Everton transfer latest as David Moyes targets January striker signing
Everton are already shaping plans for the winter window, with a new centre-forward high on the agenda after a damaging end to the summer market left David Moyes light in a key area. According to TeamTalk, the Merseyside club have narrowed focus to two striker targets, Esteban Lepaul and Dion Beljo, as they look to strengthen in January.
The need is obvious. The original report states that Moyes has been left with “just one recognised striker, Thierno Barry” after Everton sold Beto and failed to secure a replacement before the deadline. A move for Folarin Balogun “collapsed”, while attempts for Joshua Zirkzee, Tammy Abraham and Taty Castellanos also came to nothing. That sequence matters, because it underlines how exposed Everton became in a position where depth is essential across a long Premier League season.
Barry’s contribution has softened the blow. The 23-year-old has “started all eight of Everton’s matches across all competitions this season and has contributed an impressive six goals in the process.” Even so, the wider picture remains clear. Everton have relied on Brennan Johnson and Charly Alcaraz as emergency options at times, and that is not a sustainable structure if Moyes wants greater control over results and selection.
Esteban Lepaul emerges as leading Everton option
Of the names under discussion, Lepaul appears to hold significant appeal. TeamTalk’s reporting says Everton have “emerged as leading contenders to sign Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul”, with the 26-year-old building an excellent record in France. Since joining Rennes in summer 2025, he has scored 24 goals in 42 appearances, with “four goals in six league games this season” further strengthening his profile.
There is wider interest in the Frenchman. Leeds United and Aston Villa are said to have checked on him, while Brentford and Brighton have also watched developments. Yet the key line is that “it’s the Toffees whose interest is the strongest.” That suggests meaningful groundwork may already be under way behind the scenes.
Dion Beljo remains firmly on radar
Lepaul is not the only option being examined. TeamTalk also reported that “Dinamo Zagreb striker Dion Beljo is another player on Everton’s radar.” Beljo, 24, offers a different physical profile at 6ft 5in and arrives with strong numbers of his own, having scored 12 goals in his last 14 matches, including 10 in seven league games.
Competition would be expected here too. Sources cited in the report say Everton, Manchester United, Tottenham and Brentford have all monitored the Croatia international ahead of a possible January move. Newcastle United and Leeds United have also been linked.
January window could define Everton season
One of the more important details in the report concerns ownership. TeamTalk says that “the fact that owners, The Friedkin Group, are actively trying to sell the club, will not affect anything” and that they “are still prepared to invest in the squad if a take over doesn’t take place before January.” For Everton, that may prove crucial.
The club’s requirement is not difficult to read. They need support for Barry, competition across the frontline, and a player Moyes can trust immediately. Lepaul and Beljo both fit the broad brief. The next step is whether Everton move quickly enough to turn credible interest into a deal.
Our View
From an Everton point of view, this feels like common sense and, honestly, overdue. We all saw how risky it was to go into the season so short up front. Barry has done brilliantly and six goals already is a massive positive, but asking one young striker to carry the load for months was always asking for trouble.
If this report is accurate, there is encouragement in the fact Everton are being proactive. Lepaul sounds like a player in form and ready for a bigger challenge, while Beljo looks like the kind of presence Premier League defences hate facing. In truth, either would give Moyes something he badly needs, real choice.
The line that matters most is that ownership issues “will not affect anything” in January. Everton fans have heard plenty of promises over the years, so naturally there will be caution, but if the money is there then this is exactly where it needs to go. A striker is not a luxury for this squad, it is a necessity.
Moyes tends to value reliability, work rate and players who can adapt quickly. If Everton can add one forward with goals in him and the mentality to compete straight away, the whole balance of the side changes. It would help Barry, give the attacking midfielders a focal point and offer genuine depth for the second half of the season. Supporters will hope the lessons of the summer have been learned, because getting this right in January could make a huge difference.
