Seamus Coleman questions Everton decision to sell Beto without replacement

Former Everton captain Seamus Coleman has questioned the club’s decision to sell Beto without first securing another striker during the summer transfer window.

Beto joined Fiorentina on deadline day, and Everton’s proposed move for Folarin Balogun subsequently collapsed, leaving Thierno Barry as David Moyes’ only recognised senior centre-forward. Coleman believes the situation has left the manager unnecessarily short of attacking options.

Coleman questions Everton striker planning

Speaking about Everton’s summer recruitment, Coleman praised Moyes for bringing greater stability to the club before questioning how the transfer window was handled. His biggest concern was the decision to allow Beto to leave before another centre-forward had arrived.

“Who sells a striker before you get one in?” Coleman said. He also questioned how a Premier League club could be left without a natural replacement if Barry is tiring or struggling during a game, adding: “I just don’t understand how that can happen.”

The lack of cover has already presented Moyes with a problem. Asked recently about resting Barry, the Everton manager admitted that was difficult because the 23-year-old provides his side with a focal point, leaving him with few obvious alternatives when he wants to change his attack.

Coleman’s concerns were not limited to centre-forward. He also pointed towards the departure of Iliman Ndiaye and believes Everton did not replace enough of the attacking quality that left during the summer, even if Moyes has provided stability following several difficult seasons.

The former captain nevertheless gave Moyes credit for the work he has done since returning to Everton. His argument was instead that the club should be looking to build on that platform rather than accepting survival and stability as the limit of its ambitions.

That applies to supporters as well. Coleman said Everton fans cannot be blamed for wanting better after waiting so long for success, particularly with the club now established at the Hill Dickinson and attempting to move into a new era.

With Barry carrying much of the centre-forward workload, the way Everton address that shortage could become one of the key questions when the transfer window reopens in January.

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