Everton are now willing to make a January move for a “fantastic” player, but there could be competition from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.
Although they have been up against strong opposition in Chelsea and Arsenal, the Toffees have struggled in front of goal in recent weeks, losing their last two Premier League matches 2-0, and Thierno Barry missed a big chance in the defeat at the Emirates Stadium last time out.
Barry has six goals and one assist in ten matches across all competitions this season, but the Frenchman simply hasn’t been clinical enough, and he has squandered four more big opportunities than any other player in the Premier League.
Ranking | Player | Club | Big chances missed |
1. | Thierno Barry | Everton | 12 |
2. | Rayan | Bournemouth | 8 |
3. | Bryan Mbeumo | Man Utd | 6 |
3. | Dan Ndoye | Nottingham Forest | 6 |
3. | Gonzalo Garcia | Fulham | 6 |
3. | Igor Thiago | Brentford | 6 |
However, David Moyes is essentially stuck with the 24-year-old, as he no longer has any other options at centre-forward, following Beto’s departure to Fiorentina on transfer deadline day.
As such, signing a new forward in the upcoming transfer window may be of key significance to the Toffees, and they have already identified a number of potential targets, including Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Club Brugge star Nicolo Tresoldi.
Not only are the Merseysiders looking to bolster their attacking options, but they are also aiming to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch, and there are growing signs that a deal for a Serie A star may be possible.
Everton eyeing January move for Tiago Gabriel
According to a report from Football Insider, Everton are now preparing a January move for Lecce star Tiago Gabriel, and the Italian side are open to a sale.
There is widespread interest, with Crystal Palace and several of the Serie A’s top clubs also keen.
Lecce plan to sell Gabriel to the highest bidder, and the Toffees are readying a move for the centre-back, even though Moyes is already well-stocked in the heart of defence, with the likes of James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Michael Keane and Jake O’Brien to choose from.
After signing a new contract last month, the 21-year-old has remained a key player for the Serie A side this season, featuring in seven of their eight league matches, during which time he’s proven himself at both ends of the pitch.
Tiago Gabriel’s Serie A stats in 2026/27
- 481 minutes played
- 2 goals
- 1 assist
- 38.0 accurate passes per 90
- 1.9 interceptions per 90
- 6.9 clearances per 90
Scout Jacek Kulig also praised the youngster for his consistency in the Serie A last season, with the Portuguese defender missing just one game throughout the entire campaign.
Kulig said: “Tiago Gabriel played 95% of all possible minutes in Serie A this season. He won the fourth-most duels in the league, posting an impressive 67% duel success rate. But numbers aside, he was one of the biggest young revelations in Italian football this season. Such a fantastic centre-back.”
Evidently, Gabriel could now be ready to take the next step in his career, and Everton may need to sign a new centre-back in the near future, with Keane’s contract set to expire in the summer.
That said, signing a centre-forward should be the priority this winter, considering Barry has struggled to find the net as often as he should.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
