It is Everton’s upcoming opponents Manchester City who Ademola Lookman scored against on his debut for the club during the latter part of the 2016/17 Premier League season.
Since then, the 21-year-old has gone on to join RB Leipzig on loan with former Everton manager Sam Allardyce failing to find a regular spot for him in the team in the last campaign.
But despite playing extremely well in the Bundesliga with the German side, £18m-rated (Transfermarkt) Lookman still finds himself in a similar situation following his return to Goodison Park.
In Marco Silva’s defence, unlike Allardyce, the Portuguese coach has given Lookman an actual role in the squad, while the Charlton youth product has also made it clear he is happy with life under his new boss.
“He gives me the licence to express myself and that allows me to feel free,” Lookman was quoted saying in Everton’s most recent match programme (via Liverpool Echo). “He wants me to score more goals and get more assists and to always be available, to always be in space and consistently be a threat to the other team. And the support of the fans gives me more confidence to play my football and show what I can do.”
Yet, all things considered, Silva really should probably be giving the forward more minutes given the form of Theo Walcott. The 29-year-old has been poor for some time now — in contrast to Lookman who has looked liked a threat whenever he has played — and it has been surprising to see the former Watford manager persist with him.
Be it another loan move or something more permanent, Lookman should definitely consider an exit away from the club if he is not given a real chance in the starting XI.
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