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Everton loses Yannick Bolasie for a year and buys his 19-year-old replacement
The Toffees were favorites to sign Ademola Lookman before Bolasie went down, but now the young Charlton product will be thrust into a key role immediately.
Harry Engels/Getty Images
Everton was dealt a big blow on Wednesday when they learned that Yannick Bolasie will be out an entire calendar year. At 27 and heavily dependent on his pace, Bolasie will be lucky if he ever returns to top form following ACL surgery. His injury will put a lot of responsibility onto the shoulders of Ademola Lookman, a 19-year-old attacker who signed for Everton on Thursday.
Lookman wasn’t exactly signed to be a replacement for Bolasie, but he’s about to effectively become that. Lookman arrives from Charlton in League One, and has been one of the most hyped prospects in England’s lower divisions over the last couple of years. And with Bolasie injured, he won’t have to wait for playing time -- Everton needs another quick winger right now.
Goal of the day
Dele Alli’s opener for Spurs against Chelsea. (r/soccer)
In the news
Bayern Munich’s chairman is filling his diaper over Chinese Super League teams spending money. (ESPN FC)
Uli Hoeness is mad because of a rumor that his biggest competition could get €150 million for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. (Bild)
Former Sporting Lisbon and Olympiacos boss Marco Silva has taken over at Hull City. (HCAFC)
Non-league star Cohen Bramall has scored a contract with Arsenal. (BBC)
Meanwhile, another Arsenal player has a hamstring injury. Francis Coquelin is out for a month. (Guardian)
MLS has announced the Generation adidas class and five more signings ahead of the combine. (MLS)
Osasuna has already sacked Joaquin Caparros after just eight games in charge. (AS)
You should be reading
Yousef Teclab on the resurgence of Egypt, who leads their World Cup qualifying group. (These Football Times)
Kevin McCluskie on Mousa Dembele’s great season for Celtic and his bright future. (Just Football)
Ian King on Hull City’s owners deflecting blame away from themselves by changing managers. (Two Hundred Percent)
What happened on Wednesday
Real Madrid absolutely pasted Sevilla in Copa del Rey. (Managing Madrid)
What to watch on Thursday (click for listings, all times ET)
Copa del Rey: Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona (3 p.m.) -- Barca try to match Atleti and Real Madrid’s cup performances against a tough opponent.
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