise Kean, with the Italian forward only managing to bag a poor four goals for the Toffees in total, before ripping it up back in Serie A.
This is, unfortunately, just part and parcel of being deeply involved in the beautiful game, with plenty of mishaps always possible. However, David Moyes isn’t experiencing that right now.
Instead, the much-loved Scotsman seems to have struck instant gold with most of his pick-ups in the window, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s positive start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium somewhat slipping under the radar.
Dewsbury-Hall's positive start at Everton
This is understandable, too, considering Dewsbury-Hall has been competing for the spotlight with Jack Grealish, who already has a stunning four assists next to his name on Merseyside.
Still, Grealish’s whirlwind introduction at Everton shouldn’t detract from his former Chelsea teammate looking equally revitalised, with the 27-year-old midfielder now looking to be back at his very best.
Indeed, after an ego-bruising experience at Stamford Bridge saw him line up just 13 times for the Blues in the Premier League, it was clear that the ex-Leicester City ace needed a reset, and that has successfully come his way under Moyes’ tutelage.
The hope will be that the Toffees’ number 22 can kick on even more after his bright start, though, with a promising goal and an assist heading his way in league action after creating a high eight big chances.
After all, seven goal contributions had fallen into his lap for the Foxes in the big time previously, despite only experiencing two seasons at the level, with a prolonged stay in the division perhaps getting even more out of the £25m signing in the long run.
Shockingly, however, one of Everton’s flops in the same vein as Kean is now performing with the same confidence Dewsbury-Hall has just obtained, after once being discarded by Carlo Ancelotti for a mere £12m.
The Everton flop now playing like Dewsbury-Hall
Everton fans will have pushed Ancelotti’s reign firmly to one side now, with the Italian showing flashes of promise here and there in the dug-out during his stint at Goodison Park.
Of course, it goes without saying that Ancelotti is an exceptional manager, with a mind-blowing five Champions Leagues in his managerial trophy cabinet, but even the very best are going to struggle if they have some middling duds to try and get a tune out of.
Davy Klaassen is one of those the well-travelled boss could never quite get on board with, with the Dutchman only going on to make seven forgettable Premier League appearances for the club, before the plug was pulled on his spell in England. Staggeringly, just one solitary assist is all Klaassen could shout about from 16 total appearances for the Toffees.
Everton would then have to stomach a loss when selling him to Werder Bremen in 2020, having forked out a reported £23.6m for his services, only to discard him a year later for far a lower £12m fee.
Games played
6
Games started
3
Goals scored
2
Assists
1
Touches*
36.2
Accurate passes*
24.4 (87%)
Total duels won*
3.6
He has since bounced back from his “complete dud” label at Everton, which was once handed to him by Joey Barton, with his early Eredivisie form for Ajax this season rivalling that of Dewsbury-Hall back in England, with three goal contributions coming his way from just three starts.
That likeness to the Englishman has also been noted by Football Transfers, with the pair deemed to be stylistically and statistically similar players. Indeed, both men appear to be at their best in a creative, advanced midfield berth, with Klaassen rolling back the years in that sense this season.
With 3.6 duels won on average, too, it’s clear that there is life still in the 32-year-old, with the Ajax veteran even going out of his way to state that he feels “right at home in Amsterdam” earlier this year, away from his misadventures elsewhere.
Certain players just suit certain clubs after all, with Klaassen now hopeful he can see out the rest of his up-and-down playing days in the Dutch capital.
For the time being, at least, Dewsbury-Hall will also want to stick it out at Everton, with the Merseyside Derby up next, another occasion where the 27-year-old can hopefully flex his creative prowess for Moyes and Co.