Everton should not be considering a move for Richarlison with Ademola Lookman back at the club.
Everton’s reported interest in Watford forward Richarlison will certainty prompt a bit of head-scratching given the promise surrounding Ademola Lookman at Goodison Park.
The 21-year-old Brazilian has been linked with a move to the blue half of Merseyside after just one year at Vicarage Road. He shone brightly during the first half of the 2017-18 season; his superb work rate and instant understanding with Andre Gray inspiring the Hornets’ splendid early form.
While the goals and assists did dry up – Richarlison did not find the back of the net or set up a teammate in the Premier League beyond December – there was enough evidence to suggest the young Brazilian could have a bright future on these shores. Just not at Everton.
In Lookman, the club already have a versatile forward option, desperate to win the hard yards and with something to prove at Goodison Park. The circumstances that saw him leave the club on loan last January to join RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga did not paint now-former manager Sam Allardyce in the best of lights, with the former Charlton Athletic youngster diligently proving his doubters wrong with a superb return of five goals and four assists.
That return is just one assist less than Richarlison’s in the entire 2017-18 campaign and Lookman’s came in just 572 minutes of Bundesliga football. Placing faith in the Londoner could also free up £40million to spend elsewhere this summer – reportedly the steep valuation Watford have placed on the Brazilian.
New director of football Marcel Brands and whoever is named Allardyce’s successor in the coming weeks will certainly have a significant job on their hands this summer, but Lookman’s presence should save them at least one job.
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