---
title: "Everton do not need a new striker for next season"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/everton-do-not-need-a-new-striker-for-next-season/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Kellett"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2026-04-15T06:35:28Z"
modified: "2026-04-15T06:35:30Z"
---

# Everton do not need a new striker for next season

- **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](https://readeverton.com/2026/04/14/thierno-barry-everton-future-controversy-transfers/) 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](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/everton-david-moyes-summer-transfer-war-chest-4313605#:~:text=Everton%20plot%20%C2%A3100m%20summer%20war%20chest%20as%20Moyes%20targets%20three%20key%20transfers,-The%20Toffees%20want&text=Qualifying%20for%20Europe%20will%20help,Stadium%20in%20the%20close%20season.) 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](https://readeverton.com/thierno-barry-everton-future-controversy-transfers/) 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.