Brentford Leads the Race for Everton Target Striker: What Should Moyes Do?


Brentford have moved quickly. Very fast. The West London club are actively accelerating their search for Parma striker Mateo Pellegrino, effectively leaving Everton and Newcastle United behind. According to Italian outlet ParmaToday, as reported by Sport Witness, the South American striker has attracted attention throughout the Premier League following his rapid rise in Serie A. This is quite a significant achievement. Pellegrino only joined Parma from Velez Sarsfield in January 2025, but he adapted almost instantly to European football. He did it the hard way, fighting for results in the notoriously tight defensive system implemented by coach Carlos Cuesta. With a record of 15 goals during his time in Italy, nine of which were scored during the 2025/26 season, his reputation as a reliable goalscorer is assured. Sport Witness reports that while Newcastle and Everton have been busy gathering information and placing the physical striker on their shortlist, Brentford have straight-up ignored the monitoring phase. They started direct contact this week. Parma is ready to make a deal. The Italian club will need to balance their budget before the transfer window closes, meaning a profitable sale is very likely. Currently, Brentford is in an advantageous position. David Moyes faces a familiar Everton transfer problem. Finances at Goodison Park are tight. A recent legal ruling ordering a £35m compensation payment to Burnley has seriously reduced the club's financial strength, ruling out any hope of engaging in a direct bidding war. However, David Moyes really needs attacking power. The squad needs a strong physical presence up front to support the attack if they have any real ambitions of challenging for a European qualification place next season. Passively monitoring will not be enough. Moyes cannot afford to sit back and let domestic rivals steal his chances as the pre-season preparation period approaches. Wresting Pellegrino from Brentford's grasp required immediate and aggressive negotiations. If the capital club secures a formal deal with Parma, Everton will have to immediately turn to alternative targets. Squad depth is a non-negotiable for the grueling Premier League calendar. Balancing the books while adding a reliable goalscorer is a big ask, but that's the reality Moyes faces.