Everton Interest In Brazilian Striker Confirmed: Is A £43m Fee Wise?

Everton Interest In Brazilian Striker Confirmed: Is A £43m Fee Wise? David Moyes has spent the autumn proving that this summer’s upheaval left Everton stronger than anyone expected. A 3-1 comeback win over Coventry City at the Hill Dickinson Stadium lifted the Toffees to fifth in the Premier League, and the result came in Moyes’ 592nd game in charge, which equalled Harry Catterick’s club record. A Carabao Cup quarter-final against Fleetwood Town also awaits. Little of that looked likely in the summer. The window forced the club to sell Iliman Ndiaye for £65m and move Beto on, because squad cost ratio rules left no room for sentiment. Behind the scenes, the Friedkin Group is exploring a sale, so spending faces close scrutiny. The club replaced them with Thierno Barry, a 24-year-old French centre-forward who has scored 10 goals in all competitions, including a decisive brace against Coventry. Moyes builds his attack around him. Braiden Graham, an 18-year-old academy graduate, gets short spells off the bench but cannot yet carry a Premier League workload. Winger Brennan Johnson or midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall can rotate forward, yet the squad lacks a second senior out-and-out number nine. With only 18 senior outfield players available, one injury to Barry would expose the problem immediately. Palmeiras hold firm on the price That gap explains why Vitor Roque’s name has surfaced. According to Sport Witness , citing Bolavip, agent André Cury has confirmed the Toffees’ growing interest in the Palmeiras striker, 21, ahead of January. Chelsea , Manchester United and Tottenham are tracking the Brazilian too, but Palmeiras want around £43m, backed by a contract to 2029 and a 20% sell-on clause held by Barcelona. Whether the Friedkins’ funding changes allow a bid is uncertain. Roque presses intensely, accelerates explosively and runs the channels well, and he can play as a split forward. His effectiveness drops sharply below full fitness, though, and he struggles in aerial duels against deep blocks. Moyes’ side won a league-high 64% of duels against Newcastle and leans on Barry to hold the ball for Jack Grealish and Tyler Dibling, so Roque suits only a front two or a wide transitional role. Should Everton spend £43m on Roque in January? QUITO, ECUADOR – SEPTEMBER 16: Vitor Roque of Palmeiras celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores Quarter-final second leg match between LDU Quito and Palmeiras at Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium on September 16, 2026 in Quito, Ecuador. (Photo by Franklin Jacome/Getty Images) No. Around £43m, complicated by Barcelona’s cut, is inflated for a club whose owners are preparing a sale and policing costs, and committing a whole budget to one player is reckless when the squad looks so thin. The priority is a specialist right-back and cover for Vitaliy Mykolenko, because a fragile defence would jeopardise the top-five push faster than any goalscoring problem. Barry has also earned the right to lead the line without an expensive rival, and Roque would hand Moyes a tactical dilemma he doesn’t want. A cheap loan or experienced short-term striker protects against a Barry injury; Roque is a luxury.