Lookman is Everton’s ‘present and future’ – Silva

Marco Silva said Ademola Lookman very much remains in his plans, with the Everton manager stressing the forward is the “present and the future of the club.”

Lookman spent the second half of last season on loan at RB Leipzig, who want to arrange a permanent deal for the 20-year-old before the end of the transfer window in Germany on Aug. 31.

Everton do not want to sell the England under-21 international, although Silva admitted the club still need to convince the player that staying would be in his best interests.

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“He’s our player. All of you know what is my technical opinion of the player. The player knows,” Silva said at a news conference on Thursday. “He’s not [an] issue.

“I will repeat again: When you talk about business and whatever, it is not my role. I can advise every time and I will do that for sure. Of course, I understand if some clubs are interested in him because he’s a good player and talented, in my opinion. As I told you last week, I told you two weeks ago, what my opinion is: He’s the present and the future of the club. We have to try to convince him to go in this way as well.”

Meanwhile, speaking to preview Everton’s trip to Bournemouth on Saturday, Silva said Barcelona recruits Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina may not make their debuts for the club until after the upcoming international break.

But one summer signing who has hit the ground running since moving to Goodison Park this summer is Richarlison, who has scored three goals in his first two Everton appearances following his £40 million summer move from Watford.

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“It’s not a surprise,” Silva said of Richarlison, who he brought to England from Fluminense last season when in charge of Watford. “It’s not only because he’s scoring important goals for us, but it’s everything he can do for us as a squad.

“He can support. He can help with the ball and without the ball as well. Even if he didn’t score in the last or first match, he did well and worked well. He’s important for me.”

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