It’s all got a bit messy regarding Richarlison at Tottenham Hotspur, the Brazilian heading for a sour exit from the north London side, it would seem.
Omitted from the club’s Premier League squad, it had looked inevitable that the former Everton man would be sold last week, with a return to Merseyside mooted at one stage.
That deal ultimately collapsed, while a potential move to Turkish side Trabzonspor also fell flat, leaving his future in the balance as things stand.
The escape routes are running out for the polarising striker, with this chaotic situation one that the rest of Roberto De Zerbi‘s ranks will be keen to avoid in the near future.
Can Richarlison still be sold before 2027?
As per the i Paper’s Kat Lucas, the failure to agree a move to Trabzon largely centred around the financial package needed, albeit with Tottenham’s asking price posing a greater obstacle than the player’s wage demands.
In the case of the proposed return to the Toffees, Lucas revealed that it had actually been a completely separate deal to Spurs’ pursuit of Iliman Ndiaye, with there no correlation between Richarlison’s collapse and the Senegalese star’s decision to join Manchester City.
Either way, the exiled South American is running out of time and options in terms of finding a new club, with only limited windows still open across the globe.
That said, there is talk of a potential move to the Middle East, with the Saudi Arabian market not set to close until 12 October, leaving ample time for an agreement to be struck.
Al-Ahli are one potential suitor on the table, with both Spurs and Richarlison likely keen to avoid a scenario in which he merely remains out in the cold until January.
Let’s face it too, the Brazilian should have been sold long before this summer anyway.
Why Spurs are right to have exiled Richarlison
This isn’t a saga anyone at N17 would have wanted, with Richarlison’s future providing an unwanted distraction at a time when De Zerbi and co need to focus on on-field matters.
That said, considering the striker’s desire to leave, alongside his relatively underwhelming spell in north London, it’s hard to argue that Spurs have come to the wrong decision.
|
Richarlison’s Premier League Record |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Games |
Goals (Assists) |
|
26/27 |
1 |
0 (0) |
|
25/26 |
32 |
11 (4) |
|
24/25 |
15 |
4 (1) |
|
23/24 |
28 |
11 (4) |
|
22/23 |
27 |
1 (3) |
|
21/22 |
30 |
10 (5) |
|
20/21 |
34 |
7 (3) |
|
19/20 |
36 |
13 (3) |
|
18/19 |
35 |
13 (1) |
|
17/18 |
38 |
5 (4) |
He might have been a surprise hero last term, leading the way with 11 league goals for the relegation-threatened side, yet his total record of 27 league goals in four full seasons at the club simply isn’t up to par.
Considering the £60m investment too, the Lilywhites just haven’t seen a return on their investment, with Richarlison never looking close to being able to fill Harry Kane’s void in the capital.
Indeed, Kane scored more league goals in his final season (30) than Richarlison has in total for Spurs.
That says it all, in truth, with the bigger issue remaining as to why Spurs didn’t sell the maverick marksman earlier, with it having been clear from the off that he just wasn’t the right fit.
Perhaps this saga will at least teach the new ENIC regime a lesson with regard to moving players on who just aren’t delivering.
Why Spurs star could be heading for a Richarlison repeat
De Zerbi needs a bit of time and patience to really get this team firing, although after the chaos of the last two Premier League campaigns, Spurs could have done without another disappointing start to the season.
Three games and no goals says it all, in truth, with even the introduction of Omar Marmoush and Savio against Nottingham Forest failing to spark an immediate change in fortunes at the City Ground.
The ex-Man City pair will be afforded time of their own to get up to speed, as will Mykhailo Mudryk, yet supporters have perhaps seen enough of other members of the forward line.
Young Mathys Tel falls into that category, the Frenchman again failing to take his chance against the Tricky Trees, putting in a third limp performance in succession.
With Mudryk and co now in the equation, Saturday’s clash felt like the time when Tel really needed to make a statement and nail down that left wing berth, yet once again there was little in the way of an end product.
He did regularly beat his man down the outside, having completed three of his seven attempted dribbles, yet he registered only one key pass and didn’t attempt a single shot on goal.
The young forward is still only 21, of course, with there having previously been flashes of what he can do in front of goal, hailed as “Jermain Defoe-esque” by present Ben Bowman.
And yet, he’s now over 18 months into his time in north London, and it still hasn’t happened, with Spurs’ £30m investment a year ago looking a little wayward as things stand.
Like Richarlison, this is another expensive signing who simply just isn’t cutting it in front of goal, scoring just seven times in 62 games, while contributing only four assists.
His 11 games under De Zerbi so far have yielded just one goal and one assist, with his bright pre-season form, like with Richarlison, counting for little following a muted few weeks in the Premier League.
De Zerbi, who previously tried to sign Tel while in charge at Marseille, is clearly a firm favourite, yet on current evidence, that faith looks a little misguided.
Indeed, don’t be surprised if Tel follows Richarlison in proving another wayward attacking signing in this post-Kane era at Spurs.
