- Since selling Lukaku, Everton have struggled to find a consistent goal-scorer.
- Beto and Thierno Barry have both struggled to claim the starting striker spot.
- But Blues should invest in other areas and persist with Beto and Barry.
The life of an Everton number nine is a tough one.
In a club that has seen the likes of Dixie Dean, Gary Lineker, and Wayne Rooney lead the line, standards are high.
But Everton, in the modern era, have struggled to find a genuine top-class striker, with Romelu Lukaku being the only exception.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin proved to be an effective forward in a couple of seasons and has bagged some of the Blues’ most iconic goals, but a foot injury that sidelined him all the way back in 2021 severely halted his potential.
After the 29-year-old made his move to Leeds United, Thierno Barry made the move to Merseyside and joined Beto as one of two first-team strikers for Everton.
The duo have competed with each other all season, and neither forward has made a conclusive case to be the Toffees’ leading man.
In one sense, there is an argument that if neither can make a serious case that they should be Everton’s main striker, then they should be moved on.
But it would be Everton’s benefit to keep the pair.
Healthy competition and handy depth
At the moment, Beto is on hot form for Moyes’ side and is comfortably the go-to number nine, yet Barry is still featuring off the bench.
The same happened when the Frenchman enjoyed a string of starts in the winter, but Beto managed to clock minutes as a substitute and subsequently force himself back into the starting XI.
A dynamic has formed between the two, and there appears to be some healthy competition.
With neither guaranteed a starting place, regardless of whether they play a full 90 or have a ten-minute cameo, both have a point to prove and want to show why they should be starting every week.
On top of internal competition, having two hungry strikers can only strengthen the Toffees’ depth – something that competing in Europe hinges on.
In Everton’s last European campaign, they had a young Calvert-Lewin and an underwhelming Sandro Ramirez as their additional striking options.
If the Blues make it into a European competition next season, they will be much better equipped with Barry and Beto in the same side.
Keeping Beto and Thierno Barry allows investment in other areas
Moyes is reportedly planning to bring more quality to Everton this summer and wants to spend big.
While the number nine conundrum seems to be a topic of discussion in many transfer windows, other areas on the pitch must be considered.
An ageing set of centre backs, more attack-minded full backs and the stress of keeping your best players will be some of the priorities for the Blues.
With the added fact of this being a World Cup year, some of Everton’s best will be showcased to the globe – most notably Iliman Ndiaye – and should they lose players of this calibre, heavy investment will be needed to replace them.
It is going to be a busy summer for Moyes and his team, and even though Barry and Beto may not be the long-term answer to the club’s attacking ambitions, replacing them should not be high on the priority list.
What does the future hold?
Ultimately, the future of the two strikers is uncertain.
Whether Barry chooses to stay at Everton following the controversy at the Emirates Stadium is a factor to consider, and he may force a move away from the Blues.
As for Beto, he has spoken openly about his love for the club, and it would be expected that the Guinea-Bissau international is not linked with a transfer away.
But, should the two remain at Hill Dickinson Stadium, they could become cornerstones in an evolving Everton side.
