Richarlison can become one of the best strikers in Europe

The Toffees head coach has lavished praise on the Brazilian forward, highlighting his qualities and potential as he does so.

Richarlison is a “modern and complete striker” capable of playing multiple positions on the pitch, says Carlo Ancelotti as he backs him to become one of the top strikers in Europe.

Ancelotti’s statement isn’t at all far-fetched, as Richarlison is in his fourth season in the Premier League and is already as an attacker par excellence.

The 23-year-old has been on an upwards trajectory since making the move from Brazilian side Fluminense – and the numbers prove it. He scored only five goals at Watford. His goal tally rose to 14 in his first season at Everton and in 2019-20, he reached 15 goals. And this season, he has already found the net 11 times.

He has built a solid understanding with Dominic Calvert-Lewin upfront, and the two together make one of the deadliest strike partnerships.

“Richarlison is a modern striker, a complete striker, because he works really hard,’ said Ancelotti, via Daily Mail.

“His physical statistics are really high, like a midfielder — but he has speed and he is really clinical in the box.

“He is fantastic with the head and clinical in front of the goalkeeper and his movement without the ball is really good.

“I think he can be one of the top strikers in Europe. I’m sure he can because he has all these kind of qualities and he has not a specific position on the pitch. He is really complete.

‘Where he has to improve is with his technical ability, and he can improve, controlling the ball and this and that but his movement without the ball is really top and his positioning in the box is of a high standard.

“His level will go up in the Champions League [if we qualify]. It would be a fantastic experience.”