Why Ademola Lookman has done well to stay put at Everton
Everton manager Marco Silva has advised Ademola Lookman to stay at the club and fight for his place in the starting line-up.
Lookman, 20, has started only four Everton games since arriving from Charlton Athletic in January 2017 and was farmed out on loan to RB Leipzig in January last season. The speedy winger enjoyed a successful loan spell at the German side last season, scoring five goals and assisting a further three times in 11 Bundesliga games.
The Guardian claims Lookman is keen to secure a permanent return to RB Leipzig before 31st August but Silva has asserted that Lookman represents ‘the present and future’ of Everton.
Everton enjoyed a fantastic summer with Richarlison, Bernard, the Barcelona duo of Yerry Mina and André Gomes plus Kurt Zouma joining Silva’s squad. Considering that the likes of Richarlison and Bernard have come in, it is understandable from Lookman’s point of view to leave Everton for regular time game. However, with Silva showing faith and challenging him to earn his spot in the starting XI, Lookman must relish the test and prove himself at Goodison Park.
Lookman has made 15 Premier League appearances for the Toffees and 24 in all competitions, but he hasn’t really had that standout spell in the side yet. Some of that can be attributed to the negative style that Sam Allardyce adopted last term, but with Silva at the helm now, Lookman should look to reboot his Goodison Park career.
Everton’s idea to not sell the youngster indicates Silva’s approach towards making him central to his plans in the future. Lookman needs a sustained spell of game time to show his magic at Everton but he will have to earn his spot in the first-team.
Silva is known for his attacking and expansive brand of football, one that will include more pace and creativity in the final third. In Silva’s quest to make significant improvements this term, a young attacker such as Lookman would be resourceful. Lookman represents superb depth in the wide areas, and immense promise for the future. He could join Richarlison, Bernard and Theo Walcott to form a supremely talented pool of wingers this season.
Capable of playing anywhere across the front line and also operate as an auxiliary forward in behind the main striker, Lookman, at 20, is still very much a raw talent but has shown great promise and potential in his young career at the highest level.
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While the onus will be on Silva and his backroom staff to provide the young gun with the support, faith and playing time that he needs, Lookman also has to prove his manager right by showing that he is ‘the present and the future’ of Everton.