The centre-forward position has become a tricky one to fill for players at Everton Football Club, especially after the impact of Romelu Lukaku on Merseyside.
The Belgian international originally joined the Toffees on loan back in 2013, before impressing during his temporary stint, scoring 16 times in his 33 appearances – prompting a permanent transfer.
He cost a reported £28m in the summer of 2014, subsequently scoring 71 times in 133 appearances for the club, an average of one goal every 1.8 outings.
It’s safe to say no player has managed to emulate such success for the Toffees since his departure, with two players struggling to fill the void left by the Belgian.
Why Everton need a new centre-forward this summer
For large parts of the 2025/26 campaign, manager David Moyes often relied upon Beto to lead the line during the club’s first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Guinea-Bissau international did manage to find the back of the net nine times, but his underlying stats highlight his struggles within the Premier League.
Despite operating as a target man on Merseyside, the 28-year-old only completed 62% of the passes he attempted – subsequently ranking him in the bottom 10% of all players in the division.
He also averaged less than a shot on target per game in England’s top-flight, with 60% of other centre-forwards managing to better Beto’s tally in the final third.
|
Everton’s top scorers in the PL (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Tally |
|
Beto |
9 |
|
Thierno Barry |
8 |
|
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall |
8 |
|
Iliman Ndiaye |
6 |
|
Michael Keane |
3 |
|
Idrissa Gueye |
2 |
|
Jack Grealish |
2 |
|
James Garner |
2 |
Thierno Barry also staked his claim to be Moyes’ number nine, subsequently scoring eight times, but like Beto, he struggled with his all-round play within attacking areas.
He only managed to complete 30% of the dribbles he attempted in England’s top-division, a tally which ranks him below 82% of other strikers in Europe’s top-five leagues.
His pass accuracy was also lower than Beto – subsequently only completing 60% of his efforts – highlighting the need for the hierarchy to land a more all-round option this summer.
How Everton can improve their attack for £30m
Everton’s transfer business has got off to a slow start this summer, with only Hayden Hackney arriving as a new addition since the market opened in early June.
Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl both made their temporary moves permanent, but the supporters are no doubt demanding more from the hierarchy this window.
Their demands could be about to be answered this summer, as the board are stepping up their efforts to land Bodo/Glimt striker Jens Petter Hauge ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
It’s been reported by TEAMtalk that the Toffees are starting to rekindle their interest in the Norwegian international after his Champions League efforts last term.
His current side are said to be reluctant to offload the 26-year-old this summer, but could consider offloading him if an offer of £30m arrives for his signature.
Leeds United and Sunderland are also said to be circling to secure his services, with Moyes’ men desperately needing to step up their efforts in the weeks ahead.
His stats from his recent campaign in Europe highlight his quality within attacking areas and showcase why he can end the hierarchy’s hunt for a new talisman.
Hauge netted six times in his 12 appearances – including against Manchester City which showcases his ability to deliver against some of England’s most elite clubs.
His biggest asset compared to Beto and Barry is his talent with the ball at his feet – as he subsequently completed 84% of the passes he attempted and registered 2.6 successful dribbles per 90.
Both of the aforementioned figures ranked him in the top 15% of attackers in the Champions League – leading to talent scout Jacek Kulig labelling him as “incredible.”
The Norwegian also managed to register an impressive tally of 2.5 chances created per 90 – subsequently demonstrating the all-round nature Moyes has been hunting for in attacking areas.
£30m may be seen as a risk on a player who’s never plied his trade in the Premier League before, but Hauge has showcased that’s he is capable of delivering against some of Europe’s elite.
At 26, he’s coming into the prime years of his career and has all of the tools needed to be the club’s starting number nine – hopefully emulating the success of Lukaku on Merseyside.
