Everton are preparing to back David Moyes with a significant striker signing this summer, as The Friedkin Group signals its intent to solve the club’s most persistent problem area. According to Pete O’Rourke, Football Insider, the American owners are willing to make considerable funds available to strengthen the attack for the 2026-27 campaign.
Everton back Moyes with big-money striker hunt ahead of 2026-27 season
The uncertainty surrounding both Beto and Thierno Barry has pushed the recruitment department to look elsewhere, as neither player has provided a reliable solution since joining the club. Beto has made 35 appearances this season but has managed just nine goals, and his tendency to miss big chances has drained confidence in his ability at this level. Barry, signed from Villarreal last summer, offers slightly better movement but still falls short of the goal-per-90 stats that Moyes demands. So the club is pressing forward and targeting bigger names.
Liam Delap remains at the top of the shortlist, though Chelsea‘s £30 million asking price presents a real obstacle, especially since Delap himself has struggled to meet expectations at Stamford Bridge this season. Ayase Ueda of Feyenoord has emerged as a more affordable alternative.
He currently leads the Eredivisie with 25 goals from 29 appearances, and Feyenoord are now ready to cash in this summer while Everton, Leeds, Brighton, and Tottenham all track the 27-year-old Japanese international. Ueda brings pace, intelligent movement, and a clinical right foot, though it remains to be seen if his Eredivisie form can handle the Premier League’s physical intensity.
Should Everton prioritise proven Premier League quality over exciting continental potential this summer?
Honestly, Everton should resist the temptation to get carried away by Ueda’s Eredivisie numbers. The gap between the Dutch league and the Premier League is significant, and signing a player at 27 without top-flight English experience is a real gamble. Delap, even after a tough year at Chelsea, already knows the league and provides a good option for Moyes’ direct, high-intensity style. Everton need goals right now, and a project signing that needs a year to settle in helps nobody at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
