Everton manager David Moyes has questioned whether the club’s owners share his view of last season, after chief executive Angus Kinnear described missing European qualification as a “failure”. Moyes said he had not been set a target of reaching Europe and believed the priority was a secure first season at the new stadium, exposing differing public messages over the club’s ambitions.

Everton fell from a European place to 13th after failing to win their final seven league matches, including a 3-1 home defeat by Sunderland. The Friedkin Group, which completed its takeover in December 2024, wants success in league and cup competitions, while Moyes says the squad remains too small and lacks quality in some areas despite a positive start to the season and summer recruitment.