Everton Opinion: Why Everton should make a move for Rafael Leao

The Daily Mail has reported that Everton have entered the race for LOSC Lille star Rafael Leao, with the teenager enjoying a good debut season. Formerly of Sporting Lisbon, the 19-year-old forced a move at the start of the season after fans invaded the Sporting training ground.

He was joined by the likes of Rui Patricio, William Carvalho, Pedro Silva, Nani and Bryan Ruiz among others. However, since then, the 19-year-old has been in excellent form, scoring seven goals and producing a further two assists.

That’s more than either Dominic Calvert-Lewin (6) or Cenk Tosun (2) has managed to score this season. In fact, only Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson have managed to outscore Rafael Leao. It shows why Everton need the young striker, given the fact that Marco Silva’s future is in flux.

The former Watford boss was appointed at the start of the season to bring back exciting and attacking football into Everton. While he has managed to do that, it has been an inconsistent season for the Toffees. They sit 11^th in the Premier League and if there is one thing Silva needs, it’s a brand new striker next summer.

Calvert-Lewin and Tosun’s problems this season have affected the club and it will continue to affect them until they add a new striker.

Rafael Leao is far from the finished product but the 19-year-old is a great finisher as witnessed in the Ligue 1 this season. Great spatial awareness and great attacking instincts make him a good centre-forward but it’s his energy that Everton need.

A tenacious striker, the Portuguese star is a hellish prospect for defenders because of his stamina and speed. However, as mentioned, he is far from the finished product and that has affected Lille at times.

Leao can be selfish on the ball and has been inconsistent this season, which has seen him make only 19 appearances. But all that can be ironed out under the right manager and if nothing else, Silva is the right manager.

His abilities as a manager have been proven with Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ademola Lookman and even Tom Davies among others.

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Conclusion

Everton have the potential to become a top-seven club if not a top six. And Rafael Leao can be the ideal long-term solution. The 19-year-old has been in good form but he needs to find consistency before he can be considered in the same category as the likes of Kylian Mbappe.