The Turkish international will have a very important role under Marco Silva as Everton look to bed in the likes of Richarlison and Bernard.
Everton have brought in some very exciting players this summer, notably Richarlison and Bernard. The two Brazilians should transform the attack at Goodison Park, adding flair and creativity that has been lacking over the past few years.
Richarlison demonstrated that immediately with two goals on his debut, while Bernard will be hoping to make a similar impact when he finally takes to the field in blue.
Gylfi Sigurdsson, who remains the club’s record signing after joining from Swansea last year for £45m, will hope to have a role alongside the South American’s – or more likely, between.
The trio is an exciting prospect for Everton fans but it highlights the importance of another player – Cenk Tosun.
The Turk was signed by Sam Allardyce in January for £22.5m from Besiktas (even if the ex-Everton boss remembers it as Olympiakos) and his role as the finisher at Everton will be vital this season.
Richarlison, Bernard, and Sigurdsson are flair players, able to create something out of nothing and move with the ball. That won’t, however, always be what the side needs and the physicality of Tosun, as well as his ariel threat, will be a necessary change of pace.
And with key players looking to create, someone has to be there as a reliable finisher – again, that falls on Tosun, and it’ll be down to him to give a consistency that you won’t typically get from the more enigmatic players behind him.
He’ll have to be the link man, the alternative, and the finisher; Tosun may be from a time that Everton want to forget, but his role this season will be key if they want to change.
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