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Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has suggested in a piece for the Daily Mail that Everton star Richarlison could become as iconic as strikers Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry.

What's the word?

Many football fans chuckled under their breath when the Toffees spent £40m on signing Richarlison from Watford.

New manager Marco Silva seemed determined to land his target having already worked with him at Vicarage Road.

The Brazilian made an instant impact by scoring three goals in his opening two matches and has since gone on to net three more and an assist.

After Silva's striker options failed to impress, he moved Richarlison into a more advanced position, and in the last four outings he has played as a centre-forward.

After netting twice in Everton's 3-1 victory over Brighton at the weekend, Redknapp suggested in his Daily Mail column that the natural winger could follow in the paths of Ronaldo and Henry, both of him started their careers out wide.

"Everton fans I know are desperate for Marco Silva to sign a striker in January, but they have a ready-made centre forward in Richarlison. He is strong in the air and has a good blend of pace and physicality.

"Think of Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry. They started as wide men before moving into the middle. Richarlison has all the attributes to do the same."

Does Redknapp have a point?

There is no doubt that having Richarlison further up the field gives him more opportunities to score.

However, the Brazilian is also effective on the wing, and if Everton recruited a proven goalscorer in January it would double the team's chances of hitting the back of the net.

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Stating that the former Watford star has the same attributes as Ronaldo and Henry is a bold statement and perhaps a slight exaggerated one.

It is early days in Richarlison's Everton career - too early to be compared to a couple of Premier League greats.

However, if Everton opt against bringing in a new striker in the winter window, they can rest easy knowing that they have Richarlison to call upon.