Ally McCoist heaped praise on Everton attacker Richarlison and claimed the 21-year-old could give Liverpool a different option up front.
It was reported by Brazilian news outlet UOL on Thursday that Jurgen Klopp had taken an interest in Richarlison as he admired the player, and had even met with the 21-year-old’s agent.
McCoist was asked by talkSPORT host Laura Woods what he made of the story and shared he wouldn’t be surprise if Klopp was keen on the Toffees attacker despite the fact Everton fans would be horrified by the idea.
“Well it’s a possibility but you have to say that you’d doubt very much that Klopp has met with the player’s agent as I don’t think you’re allowed to do that Laura,” said McCoist on talkSPORT (Friday April 5th, 7:48am).
“Absolutely (when told it’s from reports in Brazil) I will say I think he is top class Richarlison, I really think he has been a great signing for Everton who incidentally are one of the form teams in the league at the moment, they’ve had some good results, great performances, vastly improved performances.
“It doesn’t surprise me as Klopp, I mentioned it earlier, he’s a very very intelligent man and he looks at his side and specifically target players for roles within his side and he did it with Alisson and Van Dijk to the benefit of the team and the club.
“As I said he’s always on the lookout for good players that could fit into his side, and could Richarlison do it? Yes, they would have to change their style a little bit but it gives them another option.
“He’ll want to play, don’t think any doubt about that, when he is playing he is scoring goals and doing well, and if he goes to a club like Liverpool he clearly wouldn’t be an automatic choice, his chances of playing would diminish y’know slightly in terms of every week, as at the moment Liverpool have a better side then arguably every other club.
“From Klopp’s point of view it makes a lot of sense, absolutely makes a lot of sense, I look at the player, I think he is eventually going to be top top class, he is clever, good goalscorer and I think he is certainly on the up.
“In terms of that it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Klopp was interested in someone the class of Richarlison, but I can hear the horror from across city at Goodison as we speak, as a, losing a top player and b, losing him to their biggest rivals.”
OPINION
Richarlison has done okay at Everton, but would Klopp really want to add him to his Liverpool side? It’s highly unlikely. The 21-year-old is clearly a great talent that the Toffees are lucky to have, yet you feel the German manager would look elsewhere. As McCoist pointed out the Liverpool manager is a smart man and he would face some battle in getting the Brazilian from Goodison Park to Anfield. This is because Everton would not want to sell the 21-year-old and would be particularly against selling him to their archrivals. You feel the Toffees would demand a ludicrous price to even consider selling Richarlison to the Reds, and the idea that Klopp met the player’s agent is even more ridiculous. Klopp probably is interested in the player’s talents, as he admires what Richarlison can offer, but that’s probably where the connection ends. If the 21-year-old was signed by the Reds anytime soon, it would be some turn up, despite McCoist stating he saw it as a possibility.
