Thierno Barry has gone 15 games without a goal for Everton, and his frustrations reached fever pitch in a calamitous 4-1 loss at home to Newcastle United on Saturday. The Toffees were well beaten just days after a famous 1-0 win over Manchester United with 10 men at Old Trafford.
David Moyes and Evertonians have supported Barry through a difficult start to life on Merseyside, where the goals just haven't come for the 23-year-old. He even had the ball in the back of the Newcastle net but was adjudged to have handled it in the build-up.
Barry's frustrating evening was brought to an end with three minutes left of normal time, which suggests Moyes doesn't want to rely on Beto. But with his summer signing struggling to adapt to life in the Premier League, there is a need to strengthen in January and bring a proven goalscorer to Hill Dickinson.
Ivan The Gettable - Everton Should Swoop For Toney
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Barry was a risky signing because of his lack of experience in the English top-flight and that has been evident in the early stages of his Everton career. He may well come good in time and replicate the form he showed during his time at Villarreal, where he scored 11 goals in 35 La Liga games
Moyes, his backroom staff and the Friedkin Group will all be wanting more from a £27m signing, especially when a reborn Jack Grealish and an in-form Iliman Ndiaye accompany him in their frontline. The Toffees' hopes of the French youngster making an instant impact have diminished and it feels as though a more reliable target man is required.
Step up Ivan Toney, who knows all about leading the line in the Premier League, having starred in a Brentford side that earned major plaudits under Thomas Frank. The English striker was often the star of the show at the Gtech during the Bees' first few seasons in the big time, producing man-of-the-match performances, including a brace in a shock 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad in November 2022.
Everton is a club renowned for players with big personalities, and Toney is definitely a character who has the confidence to spearhead Moyes' team with his six-foot-one-inch frame and incredible agility. He has performed well out in Saudi Arabia but could be keen to return to his homeland ahead of next year's World Cup.
Toney, 29, can also take Barry under his wing and help the Frenchman further develop while getting a better understanding of English top-flight football, where he bagged 36 goals in 85 games. He has been linked with a move to Hill Dickinson, with reports suggesting the club are prepared to rival Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United for his signature.
Moyes Fan of "Really Intelligent" Toney
David Moyes
Moyes waxed lyrical about Toney in the past, particularly highlighting the England international's finishing ability. The Scot told reporters in February 2024:
“He’s got an awful lot of good things as a footballer. Obviously, there’s a coolness about his finishing and how he plays, and he’s got a physical element to him. But also, importantly, he’s got a really intelligent football brain at times.”
Moyes' opinion is crucial when tasking the club's transfer chiefs to find a new marksman as he will want a forward whom he can rely on in front of goal. He has created goalscoring machines during his managerial career including at Goodison Park, such as Wayne Rooney and Yakubu.
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Toney has already shown he can deliver in the Premier League, which bodes well for the Merseyside outfit if they were to swoop for him in January. They have also been linked with Tottenham's Richarlison and Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee, but neither possesses the prolific consistency of the former Brentford man.