Everton have turned their attentions to the Villarreal striker Thierno Barry as David Moyes attempts to improve his forward options for next season.
Barry scored 11 goals in La Liga last season and 19 overall as Villarreal qualified for the Champions League. The France under-21 international is understood to have a release clause of €40m (£34m) in his contract with the Spanish club but Everton would hope to sign the 22-year-old for less. Barry is currently on international duty at the European Under-21 Championship.
Moyes’s need to upgrade Everton’s attack is pressing with the club having missed out on Liam Delap and declined to take up an option to sign Armando Broja on a permanent deal from Chelsea, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin expected to leave on a free transfer this summer. Calvert-Lewin’s departure would leave only Beto and the unproven Youssef Chermiti as central striking options.
Meanwhile, Brighton have signed Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiakos for a reported £29.8m (€35m) fee. The 18-year-old, who scored seven goals in 22 games as Olympiakos won a record-extending 48th domestic title last season, has signed a five-year contract.
