Although they showed some good signs under David Moyes at the end of last season, Everton certainly had their struggles in front of goal.
The Toffees’ main centre-forward options last season were Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who could leave this summer with his contract set to expire, and Guinea-Bissau international Beto.
As per Understat, the Toffees were outscored by all but three teams in the Premier League in 2024/25, the trio of relegated sides. They found the back of the net just 42 times, and with an expected goals tally of 46.87 xG, they underachieved from where they should have been.
dominic-calvert-lewin-everton
Everton fans might be glad to hear that their side are looking to bring a new striker to the Hill Dickinson Stadium before next season.
Everton’s centre-forward target
With Calvert-Lewin perhaps ready to leave the club, and Beto struggling for consistent form in front of goal, it surely is no surprise that the club on the Blue half of Merseyside are looking to recruit a new number nine.
Well, it seems like Moyes’ side have found the man they’d like to sign. According to a recent report from The i Paper, ‘the club are in talks’ with Spanish side Villarreal over a move for their striker, Frenchman Thierno Barry.
The France U21 international seems to be ‘keen’ on the idea of a move to Bramley-Moore Dock, next to which the Toffees’ new ground is situated.
Villarreal's Thierno Barry
He has a £40m release clause in his current deal with the Yellow Submarine, but Everton ‘want to negotiate a lower fee’ instead.
How Barry compares to Beto
Everton’s hunt for Barry has been well documented over the past few weeks. It is clear he is the guy they want to lead the line as they enter a new era in their new stadium this summer. He has certainly impressed for Villarreal last season.
Villarreal's Thierno Barry-1
The 22-year-old, who was born in Lyon, France, played 41 games in all competitions last season. In that time, he scored 19 goals and grabbed four assists, leaving him with an average of roughly a goal involvement every other game.
In La Liga during the 2024/35 campaign, Barry was hugely impressive. He made 35 appearances, finding the back of the net 11 times and grabbing a further four assists. Perhaps the highlight of those 11 goals was a fantastic hat-trick in a 5-2 win over CD Leganes.
Those top-flight goal involvement numbers far exceed what Beto managed in the 2024/25 campaign for Everton. That, surely, is a positive for the Toffees, who will certainly want to improve on their 42 Premier League strikes from last term.
The Merseysider’s number 14 played 30 times in the Premier League, but only managed to score eight goals. He also failed to register an assist, suggesting he is less of a playmaker than Barry, who chipped in with a few last term.
Football scout Antonio Mango explained that Barry has an “elite profile”. Perhaps the fact that he is able to facilitate teammates and create chances for them is an example of the well-rounded profile Mango was alluding to.
Well, the underlying stats on FBref suggest that Barry would be a huge upgrade on Beto, too. For example, the Villarreal striker averaged 0.7 goals and assists and 0.23 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes last season. In comparison, the Toffees centre-forward averaged 0.47 goals and assists and 0.06 goal-creating actions each game.
Barry and Beto key stats 2024/25 compared
Stat (per 90)
Goals and assists
Goals per shot on target
Key passes
Shot-creating actions
Goal-creating actions
Progressive carries
Progressive passes
Stats from FBref
The stats suggest that Barry would be a big upgrade on Beto. Not only is he more clinical in front of goal, but he is able to bring teammates into the game and is involved in his side’s goals far more often, even if that is indirectly.
thierno-barry-villarreal
Even if Everton pay the £40m Villarreal want, it seems like an excellent piece of business for a side who are looking to increase their output in front of goal next season.
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Everton have a Ligue 1 defender in their sights