Following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure, a clear desire to restructure the attack was demonstrated with the £27.6 million acquisition of Thierno Barry from Villarreal.
Barry, who is tall, strong, and straightforward, was brought in to lead David Moyes’ front line, but the team is still complete even with his addition.
The right wing has the most urgent gap. Jack Harrison’s return to Leeds following his loan has left Moyes without a clear choice for that position.
The fact that Everton is interested in Tyler Dibling of Southampton and Abdul Fatawu of Leicester indicates how urgent the hunt is, but rumors indicate that their primary goal has been to find a player who can contribute right away in the Premier League.
They are clearly pursuing a young winger who can stretch opposition defenses, carry the ball long distances, and assist in the last third. In addition to adding balance to the team, such a signing would enable Barry to play to his strengths by giving him the assistance and support he needs to succeed.
An aggressive approach in the transfer market has already resulted from Everton’s interest.
Malick Fofana’s pursuit by Everton
Their effort to sign Lyon’s Malick Fofana is an example of that desire.
Football pundit Ben Mattinson has called the 20-year-old Belgian winger “explosive” and said that Europe’s top players should be pursuing this market opportunity.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also keeping an eye on his status, according to L’Equipe via Sport Witness, but Everton has been the only team to formally offer to make a move thus far.
The offer, which included bonuses and was valued at €36 million (£31 million), was turned down because Lyon insisted on a set cost of €40 million (£35 million). In order to balance the books, the French team must generate €40 million (£35 million) before June 2026.
Although manager Paulo Fonseca is eager to retain Fofana, they may be forced to do so by the state of the economy.
The Toffees will need to persuade the player to transfer to Merseyside because, at this time, he is only willing to leave for Champions League action.
He is similar to Pedro Neto and Kaoru Mitoma in terms of style: direct, erratic, and unrelenting in his pursuit of the ball.
Such attributes would revolutionize Everton’s offense, as they lacked such profile the previous season.
Why Malick should be signed by Everton Fofana Based on his stats, Fofana is one of the most promising young wingers in Europe.
In terms of progressive carries per 90 (6.60), carried into the final third (3.28), and touches in the offensive penalty area (6.14), he is in the 97th percentile, according to FBref.
With a 99th percentile ranking for shots on target percentage (55.8%) and the 93rd percentile for penalty-area crosses (0.62 per 90), his effectiveness in the final action is as remarkable.
The exciting thing about Everton’s pursuit of Fofana is how well he might work with Barry.
In some ways, the 22-year-old French striker is a quintessential target man. He is 6′ 5″ and dominates aerial battles, winning over two-thirds of them that take place within the penalty area.
But physicality isn’t the only aspect of his game. Barry is willing to push defenses and take advantage of space, as evidenced by his high ranking for runs in behind and crosses received.
He added four assists and scored 11 goals out of an estimated 11.7 goals per game last season at Villarreal, according to FBref. Similar to Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade, he has a keen sense of where to find pockets of space, which complements his aerial presence.
He added four assists and scored 11 goals out of an estimated 11.7 goals per game last season at Villarreal, according to FBref. Similar to Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade, he has a keen sense of where to find pockets of space, which complements his aerial presence.
Although Moyes has acknowledged that he will require some time to acclimate to the Premier League, Everton see him as Calvert-Lewin’s long-term replacement.
For this reason, a player like Fofana might be quite helpful.
He would instantly give Barry the kind of service he loves thanks to his ability to dribble past opponents and deliver accurate balls into the area.
Fofana could generate overloads in central areas by cutting inside from the right, which would force defenders to shift positions and provide Barry room in the penalty box.
Barry’s 86th percentile for aerials won indicates he would be prepared to capitalize, while his 93rd percentile for penalty-area crosses indicates he is skilled at identifying strikers.
The collaboration would be multifaceted. Fofana’s 55.8% shot accuracy indicates his threat in front of goal, so opponents shouldn’t only view him as a supply.
Because defenses would be stretched both horizontally and vertically, Everton would have more options for how they attack. This variety might be a game-changer for a club that frequently had trouble breaking teams down the previous season.
Everton’s late-season surge and defensive tenacity helped them finish in 13th place last year, but their lack of offensive spark kept them from finishing higher.
They would have the right amount of flare and strength with Barry and possibly Fofana: a winger who can regularly bring the ball into dangerous areas and a forward who can control penalty areas.
The financial challenge is substantial, of course. It would be extremely expensive to meet Lyon’s demand of €40 million (£35 million), and things are made more difficult by Fofana’s penchant for Champions League play.
However, it is easy to grasp the reasoning behind their quest. He is a unique possibility in the market since, at barely 20, he provides both instant effect and long-term potential.
In order to form a partnership in the final third and potentially change their identity under Moyes, Everton would need to acquire Fofana. Fofana’s inventiveness and explosiveness, along with Barry’s strength and presence, could give the Toffees the offensive edge they’ve been lacking.
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