With Everton opening up the 2018/19 Premier League campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux last weekend, one big talking point following the game was the omission of Ademola Lookman.
It was no surprise really to see the 20-year-old miss out given all the speculation that has surrounded his future this last month with RB Leipzig sniffing round unwantedly and taking to the press it seems at every available opportunity to further unsettle the lad.
Manager Marco Silva has stated that he’s still wanted at the club and he believes he has a role to play in our future and I think the safe bet was he was simply keeping him out of the firing line as although the permanent transfer window has shut, our regulations don’t apply abroad so this piece of speculation still has a few rounds to go.
When asked about the omission, Silva told the Liverpool Echo.
“Not injured. My Decision.”
He also confirmed that Kieran Dowell had travelled with the squad but he only missed out as he couldn’t fit him in.
Plenty have read into Silva’s words to provide their own commentary based on what they think will happen, but plenty of speculation has been sparked by the decision.
Something going wrong with lookman. Can’t get on the pitch but silva said he’s our present and our future. ????????????????????????????
— Usmanov1878 (@usmanov1878) August 12, 2018
Not the end of the world. Lookman is young. Too much has been made of him. He’s promising. That’s it.
— Mack (@TheatreOfBeams) August 12, 2018
Way it should be.
— Graeme McVeigh (@GraemeMcV) August 13, 2018
bad attitude ,thinks he is better than he actually is..
— nilsatisnisioptimum (@nikkimetty) August 13, 2018
Should of been on the bench. There was no need to have lewin niasse an sandro on it
— Boston Blues (@EfcTon2point0) August 12, 2018
His head probably won't be fully focused until the window shuts, so I expect him to be involved after it's closure. It's possible one or some of JJK, DCL, Dowell could still go on loan.
— John Merro (@johnmerro1) August 12, 2018
Get shut, if he doesn’t want to stay, pointless him being here.
— Bern (@bernieo63) August 13, 2018
Doesn’t bode well. Clearly his head isn’t right otherwise he would have been in the squad on Saturday. This saga isn’t over yet. https://t.co/9tt8KD5RrO
— School of Science (@SOS1878) August 12, 2018
He will get his move hopefully we get decent money back he will do well in Germany looks lost at times for us
— Lloyd Roberts (@scousehouse06) August 12, 2018
I think he’s got massive talent! We should loan him back to Leipzig if he doesn’t make subs bench next week it ain’t happening this season. But I would never sell him.
— DolphinsVoice/ NSNO (@voice255) August 13, 2018
Silva said in a press conference he’s not for sale
— Nutty (@damp_shropshire) August 12, 2018
Lookman’s form ebbs and flows. Far from the finished product. I’m not shocked by this in the least.
— Mack (@TheatreOfBeams) August 12, 2018
I can only see it continuing to be a busy end to the month when it comes to this man.