Everton have identified Villarreal’s Thierno Barry as the main target to strengthen their attack ahead of next season.
The La Liga club have accepted they could lose the 22-year-old to Everton this summer and the concentration has moved to getting the most they can. Villarreal manager Marcelino has already expressed concern over losing the striker, and their sporting director, Fernando Roig, said they are ready to listen to offers.
On Tuesday, El Periódico Mediterráneo reported Everton have decisively moved to sign Barry. Wednesday’s edition of AS reports the Frenchman is ‘very close to leaving’ for the Premier League club.
Barry has a €40m release clause and has already reached an agreement for personal terms with the Toffees. The newspaper further states David Moyes’ side are close to an agreement with the Yellow Submarine for €32m plus €6m in potential bonuses.
It’s claimed the ‘deal is pending validation due to bureaucratic issues’, without specifying what those issues are.
Online, AS provide a few more details on the operation to take the frontman to the Merseyside club. They also point out bureaucratic issues need sorting out – likely a work permit -and there’s an expectation it can be finalised soon. The report states Barry’s move to Goodison Park could ‘become official in the coming days’.
Wednesday’s El Periódico Mediterráneo reports Barry’s ‘transfer to Everton is heating up’ after the Toffees informed Villarreal of their intention to sign him.
Villarreal have seen Nicolas Jackson and Alexander Sorloth leave them for Chelsea and Atlético Madrid respectively in 2023 and 2024. The newspaper states everything indicates they have to reinforce their attack as Barry is ‘very close’ to joining Everton.
They state the fee is being finalised, but indicates it could be €32m plus €6m bonuses, as also mentioned by AS.
Villarreal invested €16m to buy him a year ago and are set to make a huge profit from his sale.
