- The search for a consistent number nine remains David Moyes’ top priority.
- Barry’s brace against Man City has split the fanbase on whether to keep Frenchman.
- Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda and Chelsea’s Liam Delap top the shortlist.
As Everton prepare for another pivotal summer transfer window, the focal point of David Moyes’ ongoing squad rebuild remains the search for a consistent goalscorer. With the Toffees linked to names like Liam Delap, Ayase Ueda, and Artem Dovbyk, the arrival of a new face inevitably threatens the futuresof Thierno Barry and Beto.
The Moyes blueprint: The lone wolf
David Moyes has consistently committed to a lone-striker system throughout his career (a trend now dominating in the Premier League). Moyes typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-5-1, relying on a single “target man” to act as the focal point of the attack.
With the club unlikely to carry three senior forwards into next season, the big question remains: Will it be Barry or Beto who makes room for a newcomer?
Statistical comparison: 2025–26 season
While Thierno Barry has shown flashes of technical brilliance since his arrival from Villarreal, Beto’s raw physicality and willingness to die for the shirt has been key at times this season.
Here’s how the two compare on paper:
| Metric | Beto | Thierno Barry |
| Goals | 8 | 8 |
| Assists | 1 | 0 |
| Minutes Played | 1,416 | 1,794 |
| Shots on Target Inside the Box | 19 | 11 |
| Xg | 8.41 | 8.12 |
| Aerial Duels Won | 86 | 119 |
| Passes Completed % | 61% | 60% |
| Dribbles Completed % | 30% | 29% |
The ‘eye test’ of fans traditionally characterises Beto as the chaotic battering ram and Barry as the more technically accomplished striker. However, as the stats above illustrate, there is actually very little to separate them in terms of output.
The choice: Reliability vs. potential
Beto represents a known quantity. His 2024/25 figures remarkably mirror his current output, and at 28, he has likely hit his developmental ceiling. Moyes knows exactly what he gets with the Portuguese forward: maximum effort and tactical disruption, even if the finishing remains erratic.
Thierno Barry, by contrast, possesses a much higher potential. While he currently struggles to impose himself physically and occasionally loses focus, these raw edges should sharpen with age and experience. Retaining Barry also aligns with The Friedkin Group’s (TFG) desire to lower the squad’s average age and cultivate young talent.
Furthermore, after a £27m investment, the club probably owes it to the 23-year-old to grant him more than a single season to acclimatise to a new league and country.
The verdict: A sustainable future?
Ultimately, the decision will reveal Moyes’ long-term vision. Choosing the “chaos” of Beto prioritises the immediate, rugged reliability Moyes has leaned on throughout his career. However, backing Barry, although potentially riskier, would signal a commitment to the sustainable model promised by TFG as they look to restore Everton’s status in the Premier League.
