The older generation of the Everton faithful have been used to countless trophies during their years following the football club – something which the younger generation will have no experience of.
David Moyes’ side have been waiting 32 long years for a piece of silverware and the Scotsman will no doubt be hoping he can end such a drought in the near future.
However, if he is to do so, he will need continued backing from the hierarchy to help him in his quest for trophies in the immediate and long-term future.
Why Barry has been worth the money for Everton
During their summer transfer window of 2025, Everton forked out a reported £27m for the signature of striker Thierno Barry in an attempt to bolster the club’s attacking department.
The Frenchman has since assumed the role as the Toffees’ starting number nine, and has featured 48 times across all competitions since his subsequent transfer.
During such a period, the 23-year-old has netted 13 times – with five of his efforts for the club coming during the opening stages of the 2026/27 campaign.
As a result, he’s averaged a goal every 3.6 games he’s appeared in since his transfer last summer – a record which is certainly respectable in England’s top division.
Given the current state of the transfer market and the extortionate prices being touted, the deal to sign Barry last summer could now be seen as a superb piece of business from the hierarchy.
However, Moyes and the rest of the supporters will be hoping that the former Villarreal man can maintain or even better his goalscoring feats in the months ahead.
Why Everton need another striker to support Barry
There’s no denying Barry’s record for Everton has been somewhat impressive, but he certainly needs another centre-forward in the senior ranks to help maintain his respectable form.
Last season, he was able to share the responsibility of leading the line with fellow attacker Beto, with the latter mainly being utilised as a substitute during the closing stages.
However, after his subsequent departure to join Fiorentina during the closing stages of the summer window, the Toffees have now been left short in such a department.
As a result, the Frenchman now remains the only senior option available to Moyes at the top end of the pitch which could lead to a somewhat precarious situation.
One injury or freak red card could see the Toffees operate without a natural centre-forward – which no doubt would have an effect on the club’s ambitions of securing silverware.
|
Everton’s top PL scorers (2025/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Goals |
|
1 |
Beto |
9 |
|
2 |
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall |
8 |
|
2 |
Thierno Barry |
8 |
|
4 |
Iliman Ndiaye |
6 |
|
5 |
James Garner |
2 |
|
5 |
James Tarkowski |
2 |
|
7 |
Jake O’Brien |
1 |
However, with the transfer window shut until January, any additions will have to be free transfers, unless the hierarchy wait it out for a fresh move for a target in the winter market.
How Everton can land a star better than Barry
Over recent weeks, Everton have been hugely linked with a surprise free transfer to sign experienced talisman Mauro Icardi after his release from Turkish side Galatasaray.
The former Argentine international left the club back at the end of June, but he’s looking for his next opportunity before his professional career comes to a close.
At 33, many Toffees supporters may be concerned about his age, but his record of 14 goals from 31 league games demonstrates his ability to still find the back of the net.
However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Palmeiras centre-forward Jose Lopez another player who continues to be linked with a move to Merseyside.
It’s been reported by Football Insider that Everton have been closely watching the Argentine in recent months after constantly impressing in Brazil’s top division.
However, the Toffees may have to act quickly to secure the 25-year-old’s signature, as fellow Premier League side Brentford are also said to be keen on a possible deal.
Lopez may be an unknown quantity to many of the Everton faithful, but he’s a player who could well prove to be the talisman who could fire the club to potential success.
His stats from the current calendar year showcase his talent within attacking areas and highlight why he could well take the starting number nine position away from Barry.
The Argentine has netted a remarkable tally of 21 goals during his 51 appearances – a figure which the Frenchman has been unable to match in the Premier League.
Lopez has also been able to add a creative side to his play over the last few months, subsequently registering 11 assists during the same time period in South America.
Such a record could well allow those around him within the final third to potentially improve their own tallies and increase the club’s chances of success in the near future.
His dominance over Barry within attacking areas is further evident in his 38% shot-on-target accuracy rate since the turn of the year, with the current centre-forward achieving a 27% success rate.
It’s currently unclear how much a deal for the Palmeiras man will cost in the near future, but it’s evident that he has all the qualities needed to be a success in Moyes’ system.
In the short term, his arrival could well spell bad news for Barry, but the Argentine’s possible arrival could hand him the added motivation needed to maintain his impressive form in 2026/27.