Thierno Barry to be all smiles amid update on ‘excellent’ forward Everton want to sign
Thierno Barry has not hit the heights many expected him to since arriving at Everton, but he may have been given a reprieve of sorts.
Barry was guilty of a terrible miss against Chelsea at the weekend as Everton lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to see their mini unbeaten run come to an end.
Beto has also struggled this season, also scoring only once in the Premier League so far, with Everton having one clear area of weakness to address.
While Beto may soon be on his way out of Everton, there is little chance of the Toffees selling Barry as they would make a big loss on the forward.
However, it may well be that one of Everton’s January transfer targets is now no longer on their list.
Franculino Dju transfer unlikely after surgery update
FC Midtjylland star Franculino has been linked with Everton in recent months, with the Toffees regularly sending scouts to watch the Danish side.
Many had speculated a January bid would be lodged for Franculino, but that no longer looks like being the case.
That is because, as per Danish outlet Tipsbladet on Tuesday, the Guinea-Bissau international has had to undergo surgery.
While the operation is described as “minor”, it will still rule Franculino – hailed an “excellent striker” by Roma director Frederic Massara last month – out of action until around March.
It goes without saying that if Everton are to sign a new forward in January, he needs to be able to make an impact before then.
This is ultimately good news for 23-year-old Barry – and indeed Beto – as it is one less striker target available for Everton to go for.
Who else could Everton move for in January?
Everton supporters will be desperate for a new forward to be signed one way or another early in the New Year.
It was reported on Tuesday that a swap deal involving Beto and Artem Dovbyk could be on, which sounds encouraging.
Samu Aghehowa is another who has been touted as a possible target, and his goalscoring return of 11 goals this season in Portugal and the Europa League suggests he would offer more than Barry.
It is down to Everton chiefs to simply ensure a striker is brought in next month, or else dreams of pushing for a European spot will soon fade.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Everton news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @goodisonnews