On the whole, Thierno Barry’s arrival at Everton is looking like a strong piece of business.
£27m for a young, aspiring, and physical striker is exactly what David Moyes needed to start off the transfer window.
The 6’5 Frenchman comes with many traits, but none more than Barry’s greatest asset in his ‘unpredictability’.
From his own words, Barry hopes to replicate Romelu Lukaku, which will give Evertonians reason to believe in him.
However, something has been pointed out by Villarreal insiders about Barry that might raise concerns for Everton.
Thierno Barry of Villarreal FC looks on in a tracksuit.
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
What Villarreal insiders say about Thierno Barry’s Everton move
It’s the first dent in Everton’s potential £100m budget as the Toffees look to continue these major signings.
Barry’s arrival looks welcomed, as there is no denying the Frenchman has a keen eye for goal.
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After just one season in LaLiga, the Everton board saw the striker’s involvement as enough to warrant a move which almost reached £30m, as Moyes plans to keep Barry long-term.
But there may be concerns raised around Everton after hearing what LaLiga expert Phil Kitromilides has said.
Speaking to The Blue Room podcast on the Barry deal, Kitromilides detailed why Villarreal are actually happy with the Barry deal, and how Everton have possibly overpaid.
“It seems like a lot of money, it feels like a good deal for Villarreal,” Kitromilides said.
“They’re not too distraught. Let’s put it like that.
“They’re pretty happy with the fee.”
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The Barry statistic which proves Villarreal insiders could be wrong about Everton move
With Villarreal seemingly happy with the fee, the fanbase’s wishes don’t reflect the same feeling.
Villarreal fans were gutted to see Barry leave and were confused why he picked Everton over the chance to play Champions League with the Yellow Submarine.
This ultimately shows the striker’s desire to play in England’s top flight, and the fact that he’s willing to join Everton in a time of change says a lot.
Although the insiders suggest that Everton have actually overpaid for Barry, his one key strength could be worth the £27m alone.
It was spotted by Everton fans that Barry was aerially dominant, and a statistic from The Athletic shows the striker won nearly two-thirds of aerial duels he contested in the penalty area last season.
Of players who competed for 30 or more of these duels in Europe’s biggest leagues, only Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth and Everton’s own James Tarkowski topped Barry’s impressive feat.
His stature up front is vital to how Moyes sets up his teams, and the 22-year-old’s physicality may prove these insiders wrong.