Everton target Etta Eyong as Levante forced to sell by FFP

Everton’s interest in Levante striker Karl Etta Eyong has gained a significant new dimension after a report from Spanish outlet SER Deportivos Valencia revealed the club are facing serious financial fair play complications that will force them to sanction a major sale this summer or risk being unable to assemble a competitive squad for next season.

Etta Eyong has been on Everton’s striker shortlist since earlier in the season. Levante tried to move him on to CSKA Moscow in January to generate funds, but the 22-year-old Cameroonian refused to relocate to Russia. That failed sale may now prove costly for the Spanish club, leaving them carrying a player they cannot easily offload while their FFP situation deteriorates.

Why Karl Etta Eyong suits Everton’s striker requirements

Thierno Barry finished the Premier League season with just eight goal contributions and has failed to convince as a genuine first-choice striker at Goodison Park. Beto produced ten. Etta Eyong, operating in La Liga Segunda with a Levante side not built around him, recorded seven goals and four assists in 30 appearances, just 18 of which were starts.

The 11-goal contribution total comfortably outpaces what both Barry and Beto delivered despite similar minutes played across the campaign. That is the statistical case for Everton taking a serious look at a player who has produced those numbers inconsistently and not from the position of a guaranteed starter.

At 5’11” he offers physical presence and directness in central areas, with the ability to press from the front as well as finish. His profile is notably different from Barry’s, which is relevant for a manager looking to add variety and genuine competition to a position that has been one of the team’s most persistent weaknesses.

How Levante’s FFP position could benefit Everton in negotiations

SER Deportivos Valencia report that Levante are effectively under pressure to sell to satisfy their FFP situation. The exact wording captures the urgency clearly: the club is forced to make a major sale or it will be unable to assemble a competitive squad.

That desperation creates leverage for any interested buyer. A club that must sell does not hold the same negotiating position as one choosing to sell, and Everton’s financial team will be aware of how to use that dynamic effectively in any opening conversation about a fee.

There is one complication worth noting. Levante may prioritise selling Carlos Espi over Etta Eyong. The 20-year-old Spaniard outscored the Cameroonian this season and is considered the player Levante are more willing to part with. If the Spanish club can satisfy their FFP requirements through an Espi sale, their motivation to deal on Etta Eyong reduces. Everton will need to move early and decisively to ensure the conversation around their preferred target stays open before another solution presents itself to the Valencia club.