According to a recent report from The Daily Mail, Everton are interested in luring Samir Nasri to Goodison Park. The 31-year-old is currently without a club after leaving Turkish side Antalyaspor back in January of this year, but with his current drugs ban set to end next month, the former Manchester City and Arsenal man will soon be allowed to train with other clubs.

And reports suggest that Marco Silva’s Everton are keen on giving the Frenchman another chance in the Premier League, yet the Toffees manager needs to make a key decision on his system and personnel if a move for the midfielder is to make any sense, namely that of playing Richarlison as a number nine.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the Merseysiders have struggled greatly in the striking ranks in the last 12 months or so, with the likes of Cenk Tosun, Oumar Niasse, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin simply not producing the goods on a regular enough basis.

And their struggles prompted Silva to change things away at Leicester City last time out by leading the line with summer signing Richarlison, and given the Brazil international netted in a 2-1 success for the Toffees, it’s an avenue the Everton boss may seek to go down again.

But it’s a decision he needs to make before firming up his interest in free agent Nasri, as if he decides against playing Richarlison up top and thus returns him to a wing position, it’s difficult to see how the Frenchman fits into the Everton side.

Gylfi Sigurdsson has made the number ten spot his own this season with five goals and an assist in nine appearances for the club, including a spectacular strike against Leicester last weekend, while the likes of Theo Walcott and Bernard have also proven to be huge assets to Silva in that trio behind the front man.

And with the likes of Calvert-Lewin and Ademola Lookman also available for selection, it’s tricky to see how Nasri commands regular football at Goodison Park if Richarlison is returned to his natural position on the left wing - playing him up top though could open the door for the former France international.

Ultimately, the 31-year-old produced arguably his best football of his career during his time in the Premier League at both City and Arsenal, so it’s pretty clear that he has the ability to seriously bolster the Everton ranks, but will likely seek regular first team football when he considers his next club.

And if Silva opts against playing Richarlison as a number nine, it wouldn’t make a great deal of sense to land Nasri given the options already available to the Everton manager in that position - after all, it has been many years since Nasri produced his best football.

But if he does believe that playing the Brazilian in a more advanced central role is the way to go, bringing someone like Nasri in could have its benefits, and the door could well be open to regular first team football.

As such, it’s pretty clear that for a move for Nasri to make sense, Silva has to make a key decision over the role of Richarlison in his Everton team.

Everton fans… what do you think? Let us know!