In an unusual claim today the Mirror are saying Everton are using the proposed Richarlison signing to pay Watford compensation for their pursuit of Marco Silva last year.
The paper is claiming that Everton are prepared to pay over the odds for the Brazilian starlet in order to effectively compensate Watford after the protracted battle for Silva last season.
The Toffees wanted Silva last season after the sacking of Ronald Koeman last November. The club went after Watford’s Portuguese coach until the Vicarage Road club threatened legal action over the situation.
So of course the Blues plumped for Sam Allardyce and we all know how that went as Everton eventually stumbled to an eighth place finish after a dreadfully underwhelming season.
If this story about the Richarlison deal is correct, it would be a pretty strange turn of events. Regardless of whether the Blues should actually be paying Watford any compensation, I’m not sure it is in line with Premier League rules. Might the League not consider investigating such a transfer?
At any rate I don’t feel this is how the club should really be conducting any transfer business. Any fee paid for a player should be for the player himself based purely on his alleged quality and value.
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The £50 million price tag for Richarlison always seemed a hugely inflated fee for a 21-year-old who has played a single Premier League season. Especially as the young Brazilian didn’t exactly set the league alight during that season.
After a strong start as Watford began the campaign well, Richarlison’s form declined sharply as did the form of his team overall. The club claimed that Everton’s pursuit of Silva was a key factor in that decline although Silva himself disputed it.
Richarlison managed 5 goals and four assists last season, hardly earth-shattering statistics. But Silva brought him to England when he signed him for Watford last summer.
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So obviously the Blues boss knows Richarlison well and presumably believes there is a lot more to come from the former Fluminese forward. But would Everton perhaps be better putting that £50 million towards the fee for Wilfried Zaha, a proven Premier League performer?