The Premier League striker Everton must sign over Liam Delap

Everton needed a big summer after petering out under David Moyes‘ management last year. They slumped to a 13th-place Premier League finish after gathering hopes of venturing into the Champions League.

The grizzled Scotsman has one year remaining on his current deal, and Everton must make headway over the opening months of the term to convince the fanbase that the direction taken is the right one.

Where do Everton still need to strengthen? First and foremost, they need a right-back, but the Toffees could also benefit from a more reliable goalscorer, especially with Iliman Ndiaye‘s future on Merseyside uncertain.

Beto and Thierno Barry look set to jockey for a starting position at No. 9, but the latter has been linked with RB Leipzig this summer, and Everton have Liam Delap on their radar.

What Liam Delap would bring to Everton

Delap’s stock has plummeted over the last year. He is not coming off the back of a good maiden season at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea, having only scored one time in the Premier League.

It hasn’t been a good year for the Chelsea persuasion, and though they are optimistic for the future now that Xabi Alonso’s system is up and running, it doesn’t look like there will be much room for Delap.

Everton want to hand him a lifeline, but they will not entertain Chelsea’s £50m valuation. Delap left Ipswich Town and moved to London for £30m one year ago, and he has endured a tough term indeed.

Still, Delap remains one of the most talented young English strikers out there, and he has been profiled by Everton in the past.

Saying that, though, the Toffees might want to think again, should Chelsea stand firm on their £50m price tag. That is far too much, and with other exciting options on the market, Moyes and co will want to ensure they don’t jump the gun.

How Everton could upgrade on Liam Delap

Everton have two up-and-down strikers in Beto and Barry. Perhaps such options are good enough for the year ahead – Beto was bang in form at the end of the 2025/26 season, after all – but Moyes could do with another option, should he will to bridge the gap on those qualifying for Europe each year.

Well, according to Spanish outlet AS, Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus is emerging as a contender to sign for Everton this summer, preferring to stay in the Premier League than move abroad, with Napoli registering their interest in the Brazilian striker.

Previous reports this summer suggest Jesus could be available for around £20m with the Toffees actually opening talks with the Gunners over a move. Fellow Premier League side Ipswich have also enquired about a deal.

Jesus is only 29 years old, but he’s a veteran of the Premier League, having won five league titles and scored 79 goals and supplied 45 assists across 243 appearances.

A dynamic and highly-charged forward, Jesus is silky and intelligent, brilliant on the ball. He would nudge Everton into more fluent ball-playing territory.

There are sticking points to consider. Though accomplished and experienced, Jesus has struggled to maintain his fitness levels over the past few years, but Everton have alternative options at No. 9, and a well-managed Jesus could bear dividends throughout the term.

Though starting berths have been limited for Jesus across the past few years, he remains a purveyor of Brazilian magic, and his ability to slot into a number of positions across the frontline only deepens the argument that he would be woth pursuing at Everton instead of Delap, whose audition at right wing for Chelsea last year did not go to plan at all.

If Jesus can maintain fitness levels over the coming campaign, he might just be the perfect addition to Moyes’ Everton team. The Brazilian would certainly add a dimension in attack, and when considering there are already two powerful strikers in Barry and Beto at the Hill Dickinson, perhaps this would be a better signing than the overpriced Delap.