Everton paid a club-record £50m to sign Watford attacker Richarlison and he’s already scored six Premier League goals for Marco Silva’s Toffees.
You won’t find many people willing to take aim at Everton’s decision to pay a club-record £50 million for Richarlison these days.
The attacker who fizzled out so disappointingly in his debut season at Watford looks reborn since reuniting with Marco Silva at Goodison Park, being transformed from a winger into a centre-forward and scoring six goals in 10 Premier League starts.
He’s certainly made an impression on Cenk Tosun, the Turkish international striker who has lost his place in Everton’s XI since Richarlison’s arrival.
But the former Besiktas star’s comments could throw up an uncomfortable question – how long can Everton hope to keep hold of Richarlison as long as he keeps progressing at such a rate?
“Richarlison is a very young player. There is a lot to learn, but despite his young age, he is so experienced and dynamic and it amazes me that he is that good,” Tosun told Goal Turkey.
“The road is very open. He is a footballer with the potential to play in the best clubs in the world.”
It would be unfair to accuse Richarlison of using Everton as a stepping stone but the fact is that, like Romelu Lukaku and others before him, it seems inevitable that the 21-year-old will outgrow Goodison Park one day.
Mundo Deportivo claimed in September that Barcelona were scouting the Samba star. And Marco Silva might need to take Everton to another level if they are to realistically convince Richarlison to stay long term in the face of such interest.
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