Tottenham: Richarlison not registered for the Premier League, departure still possible

Tottenham has excluded Richarlison from its list of registered players for Premier League matches in the first part of the season. The decision comes after a transfer to Everton fell through, with a deal seemingly close in the final days of the transfer window before collapsing on Tuesday, deadline day.

Richarlison had started the season's opening match against Brentford, lost 3-0. He was, however, not included in Roberto De Zerbi's squad for the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United, replaced up front by Omar Marmoush, who arrived on loan from Manchester City. Tottenham has thus started the season with two defeats, and now sits 20th in the Premier League, with no points and a goal difference of -5 after two matchdays.

The Richarlison situation

Arriving in London in the summer of 2022 from Everton, where he had joined from Watford in 2018, Richarlison cost around 58 million euros according to RMC Sport. Last season, as Tottenham fought for survival before securing it on the final matchday, he was the club's top scorer in the Premier League with 11 goals and 4 assists in 32 appearances. He is now entering the final year of his contract.

After the defeat to Newcastle, Roberto De Zerbi justified the decision to leave him out without mincing words: 'Richarlison, I don't know. He has said too many times that he wants to leave', he said, comments reported by RMC Sport and the BBC. Earlier in August, however, the Italian coach had acknowledged that it was 'not easy to find another forward like Richarlison', even as the Brazilian's future was already uncertain.

In response to these comments, Richarlison posted a message on social media, reported by RMC Sport: 'I have always been clear: a move to another club will only happen if it is also beneficial for the club. Otherwise, I would never accept it. Just as I refused (to leave) when they needed me. I stayed and gave everything. So I hope they will handle my situation with the same respect I have always shown to Spurs and to everyone who has worked with me during this time. Let them not decide for me.'

According to the BBC, a move for the Brazilian forward in the coming days remains likely, to Turkey or Saudi Arabia, two markets that remain open. The amount and conditions of a possible transfer remain unknown for now, as do the precise reasons why talks with Everton fell through.