Everton cannot afford to let Thierno Barry’s bright start hide the gap left by their failure to sign another striker.
Missing out on Folarin Balogun and Joshua Zirkzee has left David Moyes searching for reinforcements even after the transfer window has closed.
Barry has opened the campaign with four goals in three appearances across all competitions, giving the Toffees an encouraging return from their main centre forward.
Keeping that form going would be a huge boost, but asking him to carry the attack without proper cover is another matter.
Everton allowed Beto to move to Fiorentina before securing a replacement, losing a player who contributed ten goals across all competitions last season.
The plan was for Balogun to arrive from Monaco, with a deal worth around £40m taking him to Finch Farm for a medical.
|
Free agent strikers Everton could sign |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Age |
Last club |
Background and Everton relevance |
|
Jamie Vardy |
39 |
Cremonese |
Everton are considering the former Leicester striker. |
|
Anthony Martial |
30 |
Monterrey |
Has been offered to Everton, according to reports, and can play centrally or out wide. |
|
Mauro Icardi |
33 |
Galatasaray |
Experienced centre forward whose previous clubs include Inter and Paris Saint-Germain. |
|
Karim Benzema |
38 |
Al-Hilal |
Available since 31 August. The former Real Madrid star would represent a particularly ambitious approach. |
|
Joselu |
36 |
Al-Gharafa |
Former Stoke and Newcastle striker who subsequently helped Real Madrid win the Champions League. |
|
Danny Ings |
34 |
Sheffield United |
Previously played under Moyes at West Ham and brings extensive Premier League experience. |
|
Michail Antonio |
36 |
Al-Sailiya |
Another striker Moyes knows from West Ham. Available after his spell in Qatar. |
|
Andrea Belotti |
32 |
Cagliari |
Former Torino striker. The Liverpool Echo reports that a failed medical prevented a new Cagliari deal. |
|
Jordan Ayew |
34 |
Leicester City |
Familiar with English football through Aston Villa, Swansea, Crystal Palace and Leicester. Also covers wide positions. |
|
Karl Toko Ekambi |
33 |
Al-Arabi |
Former Lyon and Villarreal forward who can operate centrally or from the left. |
|
Edinson Cavani |
39 |
Boca Juniors |
Former Manchester United, PSG and Napoli striker. Another experienced option approaching the end of his career. |
|
Luuk de Jong |
36 |
Porto |
Available, but Transfermarkt currently lists a cruciate ligament injury, limiting his usefulness as immediate cover. |
|
Wissam Ben Yedder |
36 |
Wydad AC |
Former Monaco and Sevilla striker who became available in July after leaving Morocco. |
|
Luciano Vietto |
32 |
San Lorenzo |
Former Fulham loanee who can play as a striker or support another centre forward. |
|
Ihlas Bebou |
32 |
Hoffenheim |
Can cover the central role and both wings following a lengthy spell in German football. |
|
Marcus Forss |
27 |
Middlesbrough |
Former Brentford forward offering English league experience at a younger age than most available alternatives. |
|
M’Baye Niang |
31 |
Gençlerbirliği |
Former Watford loanee whose career has also included AC Milan and Rennes. |
|
Isaac Success |
30 |
Al-Ta’awon |
Former Watford and Udinese forward. Without a club since May and capable of covering wide positions. |
|
Cedric Teuchert |
29 |
St. Louis City |
Former Hannover forward who can also operate in an attacking midfield role. |
|
Eddie Salcedo |
24 |
OFI Crete |
Former Italy Under-21 international and Genoa academy player. The youngest option in this table. |
|
Léo Bonatini |
32 |
Atlético San Luis |
Former Wolves striker, although he has been without a club since July 2025. |
|
Leonardo Pavoletti |
37 |
Cagliari |
Veteran Italian centre forward available after his long association with Cagliari ended. |
|
Wilfried Zaha |
33 |
Galatasaray, following a Charlotte loan |
Primarily a winger, but can play centrally. Included as an alternative attacking option rather than a specialist striker. |
That transfer ran into trouble over the medical assessment and, although the clubs eventually agreed revised terms, Balogun decided against joining.
Man United also refused Everton’s late attempt to take Zirkzee on loan, leaving Moyes without the extra forward he needed.
The consequences go beyond deciding who starts.
If Everton need a goal late in a match, the manager has little scope to introduce another specialist striker alongside Barry or change the way his attack operates.
Brennan Johnson offers an alternative through the middle, but moving him there would also take an option away from the flanks.
With United visiting on Sunday, Moyes must prepare his team while the club weighs up what can still be done in the market.
Players without a club offer a route to strengthening before January, and Anthony Martial has already been put forward as a possibility, according to talkSPORT.
Another option would bring a Premier League title winner into Moyes’ dressing room.
Everton weigh shock free transfer move for Jamie Vardy
According to The Sun’s Henry Tomlinson, Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy is being considered as a potential addition to Moyes’ attack.
The former Foxes striker is available on a free transfer after his season with Cremonese came to an end.
Vardy is 39 and turns 40 in January, but his spell in Italy showed he could still contribute at the top level, with the Englishman bagging seven goals and three assists in 29 appearances last season, while he also collected Serie A’s Player of the Month award for November.
He was the first English player to receive the Italian league’s award, and he’d bring experience of winning the Premier League and FA Cup with Leicester, as well as the finishing pedigree that earned him the Golden Boot in 2020.
The Sun also says Vardy has rejected Wrexham’s interest and wants to return to the UK with his family, having been linked with Brazilian side São Paulo.
That leaves Everton with a possible opportunity to add a striker who knows the demands of English football.
His age would require careful thought over his workload, but Moyes needs someone capable of helping immediately.
For Everton, the attraction is clear: Vardy could give them an experienced option off the bench and allow Barry some breathing space.
