Marco Silva hails importance of summer signing Richarlison to Everton's future

In describing Richarlison as an “investment” and hailing his importance to Everton’s future, Marco Silva has railed against the critics who have questioned the club record purchase of the 21-year-old.

Paul Merson, once a title winner and now pundit, said the Brazilian winger, who could eventually cost £50 million, had ‘ruined’ the summer transfer window with an over-inflated transfer from Watford.

Yet in powering a match-clinching header past Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy for his third goal in two games and displaying drive and determination at both ends of the pitch, Richarlison’s fee has been defended.

While defender Seamus Coleman revealed the frontman is not fazed by the price tag, a defiant Silva drew comparisons with the club’s £30m signing of keeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland.

“I think the people speak about his fee because it is their job to speak,” he said. “I respect everybody, but I am sure people will understand where the market is now.

“I don't know what happened last season, but when our club signed Jordan (Pickford), for sure everybody speaks in the same way. Everybody says it is too much money, this kind of thing and now he is the number one of the national team and nobody, nobody, talks more about his value in the market.

“The market now, you never know what will happen. But when we have to sign one player who we feel is important we have to do what we can.”

Coleman, who cost Everton a paltry £60,000 when he left Irish club Sligo Rovers in 2009, added: “The price tag is nothing to do with Richarli.

“There may be that pressure from the outside but he’s not showing it. He’s a young lad, just enjoying his football and happy to be at this club. We are excited for him.

“What I’ve seen so far is a young committed player, desperate to do well.”

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Richarlison’s energy and enterprise is reflected in this Everton team being shaped by Silva.

There is a rejuvenation among players who struggled in the previous campaign including Gylfi Sigurdsson and Morgan Schneiderlin, who was forced off with a muscle injury in the 24th minute after he had helped set up Theo Walcott for the 15th minute opener with an impressive free-kick routine.

With faith restored, a feel-good factor and signings such as Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes, Kurt Zouma, Yerry Mina and Brazilian Bernard still to figure, Coleman wants Everton to push for the top six and lift a trophy for the first time since their FA Cup triumph in 1995.

“Look, you want pressure, to be competing at the top end,” he said.

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“You want to be going far in cup competitions. What we have lacked for so long is the finances and I think we have that now and it’s about spending that right.

“This window just gone has made everyone excited, myself included. The more money that is spent, there will be more pressure, but everyone is doing it and you have to keep up. I wouldn’t like to label it the best squad [during my time], it’s too early for that. But I’m excited about it 100 per cent.”

Southampton remain winless and manager Mark Hughes bemoaned the fact they were a “little bit naïve” in their play, despite a first goal for Danny Ings.

Having claimed home keeper Pickford should have been dismissed for a high challenge on Ings while making a clearance, Hughes raged at referee Lee Mason.

“It was stop-start in the second half and the referee I think was influenced a little bit too much by the antics of the Everton players screaming before they were even touched,” he said.

“It is something I don’t like to see in the game but the referee didn’t really stamp down on that.”