Back in 2018, Paul Merson had Evertonians in stiches with his crocodile tears, complaining that the fee they paid for Richarlison had “spoiled the transfer window” but nobody at Goodison Park will be laughing if the fee for a reported move to Tottenham Hotspur proves correct. Brazilian outlet UOL claims “Richarlison is very close to leaving Everton for Tottenham. The talks between the two English clubs are well underway, in a deal worth approximately 60 million euros.”
As much as most Evertonians would like to see the fan favourite remain at Goodison Park, there is a begrudging acceptance that if the player – who has two years remaining on his current contract – is not willing to sign a new deal with the Blues then now could be the time to cash in and reinvest that money back into the player squad as Frank Lampard starts his rebuilding process. However, 60 million euros? Based on the current exchange rates that’s £51.25million.
Now that really would spoil the transfer window for Everton. Given that they paid £35million for Richarlison, potentially rising to £50million, that could leave them with barely any profit after four years’ service for the club. When Marcel Brands, the director of football who made Richarlison one of his first signings, was appointed, the ECHO’s then Everton correspondent Phil Kirkbride wrote that the club: “Expect him to compile a squad of young players whose values increase over time in a clear sign that the club see profits from player trading as part of a business model that can still bring success.”
The ECHO understands that there isn't currently any movement in terms of a deal for Richarlison but Tottenham's director of football Fabio Paratici likes him. Realists always envisaged there could be a day when somebody came calling to take Richarlison from Everton, just as the Blues had done with Watford, but while the Hornets were able to more than treble their money on the player after just a single season of service, it seems insulting that Goodison Park chiefs would be prepared to let him go now for such a minimal increase on the fee they paid.
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If Richarlison’s wages over the past four seasons are taken into account then such a price could even potentially represent a loss. Romelu Lukaku joined Everton for a then club record £28million in 2014, again like Richarlison when he came to the Blues aged 21, and was sold for a club record £75million to Manchester United some three years later when he also had two years left on his contract.
While Richarlison hasn’t been as prolific, as this correspondent wrote just a day ago when his compatriot Rivaldo commented on a potential move – ironically to Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal – Everton should nevertheless with five years’ worth of inflation since Lukaku left, be looking for a fee in excess of what they received for the Belgian. Curiously, Rivaldo cited the prospect of increased international prospects being a key factor in a supposed need to depart the Blues but that’s just nonsense given that all of Richarlison’s 36 caps to date have come while at the club plus an Olympic gold medal – after they allowed him to go to Tokyo on the back of playing an entire Copa America tournament last summer.
Indeed, the player’s exploits for his country might add an extra dimension here. All previous World Cup tournaments have been held in the middle of the year in the natural break between football seasons in Europe’s big leagues but 2022 of course brings a first-ever winter World Cup in Qatar. If potential suitors, be they Tottenham Hotspur or others, aren’t willing to stump up a suitable price for Richarlison – realistically one which would secure Everton a healthy profit on what they paid for him – then perhaps they gamble on keeping hold of him for one more window in the hope that he might excel for Brazil on football’s biggest stage and attract the interest of some of the game’s real big boys who might be more inclined to pay top dollar?
