Everton’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season has drawn praise for David Moyes’s organisation, but the manager is firmly shutting down any talk of European qualification after five games.

Sitting fifth with two wins and three draws, and with two Carabao Cup victories already secured, Moyes insisted his side must improve before he will be satisfied. “We are not using those words this year,” he said bluntly after the 1-0 win over Ipswich, recalling how Everton’s push for Europe last season ended with no wins in their final seven league games.

Behind the results, there is growing frustration over squad depth. Everton ended the window with just one senior striker, Thierno Barry, after selling Beto to Fiorentina and seeing a late move for Folarin Balogun collapse. Iliman Ndiaye also departed, leaving Moyes with what has been described as the smallest outfield squad he has taken into a Premier League season.

In response, the club has been linked with free-agent forward Mauro Icardi, 33, who is open to a Premier League move after leaving Galatasaray. Everton sources have played down any advanced talks, and Moyes has said he is cautious about the free-agent market unless a player can genuinely raise the team’s level.

Amid this, Jarrad Branthwaite remains a key figure in Moyes’s plans. His performances have drawn comparisons to some of the game’s most expensive centre-backs, and there is growing awareness that if Everton cannot offer a clear pathway to Europe, retaining him long term could become difficult. For now, Moyes’s focus is on consolidation and improvement, with results on the pitch the priority over external expectations.