Marco Silva has reaffirmed Ademola Lookman remains part of Everton’s plans.
Lookman spent the second half of last season on loan at RB Leipzig, who remain keen to take the forward back to the Bundesliga on a permanent deal.
Leipzig’s sporting director and caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick claimed that the 20-year-old is keen on rejoining the club from the Blues this summer.
But Silva insists that Lookman is an integral figure both under him and for the future of Goodison Park.
He said: “Of course he’s in my plans. He’s an important player for us as a club.
“I know all the speculation, everything what’s happened since the first day [here].
“I told the owner and everyone in the club and did my technical analysis about him.
“He’s a good player, a good talent who went on loan last [season] for five, six months, did well and improved as well. Of course, he was happy there.
“Now is our moment to make him happy here; to work with him, to improve his qualities and his profile as well as a player because he is our present and our future.”
The Everton manager also hit back at criticisms of Richarlison’s signing this summer.
“I can speak to you about what happened one year ago when we took Jordan Pickford and everyone was talking about it at that moment,” added Silva.
“Now no one is talking about his value. The value the club paid to take him here is normal in football. The market now is really difficult.
“If the player will perform well and do the best to achieve our goals at the end no one will speak about the price.”