Everton could see bid accepted for £20m star

Everton were never going to come racing out of the blocks this summer, with the ongoing World Cup making transfer dealing somewhat difficult at this early stage, but there is still some frustration simmering on Merseyside.

Negotiations to sign Middlesbrough captain Hayden Hackney are becoming protracted, but Everton maintain their pursuit of the 2025/26 Championship Player of the Year, who wants to join them over the likes of Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.

David Moyes and his side need to kick on next season, and that simply will not happen without the right investment over the next couple of months.

There is undoubtedly an emphasis on signing midfielders this summer, not just one, but potentially two. However, the Toffees left a lot to be desired in attack last year, and reinforcing up there is non-negotiable.

Everton learn conditions for Premier League forward

Thierno Barry and Beto flattered to deceive up front for Everton last season. Combined, the strikers scored 17 goals across 74 Premier League appearances, but they lacked sharpness throughout, failing to intuit promising openings and connect play. Neither attacker averaged more than six passes per game.

There is a lot to like about Barry, whose energy and tenacity aligns with the industrious intensity that Moyes demands from his team, but Everton could benefit from adding a more experienced and prolific head in the final third.

Easier said than done, but what the Merseysiders wouldn’t give to have a goalscorer of Romelu Lukaku‘s ilk fronting Moyes’ system. He might not be hitting such heights right now, but one Premier League forward could make a world of difference, potentially providing an attacking edge that Everton haven’t had since the big Belgian struck them home at Goodison Park.

Indeed, according to Football Insider, Everton have learned that a bid in the region of £20m could be accepted for Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, who is surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium.

However, as much as Everton are aware of what needs to be done to secure the Brazilian’s signature, it might not be easy, with Arsenal opening the door to a whole host of suitors across Europe, now that his price tag has been lowered.

Given his lofty wages, Everton still have reservations, but there is no question that Jesus has the experience and the attributes to become the Blues’ best striker since Lukaku.

Why Jesus can be Everton’s best striker since Lukaku

Jesus, 29, is a five-time Premier League champion, with 79 goals and 45 assists to his name in the division across spells with Manchester City and Arsenal. However, injuries have impacted him in recent years, and he only started three times as Arsenal lifted the 2025/26 title.

Still, he played his part, overcoming a ligament tear that kept him out from the start of the campaign until December to bag three goals.

While Jesus may not be similar in style to Lukaku, he shares with the Belgian a reputation as a veteran of the Premier League, having spent plenty of time with title-challenging outfits.

At Everton, that experience and expertise could be invaluable, allowing Moyes to direct his side toward greener pastures, away from mid-table and into contention at the front-end of the division.

Lukaku is still banging them in, on the scoresheet for Belgium as the Red Devils thrashed New Zealand 5-1 at the World Cup, and while Jesus is not as inherently prolific in front of goal, he is a masterful connector, so intelligent and aware of his surroundings. Arsenal legend Ray Parlour even said in the past that the South American is “a little bit like Thierry Henry“.

Jesus would bring title-winning experience to an Everton side who need to dig deep and find something more within their locker if they are to bridge the gap between mid-table and the European zone.

On that note, it’s curious that Moyes is also pursuing a deal for Manchester City’s John Stones, with wrapping up a permanent move for former loanee Jack Grealish also on the agenda.

These are interesting targets who could transform this Everton side. The balance of Jesus and Barry in attack could bear dividends, and Moyes needs to make it happen.