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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Phil Kirkbride

Everton boss Marco Silva explains what Blues want in a striker as transfer plans take shape

Marco Silva has offered an insight into Everton's transfer plans by explaining what he looks for in a striker.

The Blues are expected to bolster their attacking options this summer with Lille teenager Rafael Leao among the targets being discussed.

Everton , it is understood, may also target a more experienced forward as well in the close season.

Silva says he wants his No9 to be able to act as a targetman, have the pace to run in behind and act as a link-man to help bring the midfield into the game.

But the Everton boss insists, above all else, he wants his frontman to be a consistent goal-scorer.

“An ability to score!” Silva said with a laugh, when asked what he looks for in his No9.

“That is the first one.

“If you can be a targetman, like we have with Dominic  (Calvert-Lewin) now and like I had in some clubs, is also really important.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin wins a header during the match between Southampton and Everton (Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

“But I also like some mobility in the striker.

“Today, in football, it is really important you have some mobility in that position because the defenders are stronger and if you can have some mobility to connect the game with your midfielders and, after that, to have the capacity to score goals is really important.

“Mobility and the capacity to connect with your team is really important to me but, the most important thing for them and for me as a manager, is if they have the capacity to score the goals.”

Cenk Tosun has shown himself to be a proficient finisher but has struggled to cope with the rigours of the Premier League.

The Turkey international was a big money signing in January 2018 but has fallen out of favour under Silva, starting only nine league games this season.

Marco Silva details Everton's transfer strategy as Marcel Brands aims to wrap up deals early  

Both of Tosun's Premier League strikes this term have come from off the bench.

Silva knows the 27-year-old has found the physical side of the English game tough to deal with but says his finishing ability is not in question and says he can be a success on these shores.

Everton, it is believed, remain open to offers for the forward who is valued at £20m.

“Cenk, you are talking about a player who can finish with his right and left foot and has this fantastic capacity to find the back of the net,” Silva said.

Cenk Tosun of Everton and Harry Maguire of Leicester City (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“But he even said himself, in some interviews, he keeps adapting to this competition because of the pace...

“I read what he said about his first match against Tottenham and that is the reality.

“For you, it is normal to see the Premier League but to others it is completely different; the pace, the challenges are completely different to Turkey, Portugal, Ukraine.

“Everything is different with that pace.

“But Cenk has fantastic ability to score if the team create for him but, in some moments, he has to put more mobility in his game and adapt more to the pace that the Premier League asks of you.

“You also have to be strong in the challenge and attack in behind also. He is working hard and he is able to score goals – he has already scored important goals for us – and I am 100% sure that if he plays he is able to score goals for us again.”

Marco Silva says there's more to come from Richarlison & Tosun

Silva, saying that Everton need a variety of strikers in their squad, added: “There are no doubts – he can have a future in the Premier League.

“When you build a squad, you cannot have all the players with the same profile. You cannot.

“If you can have everything in one striker it would be fantastic but where are they? This is the question.

Marco Silva passes instruction to Cenk Tosun (Tony McArdle - Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images)

“So after that, you have to build a squad and if you have three strikers you cannot have them all with the same profile.

“If you look at our wingers, they are not of the same profile. Theo is completely different to the others, Bernard is more similar to Lookman and Richarlison is completely different to them all.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and why Marco Silva has given him a 'big chance' to keep Everton No.9 spot  

“When you prepare the squad the strikers is more or less the same thing.

“If you have one targetman, then you have to have a striker with more mobility.

“Cenk has a future in the Premier League, he has scored important goals for Everton and is able to keep scoring.

“And the last market showed to us that some clubs came to us to ask about Cenk and it was not just from abroad, some Premier League clubs also asked about him.

“I am 100% sure he has a future in the Premier League.”

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