Exclusive: Everton Lining Up £45million Bid For Sought-After Villareal Striker Thierno Barry As Rebuild Race Intensifies

Everton will intensify their pursuit of sought-after Villarreal hitman Thierno Barry following the departure of long-serving striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, SportsBoom can exclusively revealed.

Sources inside the Toffees have told us that boss David Moyes is desperate to sign a proven goalscorer ahead of next season, with a £45million deal on the cards.

And after former England international Calvert-Lewin’s departure at the weekend on a free transfer, Moyes and his team are working hard to see if they can secure the prized signature of highly-rated French forward Barry.

Barry is understood to be top of Moyes’ hit list having scored 11 goals in 35 league games for the La Liga side last season.

A release clause of £35million is required for Villareal to start doing business, with the Spanish club in a strong position to negotiate with the France Under-21 international marksman still under contract until June 2029.

The striker only signed for Villareal last August on a five-year deal, but the Spanish side know they could benefit from a big-money deal this summer is he leaves for the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.

Everton have only signed midfielder Carlos Alcaraz from Brazilian side Flamengo since the transfer window re-opened, the Argentinean having joined the club on a permanent basis after a loan spell last term.

The 22-year-old had a clause in his loan contract which the Toffees’ triggered to keep him, penning a two-year deal until June 2027.

But the race is on continuing strengthening and Barry, who Moyes is believed to be a big admirer of, is top of his hit-list ahead of summer rebuild on Merseyside.

SUMMER EXODUS

A string of players have left the club after their contracts were not renewed, with Moyes hungry to freshen his squad in his second spell in charge of the Toffees.

Barry is a proven goalscorer wherever he played, a significant quality which Moyes is looking for in the top-flight.

He scored 10 goals in 22 games for French side Sochaux-Montbeliard, his first professional club, before betting 20 goals in 31 league appearances for Belgian side Beveren.

Nine goals in 35 games for Swiss Super League team Basel followed, then five goals in three league games before Villarreal pounced to sign him.

And then Barry impressed in his debut season in La Liga in what is already proving to be a blossoming career with bags of potential.