Everton have been linked with Stade de Reims’ El Bilal Toure as a potential replacement for Richarlison but what might the Mali international offer the Blues? According to a report by 90min, Everton are considering a move for the 20-year-old starlet who the outlet claims they have scouted extensively in 2022.
Comparisonator’s Similarity Comparison rates Burnley’s Jay Rodriguez to be the most similar Premier League player last season to him in style with a match of 89%, followed by Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho (86%); Aston Villa’s Danny Ings (77%); Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki (68%) and Leicester City’s Patson Daka (60%).
While Richarlison’s qualities weren’t always recognised by rivals with many questioning why Tottenham Hotspur have snapped him up, his willingness to always work hard for the team endeared him to Evertonians at it seems as though Toure also possesses some similar traits. If compared with other players in his position operating in the Premier League last season, Toure would lead the list for ball recoveries (picking up loose possession) with 1.91 per 90 minutes and ball recoveries in the opponents’ half, 0.81.
His closest challengers in these categories would be the aforementioned Rodriguez (1.71) and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Danny Welbeck (0.81) with Richarlison placed fourth on 1.71 and fifth on 0.76 in each section. The Brazilian would be top of the pile for successful defensive actions on 5.2, a list on which Toure would be third on 5.13 with just Burnley’s Wout Weghorst between them on 5.19.
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The pairs’ interception figures are also similar with Richarlison fourth on 2.43 and Toure sixth on 2.2 with Weghorst the leader on 2.89 ahead of Ings (2.71) and Rodriguez (2.44). Like Richarlison, Toure also offers an aerial presence and would be second for head shots on 0.35 with only Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta leading on 0.45 and Dominic Calvert-Lewin the only Everton player in the top 10 in fifth place on 0.32.
The Reims man would also be third when it comes to assists on 0.29 behind Iheanacho (0.35) and Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette (0.33). Snapped up by his French club from Afrique Football Elite in his homeland in 2020, Toure, who can play across the forward line either spearheading the attack or out on the wings, has made 60 Ligue 1 appearances and scored nine goals, but netted just twice in 21 outings in 2021/22 so while his statistics do seem to offer a degree of promise in certain areas, he still looks to be something of a raw prospect at the moment and it could be a big call from Everton if they think he could be a diamond from the rough for them to polish up.
Comparisonator is a football data comparison tool from 271 professional leagues around the world which compares players and clubs by utilising over 100 different parameters. Click here for more details.
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