Everton boss Marco Silva has defended the club’s high profile purchase of Watford winger Richarlison, following criticism over the Brazilian’s price-tag.
Richarlison, who signed for Watford last summer for then-Hornets manager Silva, reunited with the Portuguese manager at Everton late last month in a deal worth around £35million, which could rise to £40million.
Having initially been reported at costing around £50million, many fans, both Everton supporters and neutrals, claimed Everton had drastically overpaid for the 21-year winger.
Even after the real price was revealed, many still maintained that the Toffees had unnecessarily thrown the bank at Watford to land the young forward, who only scored five times last season and hadn’t netted since November.
However, Silva has defended the purchase, likening the deal to the £30million signing of Jordan Pickford from Sunderland last summer – which was criticised by some, but has subsequently seen Everton land their most promising goalkeeper in years.
Speaking in Everton’s pre-match press conference ahead of the sides opening Premier League fixture against Wolves at Molineux, Silva had this to say on the deal:
I can speak to you about what happened one year ago when we took Jordan Pickford and everyone was talking about it at that moment.
Now no one is talking about his value. The value the club paid to take him here is normal in football. The market now is really difficult.
If the player will perform well and do the best to achieve our goals at the end no one will speak about the price.
