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Everton's Peter Crouch?

Matthew Hobbs

BBC Sport

Thierno Barry’s 6ft 5in frame makes him a huge threat in the air and he ranked second of all forwards in Europe’s major leagues (and top of anyone in La Liga) for aerial duel success in 2024-25, winning 66.7% of his 153 challenges (minimum 100 aerial duels).

It is a facet of Barry’s game that has undoubtedly attracted Everton boss David Moyes, whose sides typically get lots of crosses into the box.

The Toffees ranked seventh for open-play crosses in the Premier League in 2025-25, although they struggled to convert crosses into goals, scoring just three times from such situations – the fewest of any club other than Chelsea (2).

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Get Involved - do Everton need more attacking signings?

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What do you think Everton fans?

Would the arrival of Thierno Barry be enough to supplement the club's current attacking resources, or do you need more signings before the end of the summer transfer window?

Get in touch via WhatsApp or text using the contact details above.

From fifth tier of French football to Everton?

Matthew Hobbs

BBC Sport

A Premier League move at the age of 22 would cement Thierno Barry’s rapid rise in European football in recent seasons.

Only three years ago, he completed his first season of senior football in France’s fifth tier before moving to Belgian second-tier side Beveren in July 2022.

A haul of 20 goals in 28 starts was enough to earn a move to Swiss Super League side Basel a year later and he subsequently finished as the club’s top scorer on 12 goals in his first campaign of top-flight football.

A flurry of eight goals in the first four matches of 2024-25 convinced Villarreal to pay 15m euros [£12.9m] for his services in August.

The 6ft 5in striker was an instant success, scoring 11 goals to help the Yellow Submarine finish fifth with their highest points tally in 17 years and qualify for the Champions League.

Everton eye Barry after Calvert-Lewin & Broja departures

Should Everton complete a deal for Villarreal's Thierno Barry, the France striker would add to the club's attacking resources after Dominic Calvert-Lewin left at the end of his contract.

Forward Armando Broja also exited when his loan ended, returning to Chelsea without the deal being made permanent.

Barry was born in Lyon and left French club Sochaux aged 19 to play in the Belgian second division with Beveren.

The following season he moved to Swiss Super League club Basel, before joining Villarreal in August 2024 in a deal worth about £13m.

Villarreal striker Barry set for Everton medical

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Everton are close to ending their striker search with Villarreal's Thierno Barry expected to fly into Merseyside for a medical before completing a £27m deal.

The formalities are not completed yet, but the move is progressing with manager David Moyes ready to clinch Everton's biggest deal of the summer so far.

Barry had a £34.5m release clause in his Villarreal contract, but Everton expect to pay a lower fee for the 22-year-old, who scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 38 games last season as the Spanish club finished fifth in La Liga to qualify for the Champions League.

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Get Involved - 'Very concerned' Fulham fan

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Laura, London: Fulham fan here and very concerned about being the only club without a signing on the 8:55 post of deals done so far. Think part of our drop off at the end of last season was a lack of squad depth - fingers crossed we can get some reinforcements soon and not leave it to a mad scramble on deadline day!

Takai's achievements

Tottenham's new signing Kota Takai is also a proven winner, having helped Frontale to two trophies during his short time at the club.

He was part of the Frontale team that claimed the 2023 Emperor's Cup, winning the final 8-7 on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Kashiwa Reysol.

The 20-year-old defender also helped his side claim the Japanese Super Cup in 2024, beating 2023 J-League champions Vissel Kobe 1-0 in the annual match between the Emperor's Cup and J-League winners.

He was also named as the J-League's best young player.

Who is Spurs signing Kota Takai?

Jordan Butler

BBC Sport

So Spurs have their third summer signing (if you include Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel...) so let's take a look at what they're getting.

Takai has a wealth of experience despite being just 20-years-old.

He played the first of his 77 senior games in the Asian equivalent of the Champions League at just 17.

He featured at the 2024 Olympic Games for Japan and has since won four senior caps.

He is athletic, comfortable on the ball and has an eye for a pass – Takai completed almost 2,000 passes in the J-League since the start of last season with an 88% success rate, which ranks him 15th among all defenders.

Recap - Forest's Elanga set for £55m move to Newcastle?

In case you are just joining us, the main news of the morning has been Newcastle's move for Nottingham Forest's Sweden winger Anthony Elanga.

The two clubs have agreed a £55m fee for the 23-year-old former Manchester United player.

Stick with us as we look into the proposed deal in more detail.

