Anjishnu Roy 13/06/2025 42comments  |  Jump to last

Everton are preparing to intensify their approach for Villarreal striker Thierno Barry, reports Paul Joyce of The Times. 

The 22-year-old French forward has emerged as the leading target for the club after failing to sign Liam Delap, who opted for Chelsea. Barry has a release clause of €40M (£34M) and he has scored 11 goals in 35 matches in La Liga this season.

“It is likely that Everton would try to negotiate that figure down given the amount of deals they must look to do before moving into their new 52,888-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium on the banks of the River Mersey next season,” the report said.

Barry is currently with the French national team at the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia.

Acquiring a striker has become a priority for the club as Armando Broja has returned to his parent club Chelsea and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is likely to leave as a free agent. Beto, who scored 12 goals in 35 appearances this season, has largely blown hot and cold.

Michael Keane set to leave Everton

Along with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Michael Keane is almost certain to leave the club once his contract runs out this month. Besides Broja, Jack Harrison, Orel Mangala, and Jesper Lindstrom have also returned to their parent clubs.

“Everton have offered Idrissa Gueye a new deal, but the Senegal midfielder wants two years rather than the one on the table. The club captain Seamus Coleman, 36, has also been offered a playing contract,” the report added.

Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic, João Virginia, Neal Maupay and Mason Holgate will also leave the club as free agents this month. The Blues have, however, opted to make Carlos “Charly” Alcaraz’s loan signing permanent for £12.6M. He has signed a 2-year deal with the option for an additional year.

 

Reader Comments (42)

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Robert Tressell
1 Posted 13/06/2025 at 21:06:31
How intense does our interest need to get before we actually sign him?
Dennis Stevens
2 Posted 13/06/2025 at 21:10:19
Robert, don't get too excited - we're reportedly only preparing to intensify our approach. I presume this means that we're thought to be considering actually making an approach. Don't hold your breath!
Stu Darlington
3 Posted 13/06/2025 at 21:14:22
Certainly fits the right age profile of the players we should be looking at but a £34M release clause seems a bit inflated to me for a striker who scored less goals than Beto last season.Possibly worth a punt if we could get that down to £20-£25M,but still a gamble for an untried striker in the Premier League.
He is a big lad though isn’t he?
Ryan Holroyd
4 Posted 13/06/2025 at 21:58:19
Why would Villarreal sell him for less than the release clause when they've got Champions League football?
Neil Thomas
5 Posted 13/06/2025 at 22:30:28
11 goals in 35 games ain't exactly terrific.

I would like to see how many Chermiti would get if playing the same amount of games.

Christian Hill
6 Posted 13/06/2025 at 23:01:52
Beto scored 12 in 35 games, so this guy isn't exactly an improvement on what we already have.

Note to the recruitment team: Please Keep Looking!

Sam Hoare
7 Posted 13/06/2025 at 23:11:27
I like the look of Barry, wins a lot of headers but also has some genuine pace and good technique for a big lad. He definitely has the potential to outstrip Beto long term and right now could either replace him, play alongside him or possibly feature on the wing (he works hard and is a decent dribbler).

Would be an exciting signing and could be our next Lukaku.

Chermiti needs a season on loan. Would like to see how he did at a solid Championship club. If he gets 15 goals there, he either shows he's ready to step up for us or becomes an asset we could sell for £15M plus.

Anthony Dwyer
8 Posted 13/06/2025 at 23:43:51
Biggest thing on this page for me is Gana not signed a deal yet — we claimed to have wrapped him up weeks ago.

He's a must-keep player, probably our best and most consistent last season.

Get this sorted out, we're acting like our usual amateur selves again.

Dave Williams
9 Posted 14/06/2025 at 10:25:14
I'd be surprised if we sign anyone before the end of June.

Once the PSR period concludes, then we can spend Friedkins money but I'd guess we will be too close for comfort after buying Charly to do more now.

Matthew Johnson
10 Posted 14/06/2025 at 14:26:00
"Beto, who scored 12 goals in 35 appearances this season, has largely blown hot and cold."

He's scored more than Thierno Barry this season

Colin Crooks
11 Posted 14/06/2025 at 15:29:54
Beto's made 60 EPL appearances for Everton and scored 11 times.
Mihir Ambardekar
12 Posted 14/06/2025 at 15:38:06
Beto is a good lad and has the desire to work hard. He is effective when we play to his strengths & offers something different. He is not very skilled but his awkward moments can surprise defenders. Barry is more technical with pace and he could be a good signing. With regards to Chermiti, this year is critical for him to get more game time. A successful year in championship for him or any other league next season can help us get more from him in further seasons. We should also focus on 2 more productive wingers who can play well on both wings. That will make our attack more lethal.

