David Moyes has made no secret of his determination to reshape Everton’s attack before the Premier League season kicks off.
His squad looked flat throughout the Premier League Summer Series in the US, suffering defeats to both Bournemouth and West Ham, along with a draw against Manchester United.
With Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom returning to their parent clubs, Moyes has prioritised signing a new wide player who can slot straight into his first eleven.
So far, there have been arrivals in other areas.
Carlos Alcaraz’s loan move from Flamengo was made permanent, while the club also secured the £27m signing of striker Thierno Barry from Villarreal – though Moyes has cautioned that the forward will need time to adapt.
What’s more, Bayern Munich left-back Adam Aznou has joined in a £7.8m deal.
However, Everton have suffered frustration in the market too. Kenny Tete renewed with Fulham, while a bid for Lyon’s Malick Fofana has fallen short.
Talks for Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo were equally problematic, with his £50m release clause proving prohibitive. Everton have also shown an interest in Jack Grealish, though a deal appears complicated at this stage.
In the midst of these challenges, one name has emerged as a potentially transformative addition, alongside both Tyler Dibling and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who could be on their way to Merseyside, according to the most recent reports.
Everton interested in wildcard option
Zuriko Davitashvili, the 24-year-old Georgian winger currently playing for Saint-Étienne, is quickly attracting attention.
Like Iliman Ndiaye before him, Davitashvili has shone in Ligue 1 with his blend of direct attacking play and creative spark.
Last season, he produced nine goals and eight assists in 33 appearances, while also amassing 46 caps and six goals for Georgia.
Analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as a “powerful finisher,” a trait that would certainly appeal to Moyes, who needs players capable of providing an end product.
Davitashvili can play on the left, on the right, or through the middle, giving Everton the kind of versatility they have lacked since losing Harrison and Lindstrom.
He is valued at around €12m (£10m), as per Football Transfers, a price Everton could realistically afford even within their financial constraints.
According to Foot Mercato, the Toffees are among those interested in making a move, despite Saint-Étienne having declared him not for sale, frustrating the player, who is said to be determined to test himself at a higher level.
Rennes, Strasbourg, Sevilla, and Mönchengladbach are also all credited with interest, but convincing Saint-Étienne to sell will take negotiation. If the Toffes can do just that, they’d be in for a real treat…
Comparing Davitashvili to Ndiaye
Like Ndiaye, who arrived from Ligue 1 side Marseille last summer in a £16.9m move and went on to contribute nine Premier League goals, Davitashvili appears ready-made for Moyes’s counter-attacking style, with his capacity to drive from deep and create in tight spaces.
The parallels between Davitashvili and Ndiaye are striking.
Both are left-wingers who can also play centrally, and both have a proven Ligue 1 record.
Statistically, Davitashvili actually surpassed Ndiaye’s output last season, registering 17 goal involvements (nine goals, eight assists) compared to Ndiaye’s nine.
When you dig into their numbers, subtle differences emerge.
According to FBref, Ndiaye offers more progressive carries per 90 (3.19) and progressive passes per 90 (3.07) than Davitashvili (2.19 and 2.36 respectively), suggesting Ndiaye is more dynamic in advancing play through the thirds.
Davitashvili, meanwhile, is more of a final-third contributor, boasting higher shot-creating actions per 90 (3.85 vs. 2.41) and more shots on target per 90 (0.78 vs. 0.56).
Their finishing efficiency also varies. Ndiaye landed 42.9% of his efforts on target, compared to 35.3% for Davitashvili, though Davitashvili takes more shots overall.
His pass completion rate sits slightly lower (78.6% vs. Ndiaye’s 81.8%), suggesting more risk-taking in his passing decisions.
In terms of beating defenders one-v-one, Ndiaye again has the edge with a 47.6% successful take-on rate, compared to 37.4% for Davitashvili.
Moyes may see Davitashvili as a player who complements, rather than directly mirrors, Ndiaye.
Where Ndiaye excels at progressing play through the middle third, Davitashvili could thrive in advanced areas, providing a clinical edge in front of goal and adding variety in how Everton break teams down.
His positional versatility, plus a proven track record of scoring and assisting from wide positions, would make him an immediate contender for a starting role.
Everton’s recruitment team have been instructed to identify players who can adapt quickly, cope with physical football, and plug multiple gaps.
Davitashvili, with the same Ligue 1 background as Ndiaye and a clear ambition to play at a higher level, fits that brief.
If Everton can negotiate a way past Saint-Étienne’s resistance, he could arrive at Goodison Park as another hidden gem, following in Ndiaye’s footsteps to help rebuild an attack that has badly needed fresh energy.
