Everton are reportedly making a strong push to bolster their attacking options by targeting Villarreal's 22-year-old French striker, Thierno Barry. Amid uncertainties surrounding Dominic Calvert-Lewin's future at Goodison Park, the Toffees have identified Barry as a priority signing for the upcoming season. Recent reports indicate that Everton have already submitted a bid exceeding €30 million for the young forward.
Barry has emerged as a prominent talent during his time in La Liga with Villarreal. Last season, he showcased his goal-scoring prowess by netting 19 goals and providing four assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. Eleven of those goals came in La Liga, where he played a crucial role in securing Villarreal's qualification for the UEFA Champions League. Standing tall at six foot five inches, Barry is known for his commanding presence in attack and exceptional physical attributes. His aerial prowess and ability to win duels make him a potentially ideal fit for Everton's style of play, which often involves crosses into the box. However, reports also suggest that Barry's agent may be leveraging Everton's interest to generate more hype around the player, with some sources claiming that no official bid has been made yet. Barry has a release clause of €40 million.
Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the signing of 18-year-old forward Charalampos Kostoulas from Greek champions Olympiacos. The young Greek striker has penned a five-year deal with the Seagulls for a reported fee of £29.78m (35m euros). Kostoulas is considered one of the brightest talents in Greek football and is coming off a breakthrough season with Olympiacos, where he helped the team secure a league and cup double. He scored seven goals and provided two assists in 35 appearances across domestic competition and the Europa League.
Brighton's head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, expressed his delight at securing Kostoulas's signature, stating that the player is an outstanding young talent who brings different attacking options to the team. Kostoulas himself conveyed his excitement about joining Brighton and playing in the Premier League, calling it a "dream" move. Kostoulas comes from a footballing family, with his father, Athanasios Kostoulas, being a former Greek international who won multiple league titles with Olympiacos. The Kostoulas family is steeped in Olympiacos history. His brother, Konstantinos, also plays for Olympiacos. Kostoulas was also a key member of the Olympiacos U-19 team that won the UEFA Youth League in 2024.
