Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images
Everton’s only striker option at the moment is Thierno Barry, but the club have today been linked with a move for Esteban Lepaul.
The Friedkin Group have placed Everton up for full sale, but the plan in January remains to same: sign a striker to support Barry.
Barry has done well so far this season, to his credit, scoring five goals across all competitions. He was unlucky not to have six, after his header against Ipswich Town was ruled out. But the signs have been promising with Barry, who also scored in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Blackburn Rovers.
But there’s no doubt Everton need reinforcements in the next window.
And supposedly, Esteban Lepaul is now on the Toffees’ radar according to TEAMtalk.
Everton's next five games are TOUGH – how will we fare?
Give us your points haul prediction for the four league games, and tell us how that cup game is gonna go at the end of the month 🔮
Everything you need to know about Esteban Lepaul
Esteban Lepaul was born in Auxerre France on 18 April 2000, making him 26 years old.
He currently plays for Rennes, but he came through Lyon’s academy, which he joined at the age of 15 after spells with US Baldenheim, Racing HW 96 and Colmar.
Lepaul signed for Epinal in 2020 after leaving Lyon with making a first-team appearance. He spent just a year there, before moving on to Orleans. After a couple of years, he moved back to Epinal.
But after a fruitful season that saw him score 12 goals in 16 league games in Ligue 3, he was signed by Angers. But that was another short spell for Lepaul, and Rennes then snapped him up in 2025. And this would prove to be the making of him as a player.
Remarkably last season, the little-known Lepaul actually won the Golden Boot in Ligue 1 after scoring 21 goals. That certainly put him on the map, and in the last international break, he was rewarded for his goalscoring exploits.
🔵🇫🇷 Everton favourite to sign France international striker #EFC Full details via @GraemeBailey ⤵️ https://t.co/yg9A6IwiV0
— TEAMtalk (@TEAMtalk) October 11, 2026
New France manager Zinedine Zidane called him up to the senior squad for the first time. He got three caps, and started two games for Les Bleus, with Zidane clearly a fan.
Lepaul has already made a hot start to 2026/27, scoring three goals in six games for Rennes.
Everton keen but face competition
TEAMtalk say Everton are one of several clubs keen on Lepaul ahead of the January transfer window. The interested clubs are apparently:
Everton
Leeds United
Aston Villa
Brentford
Brighton
Leeds and Villa are said to have made checks on him during the summer. Brentford and Brighton being on this list is perhaps a sign that Lepaul is a player of serious potential. We have all seen how good those clubs have been in terms of their recruitment in recent years.
What is Esteban Lepaul like as a player?
His former manager at Rennes Habib Beye said of Lepaul (via Ligue 1 official website): “He’s obsessed with scoring, even in training, and his work ethic is exceptional.
“People say strikers are attracted to the ball, but if you look closely, Estéban is attracted to the space that allows him to finish in one touch with spontaneity. He has an amazing ability to read the flight of the ball and position himself in the best possible spot.”
He is also described as having an ‘old school’ way of playing, which makes him ‘instantly endearing’.