Ian Bennett
13 Posted 14/06/2025 at 15:42:14
Toffee tv had a view to re-sign dcl, buy Barry and loan Ferguson. Collectively low the age of the forward line, sell Beto and loan out Chermitit.

An interesting view from a financial perspective, but could leave an out of form front line.

Eric Myles
14 Posted 14/06/2025 at 15:46:29
"Barry has a release clause of €40M (£34M)...“It is likely that Everton would try to negotiate that figure down"

Is the Ghost Of Kenwright Past still handling our transfer dealings?

Anthony #8 "Biggest thing on this page for me is Gana not signed a deal yet"

Surprised nobody has suggested Davey is dithering again.

Ray Robinson
15 Posted 14/06/2025 at 16:07:42
Yes, we need to get the Gana deal sorted but why do people assume it's the club that is dithering? Bit presumptuous isn't it? Maybe it's Gana taking his time?

Every time Everton take an age to tie up a deal, it's the club's fault or dithering Dave's.

Maybe that used to be the case and indeed maybe it still is, but as long as we're this side of July 1st, agents and players are going to be holding out for the best deals. It's not as if we can offer Champions League or mega salaries.

Ian Jones
16 Posted 14/06/2025 at 16:43:17
Ian, 13, I had to read that twice. My first thought was that Toffee TV was having a melt down or taking the pee from a different era, buy Gareth Barry and loan out Ferguson. Then brain kicked in!

On another general note, nowt to do with Ian's post, but to do with general stats. Rating how good our strikers are over the whole of last season isn't probably ideal. Considering we didn't get going til Moyes came back, a fairer view would be basing performances on the approximately second part of the season, but appreciate life's not like that...

Jay Harris
17 Posted 14/06/2025 at 16:55:50
For the record I like to judge with my eyes as stats can be made to point anything out and I liked Beto from when he first appeared.

He is determined, hardworking and willing to learn. we will have to go some to improve on him for less than 50m IMO.

Also I know we need more goals but what about a couple of decent fullbacks.

There seems to be a lot of talk but little action. Let's see if that changes on July 1st

Danny O'Neill
18 Posted 14/06/2025 at 17:08:39
On Barry, I know little of this player. I've never watched him, and I always prefer to go with the eyes.

But then I've never watched many Everton players before they've signed.

Let's hope the scouts have, if he ends up coming to Everton.

As for Gana, I think (don't know), the club has done it's part, if you read their official announcements. It seems as if it's now down to the player to decide what he wants, negotiate terms or move on.

I seriously hope he stays.

Tom Bowers
19 Posted 14/06/2025 at 17:18:25
We all agree the club needs new blood and in that respect better players.
Certain players have done reasonably well over the last few seasons but remain too much of a gamble to be able to effectively improve things for the future.

If it's certain Jarrod will stay then Keane should go along with DCL who really had one decent season before his injuries and may become an issue again. Despite that I think he has limitations even if he was to stay.

Martin Farrington
20 Posted 14/06/2025 at 17:18:48
Eric @ 14. Pmsl.
But then I thought. oh shit.
Christy Ring
21 Posted 14/06/2025 at 17:44:48
Just pay his release clause and move on to other targets.
Paul Hewitt
22 Posted 14/06/2025 at 18:22:31
Christy@21. Everton never make things simple. They will drag this out for weeks.
Mike Oates
23 Posted 14/06/2025 at 18:23:05
I believe we can’t do any transfers IN, until July 1st to ensure we don’t get caught up in this years PSR implications, which finishes on Jun 30th.
Of course unless we sell Branthwaite for £60m !!! before July 1st which will give us some spare cash to use.
Let’s hope there are some decent talented players still out there into July
Mike Doyle
24 Posted 14/06/2025 at 18:26:56
Ray #15] Good point. Several years ago I was in conversation with an ex-EPL manager who told me exactly how difficult it is for most clubs to get transfers completed. That includes getting out-of-contract players to re-sign.
Ben King
25 Posted 14/06/2025 at 19:39:41
I keep reading that we can't buy anyone until 1 July…. why?

Why can't we buy them, sign them now< with a contracted date of 1 July?

