OPINION
Everton have a proud tradition of developing young talent into first team stars – fans need only look at the first team at Goodison Park right now to see that – which is why the case of Ademola Lookman is such a curious one.
At 21-years-old the winger is still a prodigious talent and one which numerous Premier League sides would be blessed to have on their books – but at Everton he seems to be wasting away on the bench than making that step up to the next level.
Five substitute appearances is all he has to his name in the Premier League this season, and for someone tipped to be one of the next big things in English football, that is not enough.
It should come as no surprise then that boss Marco Silva is reportedly open to using him as a bargaining chip to seal another talent, with the Sun claiming that the Toffees could use him in a swap for Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka with a view to strengthening at right back.
That would be a move which would end in tears for Everton, as Lookman would come back to bite them hard were he to leave for a top flight rival.
Silva might not fancy Lookman but in his couple of outings he has proven to be an electric talent who can make all the difference, and if the manager were only willing to give him a chance, he could flourish ahead of the likes of Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott.
Wan-Bissaka is another hot prospect but is there any guarantee he will continue his decent form? Not at all.
Seamus Coleman and Jonjoe Kenny have that position locked down right now and Silva is making a serious blunder by letting one seriously talented forward depart for a player who is going to act as back up.
A swap deal would end in tears for the Everton faithful who, while they might enjoy the right back’s performances in the future, will always be thinking what could have been when Lookman dazzles elsewhere.