Beto celebrates scoring for Everton at Brighton. Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images

David Moyes said Beto has been working “like a beast” as part of efforts to play a more significant role in Everton’s season.

The forward has struggled to re-discover the form that carried the Blues to safety 12 months ago and lost his starting place to 23-year-old Thierno Barry, who has started to show signs he is settling into the Premier League after a tough start following his summer move from Villarreal.

Barry’s progress - he has scored five league goals since the start of December, including a stunning winner at Aston Villa - has exposed the difficulties faced by Beto and the Guinea-Bissau international’s future has been the subject of debate through the January transfer window.

Everton would only allow the former Udinese striker to depart if they could sign a replacement Moyes believes is a genuine upgrade and, with the club having spent...