Tottenham have signed Japan defender Kota Takai from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale for £5m.

The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract until the summer of 2030 and will be part of Thomas Frank's first-team squad.

Takai has won four caps for Japan's senior side, making his international debut in a World Cup qualifier versus China last September.

The defender played a key role in Kawasaki Frontale winning the Japanese Super Cup in 2024 while also being named the nation's best young player that year.

West Ham have rejected a £50m offer from Tottenham for Mohammed Kudus.

The Ghana international is open to a move away from the London Stadium and is prioritising a switch to a Champions League side.

Spurs fit that bill after qualifying for the competition by winning the Europa League.

Talks are ongoing, with West Ham open to letting the 24-year-old attacking player leave.

Kudus, who joined West Ham in a £38m deal from Ajax in 2023, has an £85m release clause but Tottenham are looking to secure a deal under that figure.

At least six top clubs have enquired about Kudus in recent weeks, according to well-placed sources.

Chelsea are among the clubs with an interest in Kudus.

West Ham may look to sell one of their top stars this summer with a view to reinvesting the recouped money into the squad ahead of manager Graham Potter's first full season in charge.

Kudus, who still has three years to run on his contract, has 13 goals and nine assists in 65 Premier League appearances for the Hammers.

Burnley have signed England defender Kyle Walker from Manchester City for a fee of up to £5m.

The right-back completed his medical on Friday and has signed a two-year contract with the Clarets.

The 35-year-old will work again with head coach Scott Parker, with whom he played at Tottenham Hotspur for two seasons.

"I'm delighted to be here," Walker told Burnley's website. "I can't wait to come in and add my experience and quality to what looks an exciting squad.

"When I spoke to Scott and heard about his plans for next season, it was an opportunity I jumped at. He's done an amazing job here, guiding the club back to the Premier League."

Walker made 15 appearances in the first half of last season for City before joining AC Milan on loan in January, but the Italian club decided not to make his move permanent.

He won 17 trophies during his time at Etihad Stadium and was part of the squad that won the Treble in 2023.

Walker, who started his career at Sheffield United, signed for City in the summer of 2017 for an initial £45m and made 319 appearances for the club.

Burnley were promoted back to the Premier League last season following their relegation in 2024.

The Clarets creatively announced Walker's arrival on X, , externalusing Popstar Lionel Richie's music video for his song 'Hello'.

Walker is their fifth signing of the summer, following the arrival of defender Axel Tuanzebe, left-back Quilindschy Hartman, goalkeeper Max Weiss and French winger Loum Tchaouna.

Tottenham have launched their away kit for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

The club have embraced their all-black strip with the tagline: 'In darkness we dare', which they say is "a twist on our renowned motto" of 'to dare is to do'.

While Spurs believe it to be a "a bold look" for the return of Champions League away nights, what do you make of it?

Ange Postecoglou's key address of his players hours before Tottenham's Europa League final victory has surfaced and shows a manager tapping into the emotions of his players.

The talk is proving popular on social media. Here, BBC Sport presents Postecoglou's words shared at the team hotel before Spurs' 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao:

"From the day I arrived, it was about family.

"We are not in this position just because of our football. We are in this position because all of you, plus the staff, have stuck together like family through the tough times. And we're going to need that today.

"Remember why we do this. It's not just about winning things - it's about paying back, giving to people who love us, who make sacrifices for us.

"So you walk out today not just 11 brothers. You walk out today with all of us with you, with all those people with you, thousands in the stadium with you, hundreds of thousands back home with you.

"We are the biggest army. And they can't stop us. They can't stop us. What we have can't be stopped.

Doncaster Rovers have signed Tottenham Hotspur forward Damola Ajayi in a season-long loan deal.

The 19-year-old scored on his competitive debut for Spurs against Elfsborg in the Europa League last season.

"This is a top club that has just had a great season and I'm ready to kick on," he told the club website., external

"I feel like I can see what Rovers are trying to build and I feel like they're heading in the right direction.

Tottenham have agreed a £5 million deal to sign Japan international Kota Takai from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale.

The 20-year-old centre-back is expected to arrive at the club next month and will be part of Thomas Frank's first-team squad.

Takai has won two caps for Japan's senior side, making his international debut in a World Cup qualifier versus China last September.

He played a key role in Kawasaki Frontale winning the Japanese Super Cup in 2024 while also being named the nation's best young player that year.

Takai will compete for a role in the team alongside fellow centre-backs Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin.

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