Why Everton have done the right thing by rejecting Leipzig approach for Ademola Lookman

According to reports, Everton have rejected a bid worth around £12m from RB Leipzig for Ademola Lookman.

A product of the Charlton academy, Lookman signed for Everton in January 2017 and while he showed promise initially, he was frozen out last season with just one Premier League start to his name. The 20-year-old was farmed out on loan to RB Leipzig in January and he blossomed in his short stay in the Bundesliga.

It’s reported that Everton have held talks with Lookman about his future and though the Toffees are reluctant to sell, the young winger is thought to be keen on leaving them in order to play first-team football.

Everton fans have certainly not seen the best of Lookman but there have been glimpses of serious quality and it was a bad decision on former manager Sam Allardyce’s part to allow the youngster to head out on loan to RB Leipzig in January.

Lookman certainly showed Everton why they signed him in the first place, with an impressive spell in the Bundesliga. The nippy wide man scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists in just 11 games in the top-flight to help Ralph Hassenheutl’s side finish 6th last season.

After a stunning spell with Leipzig, there is a feeling that Lookman could have a big part to play at the Goodison Park next season with Marco Silva now in charge. Silva doesn’t seem to want to let go of Lookman, who is a sublime talent and was largely overlooked by Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce.

Lookman is one of a number of exciting prospects who Silva has inherited at Goodison Park. Everton’s idea to not sell the youngster indicates Silva’s approach towards making him central to his plans next season. And Silva being more willing to give the young gun the opportunity he deserves at Everton should be music to Toffees supporters’ ears.

Silva is known for his attacking and expansive brand of football, one that will include more pace and creativity in the final third. That seems to fit in perfectly with Lookman’s style of play, with one of his major assets being his explosive pace and dribbling ability.

The 20-year-old can play anywhere in the attacking areas and has already given a glimpse of his goalscoring and goal-creating exploits at the highest level at Leipzig. Koeman and Allardyce ignored the youngster’s talent but Silva could be the perfect manager to get the best out of him in the coming years.

So it is the perfect move from Silva to keep hold of one of the club’s exciting prospects in Lookman. He clearly has the abilities and Goodison Park is the perfect place to unlock his true potential.