Everton must sign a striker that can put pressure on Thierno Barry in the January transfer window, according to Yakubu Ayegbeni.
Everton failed with a deadline-day move to sign Folarin Balogun from AS Monaco, having allowed Beto to sign for Serie A side Fiorentina.
The scenario has left Barry as Everton’s only senior striker, with the Frenchman having scored six times in nine appearances across all competitions.
Barry has shown encouraging signs during the season’s opening weeks, with improved movement in the area, but leads the league for big chances missed with 11, five more than the next highest player.
Speaking to ToffeeWeb as part of our Once a Blue series, Yakubu said it’s important for forwards to know their place in the side is vulnerable. He said it is vital that healthy competition is signed to bring the best out of Barry.
“We tried to get a striker, but we didn’t get a striker. Now we have only got one striker. We sold Beto, so we’ve only got Barry now, which is not good for a team like Everton.
“It’s gonna be difficult. It’s gonna be a long season. We need at least three strikers in a team. There’s no pressure on Barry anymore. When you have one striker in a team, it’s easy [for them].
“You know that every week you’re going to be playing. When you have a striker behind you, you have to deliver. It’s going to be a long season and I hope we can get it sorted out in January, to put pressure on Barry.
“When you train every day, play games every week, and you know you’re the only striker in the team, there’s no pressure. There is no young academy striker coming up [to add competition].
“The Premier League is tough. We need someone who can put pressure on Barry. When you have competition, you give your best, it brings out the best in you to train hard, to score goals, to fight for the team, to fight for your place. But now I think he’s going to be laid back a little bit because it’s just him alone for that role in the team. It is sad we didn’t get Balogun through, but we do need a striker in January.”
Last season saw Barry start 21 league games, as David Moyes rotated between the 24-year-old and Beto. A straight swap between them was a regular event when Moyes looked to the bench. Asked whether Barry could instead gain confidence from knowing he’s Everton’s only option, Yakubu disagreed.
“When I had pressure, when I had three or four strikers behind me, there’s massive pressure for you to deliver every week. For Barry now, there’s no pressure. I’m just saying it. He knows. He believes every week I’m going to play because I don’t have a rival. When you have Beto there, there’s pressure for him to deliver, to score goals. If you don’t score goals, you know Moyes at 65 or 70 minutes, will take you off. So you have to score goals. It’s a bit lighter now because there’s no pressure on him.
“What striker do we have in the team? No one. When he’s looking over his shoulder and there’s another striker there, you have to give everything in training. You have to give everything in games. If you don’t deliver, you are going to be on the bench. I know, as a striker.
“You need someone to push you. You need someone to be behind you, saying, I’m ready to take your place. We had so many strikers back in my day. Tim Cahill was there, Louis Saha was there. Marouane Fellaini was there… [Victor] Anichebe, Jermaine Beckford. We had five or six who can play in that position. Like I said, if you don’t score goals with Moyes, you’re gone. You’re out.
“I might be wrong, but I’m telling you, when you have someone breathing down your back, you know you’re not safe. We have to wait till January. At the moment, it’s safe.”
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