'I'm Smiling': Everton's Next Gareth Bale Has David Moyes Excited

· GiveMeSport

Everton were depleted of attacking options in the summer transfer window but a previous £42 million arrival could be ready for a starring role.

Everton have allayed the fears that hung over the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Deadline Day earlier this month by going into the international break undefeated this season, and off the back of three points against Ipswich Town .

There are still worries about the depth of the Toffees squad but, for now, Everton are sitting pretty in seventh. A challenge for European qualification remains a feasible goal, although there is still a very long way to go in the season.

Both victories over Wolves and Ipswich Town this week came by just a one-goal margin and the attacking output of Moyes' side remains the biggest concern. The Toffees failed to sign Folarin Balogun in the dying moments of the transfer window, but there is perhaps a ready-made source of attacking impetus already in the squad thanks to young Tyler Dibling.

Everton forked out £42 million to sign Dibling from Southampton in the summer of 2025. Just 19 years old at the time, the forward had earned a hotshot reputation thanks to a breakout campaign at St Mary's Stadium.

Dibling was tipped to be the next huge success from the south coast club's revered academy, set to follow in the footsteps of Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale. Speaking in September 2024, Walcott himself told talkSPORT : “He is an athlete. You can see the size of him already as well.

> “It’s very much like the Gareth Bale sort of physique, and the way he has got a bit of swag about him on the field like a Jack Grealish type.”

Having already played nearly 2,000 minutes in the top flight over the 2024/25 campaign, it was expected that the winger could hit the ground running. However, that did not prove to be the case, spending last season largely as a benchwarmer.

Moyes is clearly a man with a plan as, now that he has settled at the club, Dibling looks a different player. The 20-year-old was the star of the show against Wolves, playing 90 minutes and setting up the Charly Alcaraz winner.

Dibling then earned himself his first Premier League minutes of the season against Ipswich Town, being handed 24 minutes from the bench.

When asked about the youngster after the game, Moyes said: “I’m smiling when you mention his name now.

> “Prior to that, I might have been a bit… those emojis which go down. But I’ve got the opposite ones now, I’ve got those ones which are clapping and smiley eyes.

> "So I think Tyler Dibling at the moment is just beginning to show us a little bit of what he’s got.

> “And, you know, you guys are watching the games as well, so you should be seeing what I’m seeing… this is looking much better than what you showed us last year.

> “Suddenly, we’re beginning to see somebody who’s got more development in him, beginning to look as if he’s getting closer to it, so let’s hope that can continue.”

Those are enticing words from Moyes, and reflect what Everton supporters are seeing. What's particularly exciting is that Dibling isn't a rising star who may or may not have what it takes to impress at Premier League level - he is a player who has already proven that, and just needed to regain his mojo.

Should Dibling do that, there's no reason why he couldn't fill the boots left by Iliman Ndiaye this season. The forward is not the same profile as Balogun - but missing out on that transfer would certainly not weigh so heavily on Everton supporters' minds should Dibling be on the verge of fulfilling his huge potential.

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