Does the Congolese wideman still have a role to play at Everton under Marco Silva?
Yannick Bolasie ’s Everton career hasn’t gone to plan since he joined the Toffees from Crystal Palace for £25 million in 2016.
After a promising start, his progress was halted by a serious knee injury that cost him a year of his career.
By the time he returned, the Merseysiders were a club in turmoil, and lacking the kind of on-field identity that they’d enjoyed when Bolasie and Romelu Lukaku had been tearing it up together at the start of the 2016-17 campaign.
The story of last season
Bolasie only made his first-team comeback from injury on Boxing Day, featuring in a 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion.
He didn’t play a full 90 minutes in the Premier League until early February, and a 5-1 hammering by Arsenal, and tellingly, he wasn’t to win a game with the Toffees until March 10.
That stat is testament to Everton’s troubled campaign, as Ronald Koeman was replaced by Sam Allardyce, who steadied the ship but engendered little affection from supporters.
As the Merseysiders’ campaign petered out, Bolasie stepped into the side more regularly, although he only registered one decisive contribution—a goal against Manchester City—all season.
It was his worst return since he became a Premier League player.
What could happen this window?
The Congolese wideman has been linked with a move away from Everton, with a series of Premier League sides named as potential suitors.
Leicester City are understood to be considering the 29-year-old as a potential replacement for Riyad Mahrez, and he’s certainly someone who’s tried and tested in the top flight.
Crystal Palace and Fulham are reportedly monitoring the wideman as well.
The arrival of £50 million Richarlison represents serious competition for Bolasie, and surely the Brazilian—as Marco Silva’s man—will be a key offensive asset for the Toffees.
Elsewhere, Theo Walcott, Sandro, Ademola Lookman, Kevin Mirallas and Nikola Vlasic are all still on the club’s books.
Considering Bolasie’s age and his reported £70,000-per-week salary, it’s easy to see why Silva would be keen to move him along.
What to expect next season
Considering the Richarlison arrival, and his existing relationship with Silva, it’s beginning to look like Bolasie would be best served moving on from Goodison Park, even if it would represent a disappointing conclusion to an Everton career that’s promised so much.
Leicester wouldn’t be a bad destination, although Bolasie has typically thrived when playing in a team who aren’t afraid to use a powerful target man, play direct and exploit pace in wide areas. Do the Foxes meet this profile?
A return to Palace, albeit ostensibly a step back, might be the best bet for the Central African to rediscover his best form and to enjoy a final year or two of peak performance in the Premier League.