Everton boss Ancelotti sets Richarlison lofty goal target for next season

Carlo Ancelotti has challenged Brazilian forward Richarlison to score a minimum of 30 goals for Everton in the 2020/21 season.

Richarlison has been the Toffees’ main attacking threat this term, scoring 15 goals in 40 appearances. That is the best return of his career so far.

Earlier this week, the 23-year-old revealed he is hoping to hit the 20 goal mark next year.

But his manager has upped that target, insisting he is capable of at least doubling his tally from the current campaign.

“I think Richarlison is wrong to say that the target will be 20,” Ancelotti told Sky Sports. “The target doesn’t have to be 20 for him. It should as a minimum be 30.

“I’ve had strikers that were able to score 60 goals in a season – it doesn’t matter the name.

“But even in England, Didier Drogba scored 29 goals in one Premier League season alone. So the target for Richarlison will be 30 – not 20.”

QUITE THE CHALLENGE

Only eight players have ever hit 30 goals or more in a single Premier League season. Mohamed Salah holds the record with 32 in 2017/18 for Everton’s Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

Alan Shearer, Kevin Phillips, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez and Harry Kane are the others to have done it.

Romelu Lukaku’s 25 goals in 2015/16 is the best anybody has managed in an Everton shirt during the Premier League era.