Colin Glassar
26 Posted 14/06/2025 at 20:23:14
Please, wake me up when we sign someone. Ben, I think only sly six clubs can buy whoever, and whenever, they want. One rule for the rich…
Stu Darlington
27 Posted 14/06/2025 at 21:23:55
Sam@7
“could be our next Lukaku”
I can only assume you must be on some kind of medication!
A prospect,yes,if we can get him at the right price,but as yet he hasn’t shown the instinct for goal that Lukaku has.
Ah well,what do I know!
Michael Kenrick
28 Posted 14/06/2025 at 21:36:17
Barry on as a sub at 73 minutes for France U21s but Georgia just equalized!
Kevin Molloy
29 Posted 14/06/2025 at 21:43:58
Are we intensifying our approach yet, or are we still preparing to intensify it?
Dennis Stevens
30 Posted 14/06/2025 at 21:49:20
Kevin, as it's the weekend, we're probably contemplating pondering the degree of intensity of that potential preparation
Sam Hoare
31 Posted 14/06/2025 at 21:50:16
Stu@27, ‘could’ is doing heavy lifting here! He’s not as good as Lukaku was at the same age but there are some similarities. Big, strong, fast, able to score different types of goals.

Barry has already scored 60 goals in 130 games which is decent, though mostly at a lower level. I think he’d be a good fit with Moyes, though I would have some doubts about spending too much of the transfer pot on a position I do not believe our weakest.

Don Alexander
32 Posted 14/06/2025 at 21:54:27
Kev, I think we're probably still thinking about preparing to intensify it, but what the hell does anyone know when it comes to millionaires on and off the pitch looking to screw the max for their various selves at the expense of mere fans?
Jon Sellick
33 Posted 14/06/2025 at 22:01:09
Sam@31,
It might not be our weakest, but it will always be the most important.
And it was the only position Moyes didn’t get right first time around.
Michael Kenrick
34 Posted 14/06/2025 at 22:13:35
Well, Barry scores the winner for France U21s vs Georgia, in the 12th minute of added time, after his first goal after 5 minutes of added time was ruled out for offside.

His first goal for the U21s.

Sam Hoare
35 Posted 14/06/2025 at 22:13:40
Jon, perhaps that’s true, though few strikers can excel without service. We’ll have to see what the squad looks like by the end of the window but there are lots of holes to fill.
Paul Kossoff
36 Posted 14/06/2025 at 23:25:06
Everton have been told a £35million offer for Villarreal striker Thierno Barry will be accepted as they plan to make a big-money offer.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what sources have told him about David Moyes’ pursuit of a new star striker in the summer transfer window.

Brian Williams
37 Posted 14/06/2025 at 23:43:03
Thierno Barry in. Beto out to offset the cost. DCL signs a new contract. Net outlay £14-15m.

Sorted.

Andy Crooks
38 Posted 14/06/2025 at 00:03:00
Does anyone know what "preparing" a bid means? Does it involve hand wringing or is it mostly paperwork? It seems to be quite time consuming.
Also, in the past our new players have never actually "signed" they usually " put pen to paper".
One thing I won't miss about the old ToffeeWeb.
James Newcombe
39 Posted 15/06/2025 at 00:15:20
Andy, As I understand the way these things work: Doreen has to type up the terms of the bid on a typewriter, and while that is going on, the carrier pigeon is being trained for the journey by Big Dunc. The pigeon may or may not make it to the destination as intended. As you can see, it’s a convoluted process and this is why we don’t tie these deals up quickly!
Mike Gaynes
40 Posted 15/06/2025 at 01:20:31
Andy #38, I believe there's chanting involved. Maybe burning some incense.

Brian #37, I hope not. Selling Beto and replacing him with an unproven youngster, no matter how talented, would be looney tunes IMO. Only if there's a second striker incoming would that make sense to me.

BTW, to all who haven't seen it yet, check out the club site compilation of the greatest PL goals at Goodison. Several I didn't remember (the blasts by Fernandes and Bily, Jo's debut goal) or had never seen (Barlow, Watson's chip). Very enjoyable.

Derek Knox
41 Posted 15/06/2025 at 01:45:35
Andy @38, Also, in the past our new players have never actually "signed" they usually " put pen to paper".

Maybe they can't write. :-) Doesn't stop them getting immoral wages though. Funny Ol' Game isn't it ?

Nicolas Piñon
42 Posted 15/06/2025 at 02:50:19
two wingers and one full back at least is more urgent than this guy
we were on the up werent we?

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