Everton agree £28m deal for Dominic Calvert-Lewin replacement as Toffees turn attention to Liverpool and Man City stars
Everton have reached an agreement in principle with Villarreal to sign striker Thierno Barry, talkSPORT understands.
The 22-year-old forward has a £34m release clause, but Everton have been able to negotiate a lower fixed payment in the region of £28m.
Barry scored 11 LaLiga goals last season
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Barry scored 11 LaLiga goals last seasonCredit: Getty
Calvert-Lewin scored 71 goals in 274 games for Everton during his nine-year spell
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Calvert-Lewin scored 71 goals in 274 games for Everton during his nine-year spellCredit: Getty
Add-ons could take the total package closer to £35m, and are believed to be largely individual performance related.
Barry scored 11 LaLiga goals last season and featured for France at the Under-21 European Championship this summer in Slovakia.
He will be seen as a replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the 28-year-old leaving the Toffees on a free transfer.
Everton are still in the market for other versatile attackers, with a particular focus on wingers.
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Jack Grealish remains an option, but only if Manchester City sanction a loan. Liverpool’s Ben Doak is another winger Everton admire.
A combative midfielder is also possible. Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff and Leicester City’s Wilfried Ndidi have been discussed.
And fresh consideration has been given to Genoa’s Morten Frendrup, who is being tracked by West Ham and available this summer for around €25m.
Tomas Soucek has also been linked, largely due to David Moyes relying on him at West Ham, but Everton are yet to make any approach to either the player or the Hammers.
Everton are still in the market for a right-back after Kenny Tete chose to extend at Fulham.
Talks have taken place with Kyle Walker, who is free to leave Manchester City despite having a year left on his current contract.
Moyes is expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer
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Moyes is expected to be busy in the transfer market this summerCredit: Getty
Walker is free to leave Man City and talks have been held with Everton
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Walker is free to leave Man City and talks have been held with EvertonCredit: Getty
Milan, where Walker was loaned to in January, have already ruled out trying to sign Walker permanently.
Kyle Walker-Peters has been discussed internally as well and is currently a free agent after leaving Southampton.
It is unclear yet whether Everton will make an approach or offer to the player.
Everton have also been boosted by centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite signing a new five-year contract and thus ending summer speculation over a switch away.
Idrissa Gana Gueye and Michael Keane, who are both free agents as it stands, are also expected to finalise new extensions this week.
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French striker Thierno Barry set to join Everton from Villarreal | SportsView
Villarreal striker Thierno Barry is set to join Everton after both clubs reached an agreement over a summer transfer deal, according to Italian transfer expert and journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The 22-year-old will be moving to the Toffees for an initial €35 million, picking them ahead of other Premier League suitors in a huge boost for Everton manager David Moyes.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium club need a striker following the departure of English striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin last month, and Barry will be coming in as a direct replacement.
He notched 19 goals and four assists in 41 appearances last season, scoring eight times for Swiss Super League club Basel in four games before moving to the La Liga club in August, where he ended his debut campaign in the Spanish top-flight with 11 goals in 37 games.
The France youth international will fancy his chances of hitting the ground running at Everton given his style of play, and he has the potential to become a top Premier League striker under the tutelage of Moyes.
Barry had a €40m release clause Villarreal wanted suitors to activate before signing him, but the Toffees always wanted to sign him for slightly lower and it appears they have managed to get that over the line.
Moyes saw ten players leave at the end of last season and will need to make plenty of quality recruitment this summer if Everton want to finish in the top-half of the Premier League table next term.
Charly Alcaraz has been signed permanently from Flamengo following his impressive loan spell last term, while Leeds United attacker Jack Harrison could be brought back to the Merseyside club after successive loan spell.
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