English football might have expected Everton to fall by the wayside after a disruptive summer transfer window, but David Moyes‘ side are fifth in the Premier League standings after six games, unbeaten.
Ahead of the Toffees’ Saturday-afternoon match against Chelsea at the Hill Dickinson, Moyes conceded that his side will not be among the most creative in the division this year, and thus, they must be ruthless in front of goal.
To name Thierno Barry ‘clinical’ would be a misnomer, but there’s a lot to like about Everton’s frontman this season.
Thierno Barry’s form for Everton
With Beto finding prolific form across the latter stages of the 2025/26 campaign, it felt like Barry’s time on Merseyside might have fizzled out. He only signed for the Toffees from Villarreal for £27m during the summer of 2025, but left a lot to be desired across his maiden year in England.
The 23-year-old only scored eight goals, but thrust into a role of greater importance this season, with Beto and Iliman Ndiaye sold without replacements, Barry is rising to the occasion.
He has posted six goals and an assist in all competitions this season, three in the Premier League. Barry remains a raw striker, but his movement, energy and enterprise in the final third makes the suggestion that he could become a superstar down the line.
However, Barry is not the most accurate striker in the Premier League – not by half. There’s no question that he could do with some competition up top.
Why Everton need to sign competition for Barry
Moyes has adopted a glass-half-full approach when regarding Barry’s wastefulness in front of goal. He gets into goalscoring positions, alright, but lacks the killer instinct to make all his chances count.
|
Most Big Chances Missed in the Premier League (2026/27) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Goals |
Big Chances Missed |
|
Thierno Barry |
3 |
10 |
|
Gonzalo Garcia |
1 |
5 |
|
Igor Thiago |
1 |
5 |
|
Dan Ndoye |
2 |
5 |
|
Erling Haaland |
6 |
5 |
Everton did consider a free agent after the summer transfer window slammed shut. Late attempts to sign Richarlison, Folarin Balogun and Joshua Zirkzee all fell through, and Moyes then opted against splurging cash on a hasbeen with exorbitant wage demands post-summer.
The fact that Barry has missed double the big chances any other Premier League player has missed this season emphasises the need for competition. He has already equalled the same record from last season, working his way into promising positions with regularity, but shooting with even less composure.
Barry might be enjoying himself at the front of the ship for Everton this season, but the Frenchman is hardly fully-fledged. In fact, he blows hot and cold as Moyes’ frontman, and a contrasting profile at No. 9 could pay dividends.
Everton have held talks to sign Barry upgrade
Everton don’t have much depth up front, and while Barry has caught the eye over the opening months of the campaign, he is also statistically the most wasteful striker in the Premier League.
When the January transfer window comes around, Everton need to strengthen, and TEAMtalk believe they have their sights trained on Rennes’ Esteban Lepaul, having held talks over a potential move for the France international during the summer transfer window. According to Glorioso 1904, Rennes are seeking a whopping €60m (£51m) payment to part ways with their prolific frontman.
Everton made checks alongside Aston Villa and Leeds United, but the fact their need for a striker outweighs that of their divisional rivals, there’s every chance a deal could be done in the new year. Indeed, it’s reported that the Merseysiders are currently leading the race.
The 26-year-old’s remarkable career rise has seen him skyrocket up the French pyramid and make his top-flight debut in 2024/25, then earning a transfer from Angers to Rennes before posting 21 Ligue 1 goals to finish as last term’s top scorer, missing only nine big chances.
Hailed as a “sharpshooter” in front of goal by Lyon assistant coach Armand Garrido, Lepaul’s cutting edge in front of goal is a level above that of Barry. He might not be so lateral and springy in the way he moves about the final third, but this is the kind of contrast Everton need up top – someone to finish the chances created by the likes of Jack Grealish.
Barry does not have the answer to every problem Everton are going to encounter across the course of the campaign. Already, they have drawn four times in the Premier League this season, and a more reliable marksman might have made a comment on one of those results.
Lepaul might just have the answer, and if Everton are serious about mounting a European challenge, they will push to get this one over the line.
