Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips has issued a warning to Liam Delap over a potential move to Everton, while also urging the club to extend Beto's contract.
Delap's Situation
Liam Delap scored 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich Town in the 2024/25 season, but after their immediate relegation back to the Championship, his £30 million relegation release clause allowed him to speak with interested clubs. Everton were among those chasing his signature, with manager David Moyes publicly expressing interest. However, Delap ultimately chose Chelsea, seeking Champions League football and a reunion with former Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca.
Fast forward a year, and Maresca departed Chelsea on New Year's Day. The west London club subsequently hired and fired Liam Rosenior in less than four months, and now Xabi Alonso is in charge. Delap struggled for game time, scoring just once in 28 Premier League appearances and twice in 41 games across all competitions.
Phillips' Warning
Kevin Phillips, who scored 92 Premier League goals for Sunderland, Southampton, Aston Villa, and Birmingham City, believes Delap would face stiff competition at Everton. Speaking to the ECHO via BestBettingSites.co.uk, Phillips said: "It's a difficult one because playing as that lone striker, you come in and then you've got two strikers in front of you; all of a sudden you're competing for that one space. So from Liam's point of view, yes, he could certainly go to Everton and perform for sure. But he needs to go and be that number nine, that regular starter week in and week out and I don't think he'd be guaranteed that at Everton. And of course, it's going to cost a lot of money. Do you want that just sitting on the bench maybe every other week?"
Phillips added: "I think with Everton, with the strikers they've got, they can be fairly happy with what they have. They would have to bring someone in that's quite happy to maybe sit on the bench and compete against those two (Beto and Thierno Barry)."
Beto's Contract
Beto scored 10 goals for Everton in the 2025/26 season, with eight coming after the turn of the year. The 28-year-old, who joined for £25.8 million from Udinese in 2023, is entering the final 12 months of his contract. Phillips believes the club should offer him new terms: "Beto scored some good goals towards the end of the season and hit some form. So, I certainly would be looking to keep him on board. He's got attributes that suit the Premier League. He's a big lad, he's powerful, and he's shown he can score goals. I certainly would be looking to enter negotiations and not let his contract run down."
Thierno Barry's Prospects
Regarding Thierno Barry, who netted eight goals in his debut season following a £27 million transfer from Villarreal, Phillips feels the Frenchman needs to improve: "I think overall, when you look at the season he had, it's probably been a bit disappointing. I think a lot of the fans probably would have expected more. There's certainly a player there, but when you're in and out of the side, and you're competing against someone else, it can be difficult. I want to see more next season. There are no excuses now. The Premier League, go and shine next season."
