Beto alongside a circle inset of David Moyes.
Credit: Imago
Samuel Fabre
Thu 20 November 2025 19:10, UK
Beto has been at the brunt of criticism throughout his Everton career due to his wasteful end product up front.
Thierno Barry’s struggles in front of goal and Beto’s inconsistency from close range have left Everton with the need to buy a new number nine.
David Moyes is doing a brilliant job for the Toffees, but it’s evident that results have gone against them due to their issues in the final third.
It’s no shock that Everton are linked with Evan Ferguson, and the Brighton striker could definitely fix the problems in front of goal.
Beto’s form has been abysmal, and he is statistically among the worst strikers in Europe’s top five leagues.
Beto with his mouth open
Credit: Imago
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Beto the fifth-most wasteful striker in Europe’s top five leagues
Everton have been incredibly reliant on Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye in the final third, and it has highlighted the desperate need for a reliable striker.
Beto has only scored 17 goals in 84 appearances for the Toffees, and this season he has been guilty of missing several clear-cut chances.
Beto has also underperformed his expected goals by 3.1, the fifth-worst figure of all players in Europe’s top five leagues.
Season Appearances Goals Assists
2023-24 37 5 2
2024-25 34 10 0
2025-26 13 2 0
Beto’s Everton stats
Barry has also underperformed his xG by 1.34, and it’s clear that Everton’s league position would be much better if they had just one clinical striker.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it into the top 10 in the last two seasons, underperforming by a total of 9.6 across the previous two campaigns.
In Beto’s case, he has a pass accuracy of 63 per cent, which shows how he is failing to bring his teammates into the game from a creative standpoint.
A striker is firmly at the top of Everton’s shopping list, and Ferguson isn’t the only forward who has been touted with a potential move to L4.
In each of the last 3 seasons (23/24, 24/25 & 25/26)…
An Everton player has ranked in the Top 8 in Europe's Top 5 Leagues for BIGGEST UNDERPERFORMANCE of XG.
25/26: Beto (-3.1), 5th worst
24/25: Calvert-Lewin (-3.7), 8th worst
23/24: Calvert-Lewin (-5.9), 2nd worst
And in… pic.twitter.com/pYnroZl2HD
— Dougie Critchley (@DougieCritchley) November 20, 2025
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With Everton also in contention for Joshua Zirkzee, they find themselves in a predicament ahead of the January transfer window.
Who should Everton sign as their new striker in January?
The Man United striker is failing to get much game time under Ruben Amorim this season, and it accurately reflects the similar struggles Ferguson has faced on loan at Roma.
Gabriel Jesus is another name being floated around, although it seems unlikely Arsenal would let him go once he is fully fit.
With the Ivan Toney transfer seemingly called off, the Toffees are left with names that are completely out of form, and it seems unclear if they are going to solve the problem in front of goal.
It’s certainly a priority for Everton to address, and it seems that Ferguson might be the man most suited to Moyes’ style of play who could succeed at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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