In January, Everton made a notable addition to their squad by bringing Charly Alcaraz on board. However, despite the excitement surrounding this new signing, one key area remained neglected: the acquisition of a striker. This decision raised considerable concern among many fans, who questioned the direction the club was taking under the new ownership of The Friedkin Group. Their apprehension seemed justified, especially when Everton failed to bolster their attacking options. But as the season has unfolded, their concerns have been tempered, at least for the time being, by the impressive performances of Beto.
Beto, the striker who was brought in to fill the void, has enjoyed a remarkable run of form, netting four goals in just three games. This sudden surge in his performances has offered a glimpse of hope for the club, demonstrating that the decision to stick with the current squad might not have been as misguided as some fans initially thought. As of now, Beto is in the form of his Premier League career, offering Everton some much-needed attacking thrust and proving the value of patience in football dealings. His goalscoring exploits have helped lift the team out of a relegation scrap, for now, and given some much-needed optimism for the Toffees faithful.
Under the management of David Moyes, Everton’s primary goal this season has been simple: survival. And to his credit, Moyes has been excelling in this task. The team has looked much more resolute and organized, winning four of their last five Premier League fixtures, with a draw against Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby preventing a perfect run. Moyes’ tactical awareness and ability to extract results from his players has become evident, and Everton now sit 14th in the Premier League standings with 13 matches still to go. The club has also recently leapfrogged both Manchester United and West Ham United in the league table.
When considering the season so far, it is worth noting the improvement in Moyes’ approach. Last season, under Sean Dyche, Everton managed 48 points, averaging 1.26 points per game, but Moyes has significantly raised that bar, averaging 2.16 points per game from his first six league matches in charge. While the future remains uncertain, with the prospect of a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock still looming, the question of whether Moyes will look to strengthen his attack next season is already on many minds. As of now, Beto has been the key to Everton’s revival in attack, but it remains to be seen if this form can be sustained long-term.
Looking at Beto’s individual contributions, he has now played 47 times in the Premier League, scoring eight goals, with four of those strikes coming under Moyes’ guidance in recent matches. His arrival has led to hopes that he might finally be the forward Everton has long been searching for. In comparison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been Everton’s primary striker for several seasons, has not reached double figures in a league campaign since 2020/21 and is set to see his contract expire at the end of the current season.
The past decade has been somewhat barren for Everton in terms of finding a reliable, consistent striker. The club’s attempts to replace Romelu Lukaku, who left for Manchester United in 2017, have been largely unsuccessful. The likes of Cenk Tosun, Moise Kean, and Sandro Ramirez, all arrived with significant expectations and hefty transfer fees, only to fall short of delivering the necessary goals for the club. Tosun, in particular, was widely criticized for his lack of impact, with journalist Luke Gardner labeling him “toothless” during his time at Goodison Park. Meanwhile, Ramirez, who arrived in 2017, was heralded as a future star, only to score just one goal in 16 appearances for the club.
Beto, however, seems to be offering something different. His performances under Moyes’ system have already shown improvement, and with continued development, he could become one of the best forwards Everton has had in recent years. But there is still a long way to go before he can be compared to the club’s modern greats, such as the aforementioned Lukaku.
Lukaku, despite his controversial departure from Everton in 2017, remains the club’s most prolific striker in recent memory. The Belgian forward enjoyed a stellar spell at Goodison Park, scoring 87 goals in 166 appearances, making him Everton’s top scorer in the Premier League era. His physicality, combined with his sharp footballing intelligence, made him a nightmare for defenders. His ability to score goals was unparalleled during his time at Everton, and his departure to Manchester United for a then-club record £90 million fee left a significant void in the team’s attacking line.
Since leaving Everton, Lukaku has continued to showcase his talents. His current form at Napoli in Serie A has seen him score nine goals in 20 starts, alongside eight assists, helping the Italian club maintain a competitive bid for the Serie A title. While he has struggled in recent years, particularly during his time at Chelsea, Lukaku’s time at Everton remains his most productive spell at any club.
When comparing Lukaku to Beto, it’s clear that while the Portuguese striker has shown promise, he is still a long way from reaching the heights of Lukaku. However, Beto’s statistics this season show potential. At 6 foot 4, he brings a similar physical presence to Lukaku, and his performances have been impressive in various aspects of the game. Beto ranks among the top 6% of Premier League forwards for successful take-ons, the top 19% for tackles, and the top 4% for aerial duels won per 90 minutes, according to FBref. His performances have caught the attention of many, with the striker himself admitting that Lukaku is a player he admires and seeks to model his own game after.
Despite the optimism surrounding Beto’s potential, it’s clear that there is a long road ahead before he can be considered Everton’s greatest striker of the modern era. The Toffees faithful may still have lingering feelings of regret over Lukaku’s departure, but for now, they can take solace in the hope that Beto’s form could provide the club with a solid attacking option, as they continue to fight for survival in the Premier League.
As Everton looks ahead to the future, including the prospect of a new stadium and potentially better days, the club will need to continue strengthening its squad. Moyes’ current tenure has brought some much-needed stability, but the question of whether he can lead Everton to more success in the coming seasons remains to be seen. If Beto can continue his upward trajectory, he might just help the club achieve greater heights in the years to come. For now, however, Everton’s supporters will remain cautiously optimistic about their team’s survival and the future of their forward line.
Sold by Koeman: Everton’s “world-class” ace is now outscoring Beto & DCL
