Ademola Lookman reports suggest Everton are risking a rift with Marco Silva

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Everton head coach Marco Silva wants to keep winger Ademola Lookman in the Premier League amid reported interest from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

Everton manager Marco Silva has left no one in any doubt about what he thinks of Ademola Lookman.

The 20-year-old’s future at Goodison Park is up in the air and he did not feature in either of Everton’s first two Premier League games under Silva, omitted from the matchday squad for the season opener against Wolves.

But the former Watford and Hull City coach has made it very clear just how highly he rates the talented young Lookman.

“I understand why some clubs are interested in him because he is a good player. But in the end, for me, he is the future of the club,” 41-year-old Silva said in quotes reported by The Times.

Clearly, the Portuguese has big plans for Lookman on Merseyside. So Everton would be risking a rift already with their new manager if they decided to go ahead and sell the England U21 international before the end of August.

RB Leipzig want to sign Lookman on a permanent basis after he shone during a loan spell in the second half of last season, scoring five times in seven Bundesliga starts. The Times reports that Everton have rejected an offer of £22 million but could be welling to sell for £30 million.

That would earn Everton a big profit, 17 months after they paid Charlton Athletic just £11 million. But going over Silva’s head and selling a player they want to keep is not the best way to keep a coach happy, particularly one with such itchy feet.