Everton confirm interest in Palmeiras striker Roque

Everton interest in a Brazilian striker confirmed, with Palmeiras demanding around £43m, a fee that includes a contract to 2029 and a 20% sell‑on clause held by Barcelona. Fee wise, the price is seen as steep for a club whose owners are exploring a sale. Agent André Cury told Sport Witness that the Toffees’ interest will intensify ahead of the January transfer window. Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are also tracking the 21‑year‑old forward.

Everton's £43m pursuit

That summer upheaval forced the club to sell Iliman Ndiaye for £65m and move Beto on, because squad‑cost‑ratio rules left no room for sentiment. The Friedkin Group is reportedly exploring a sale of the club, meaning any large outlay will face close scrutiny. David Moyes has spent the autumn proving that the summer changes left Everton stronger than expected.

A 3‑1 comeback win over Coventry City at the Hill Dickinson Stadium lifted the Toffees to fifth in the Premier League. The victory marked Moyes’ 592nd game in charge, equalling Harry Catterick’s club record. Everton also have a Carabao Cup quarter‑final against Fleetwood Town awaiting.

Squad thinness forces caution

The club replaced the departed forwards with 24‑year‑old French centre‑forward Thierno Barry, who has scored 10 goals in all competitions, including a brace against Coventry. Moyes builds his attack around Barry, using him to hold the ball for Jack Grealish and Tyler Dibling. Academy graduate Braiden Graham, 18, receives brief substitute appearances but is not yet ready for a full Premier League workload.

Winger Brennan Johnson and 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, an injury to Barry would expose the problem immediately.

Palmeiras hold firm on price, explaining why Roque’s name has surfaced. Roque presses intensely, accelerates explosively, runs the channels well and can operate as a split forward, though his effectiveness drops sharply when not fully fit and he struggles in aerial duels against deep blocks. Everton won a league‑high 64% of duels against Newcastle, showing their physical edge. Roque would suit only a front‑two partnership or a wide transitional role in Moyes’ system.

Whether the £43m fee is a wise investment remains uncertain given the Friedkin funding situation. Around £43m, complicated by Barcelona’s cut, is seen as inflated for a club whose owners are preparing a sale and policing costs, making a whole‑budget commitment reckless given the thin squad. The priority for Everton is a specialist right‑back and cover for Vitaliy Mykolenko, as a fragile defence would jeopardise the top‑five push faster than any goalscoring issue.

Barry has earned the right to lead the line without an expensive rival, and adding Roque would give Moyes a tactical dilemma he does not want. A cheap loan or experienced short‑term striker would protect against a Barry injury, positioning Roque as a luxury rather than a necessity.