Everton number one transfer target revealed amid Thierno Barry twist
Everton have been linked with Villarreal striker Thierno Barry as David Moyes is keen on signing a new number nine.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin confirming his Toffees exit last week, the club are short of another forward.
Armando Broja also returned to Chelsea after his loan and will not be returning to Merseyside next season.
Barry is the number one target with the deal expected to be sped up
According to Spanish journalist MatteMoretto (30 June), the Toffees want to speed up the pursuit of Barry.
The Villarreal attacker is the number one target for Everton this summer, with Moyes also wanting him.
As he got knocked out of the Under-21 Euros recently, Barry is now expected to finalise his future.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Basel | 41 | 20 | 5 |
| Villarreal | 37 | 11 | 4 |
| SK Beveren | 33 | 20 | 4 |
The 22-year-old is understood to be keen on a move to Merseyside this summer.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Blues can bring him to the club, as The Friedkin Group now need to shell out funds for the deal.
Everton cannot waste more time and must sign Barry imminently
Everton must now look to negotiate a transfer fee below his £34million release clause, as Villarreal are open to discussions but demand a significant profit on their investment from last summer.
The Toffees saw a bid rejected, but they remain confident due to Barry’s interest in joining the Premier League.
In the coming days, they are expected to accelerate talks, potentially offering a deal with instalments to meet Villarreal’s financial expectations while managing their budget.
With Barry now free to discuss his future, Everton’s director of scouting and head of player trading will likely push for a swift agreement to secure the promising forward before other European clubs intensify their interest.
Striking an agreement on personal terms would go a long way in finalising the deal and would then put pressure on Villarreal to agree on a lower fee as well.
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