Everton boss Rafa Benitez is hoping and expecting big things from Richarlison next season after letting the Brazilian player take part in the Olympic tournament.
In an article on the club website Benitez claims he is anticipating a much-improved Richarlison next season as payback for the willingness of Everton to support his desire to play in the Olympics.
If Brazil reach the final on 7 August, Richarlison might be returning to England just days before the new Premier League season kicks off the following weekend. That’s assuming he doesn’t have any time off in between.
Well, let’s hope that indeed we see the very best of the Brazil forward next season when he does finally return, because quite apart from his being allowed to play in the Olympic’s by the club after being away at the Copa America, he didn’t produce his best last season that’s for sure.
After two seasons when he had scored thirteen Premier League goals in each of those campaigns his goal tally slumped to seven last time out as he struggled to find his best form with a new formation and position in the team and a three-game suspension.
There have also been stories that the Brazilian striker is thinking about his future following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti.
But so far anyway Richarlison hasn’t been the subject of any concrete bids from other clubs and it seems as though, for the moment anyway, he will be staying at Goodison Park.
As well as the transfer stories there are questions about what role Richarlison will have when he does return to the Everton team.
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Benitez is now moving to bring in reinforcements after assessing his squad of players with rumours of imminent deals for forwards Andros Townsend, Demarai Gray and possibly also Dwight McNeil.
If all three of these players do come through the doors at Finch Farm, it will certainly give the Blues boss plenty of additional options in attack.
It certainly seems as though Benitez wants to set up his Toffees side to play the ball out wide and get in plenty of crosses and balls into the box to take advantage of the ability both Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have in the air, in particular.
All this potentially makes for an interesting and possibly exciting approach, which given Benitez’s style is suitably pragmatic and designed to maximise the strengths of his existing key players.
Let’s hope this strategy can pay dividends and that we will see a genuinly revitalised Richarlison, when he is finally back, playing his part in an improved Everton team next season.