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Everton star linked to Barca move

By Matt Townsend

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Richarlison of Everton is fouled by Wes Morgan of Leicester during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton FC at The King Power Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Richarlison of Everton is fouled by Wes Morgan of Leicester during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton FC at The King Power Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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So after a transfer window filled with multiple stories about players Everton could, should or might sign, the latest rumour is centered on a Blues player being linked with a move away from Goodison Park.

This story concerns a player who has become a key part of the future development of the Everton team, Brazilian forward Richarlison.

Several outlets are claiming Spanish giants Barcelona have made a bid of around £85 million for the 22-year-old former Watford player.

One of these media outlets is Sky Sports, who have become notoriously unreliable with their speculation, such as last summer’s Wilfried Zaha story.

Well anyway apparently the Toffees have rejected a bid from Barca for the forward who has had a fine season and has netted 11 times for the Blues so far this campaign.

The Liverpool Echo report that there isn’t much in this actually and that in any case Everton are determined to hold onto Richarlison.

If such a bid, or something equivalent were to be put on the table, it would perhaps present a dilemma for the club.

On the one hand obviously Richarlison has become a crucial player for the Toffees and has grown in consistency and productivity over the course of these past few campaigns.

However, selling the player for around £100 million or perhaps even more, would be a major shot in the arm for the Blues financially. With that sort of cash, Everton could possibly sign two or even three very good players to replace him.

I know there’s no guarantee that the club could get the right sort of replacements, but given the constraints of Financial Fair Play, it might be the only strategy that will give the Toffees the resources to compete.

Some will say that Everton don’t want to be considered a selling club anymore. But the truth is every club is ultimately a seller in this financial market, unless you are maybe Manchester United, Real Madrid or Richarlison’s alleged suitors, Barcelona.

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Look at those lot next door. Even though they are on course for the Premier League title and have just won the Champions League, they sold their Brazil star Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona a few years ago and have used that money to finance deals for defender Virgil van Dyke and goalkeeper Allison, players who are crucial to their current success.

A big part of this will be the views of manager Carlo Ancelotti. If he is adamant that Richarlison can’t be sold at any price, I imagine that will be a major part of the equation.

However selling major player assets for a big profit, is of course a key part of the transfer strategy of Marcel Brands when he looks at potential signings. And in truth Everton have few other assets of equivalent value at the moment, so Richarlison might be the only one who could command that sort of cash from rich football giants.

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