Everton must pounce on Franculino as Delap heads to Forest for a king’s ransom

Here’s the lay of the land: Everton flirted with the idea of bringing in Chelsea striker Liam Delap, but Nottingham Forest are now closing in on a deal reported to be worth around £50m. That’s eye-watering money and, frankly, not the sort of fee the Toffees should be getting dragged into. Time for Plan B — and it looks a savvy one.

Barry’s bright start, Beto’s question mark

Thierno Barry led the line on opening day at Selhurst Park and promptly buried a header to make it 2-0 against Crystal Palace. The lad looks a natural focal point. With Barry bedding in, Everton don’t need to panic-buy a headline No 9 — unless Beto departs. If the Portuguese forward moves on, a clever addition who can push Barry without blowing the budget becomes essential.

Franculino talks heat up

Enter Franculino of Midtjylland. Everton have held fresh talks with the 22-year-old’s camp and the numbers are enticing: 58 goals in 115 appearances for the Danish side. He’s even been dubbed a “gem” by BEIN Sports writer Antonio Medina. The reported price? About £21m. At a little over half of Delap’s fee, this is exactly the sort of calculated move Everton should be making — upside, value, and room to grow under proper coaching.

If you’re tracking the market angles on transfers and the latest odds, keep an eye on the best prices across the best betting sites. There’s usually a tell in how the market moves when serious talks are underway.

Delap vs the value play

Delap remains a talent, no doubt, but last season’s Chelsea return hardly screams guaranteed goals for £50m. His 2025/26 league-and-cup line: 41 appearances (16 starts), 1,601 minutes, 2 goals, 4 assists, and a red card. For that sort of outlay you want a centre-forward who changes the temperature of a match on cue. Forest may fancy the potential; Everton should fancy the price-performance ratio elsewhere.

Why Franculino fits Moyes’ brief

David Moyes wants another forward option and Franculino ticks the boxes: pace to stretch, enough physicality to occupy centre-backs, and a penalty-box instinct that translates, even if he’s untested in a top-five league. As Barry’s understudy — or strike partner when needed — he offers variety without clogging the pathway of a promising starter.

The verdict

Everton don’t need to win the headline; they need to win the window. Strike now for Franculino, structure the deal sensibly, and you’ve got a young finisher on a reasonable fee who can grow with this side. If Beto leaves, the cover is in place. If he stays, the competition only sharpens Barry. Either way, it’s smart business — and the sort of sharp thinking Goodison has been crying out for.