At the start of this season, Richarlison was expected to take a step up as an Everton player. After all, hadn’t the Brazilian finished as co-leading scorer with Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the prior Premier League season?
Between season rumours had linked him with Barcelona, but he promised Manager Carlo Ancelotti he would stay at Everton for another season as he told the Liverpool Echo.
", “Everything has been talked about, (Ancelotti) already told me he’s counting on me for another season. He asked me to hold on a little.”“But it all depends. If a good proposal arrives, we sit down and talk. It’s part of football. We are still talking about these details, sorting it out. He’s bringing in new players. And then let’s sit down and talk. But I think I can hold on for another season.”"
On numerous occasions, according to the same article, Richarlison had expressed his desire for Champions’ League football.
Going into the start of the current season, Richarlison was expected to improve and continue to be a lynchpin of the Everton attack.
Perhaps it was the transfer speculation, after all Barcelona sings a sweet siren song for football players. Unfortunately for the Brazilian and Everton, he hasn’t taken a step forward. He hasn’t even stagnated. He has taken a step back.
And with Barcelona seemingly taking a step back (third in La Liga) under former Everton boss Ronald Koeman, it’s likely the Catalans will looking at other possible targets.
Last season in 36 Premier League games, he scored 13 times. This season, transfer speculation or otherwise, he has found the net six times (including one penalty) in 32 games. So to match last season’s tally Richarlison will have to explode in the last two matches to Dixie Dean-like heights.
As most Everton supporters know or should know Dean scored seven times in his last two matches to set the record of 60 goals in a single season.
If Richarlison were to find the net once against Wolves in front of fans they will sing his name with the gusto of being allowed back in the stadium for the first time in more than a year.
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It’s not all Richarlison’s fault, of course, Everton has been scoring at a miserable rate for much of the season. The days of scoring four and five goals have faded away like old photographs.
The fact that Calvert-Lewin has upped his game only underscores Richarlison’s sub-par performance. After matching Richarlison with 13 goals in 36 appearances last season.
Calvert-Lewin has scored 16 in 31 league matches so far this season and earned England caps and a genuine chance to be part of the Euro squad this summer.
Everton still has an outside chance of qualifying for Europe as they trail seventh-place West Ham by three points, but Everton will need to win its last two matches and have West Ham drop points.
That’s a tall order for the Blues, who face Champions Manchester City, in the season’s last contest. If Richarlison can find the net for at least a couple of goals, Europe might still be a possibility.
What do you think – was Richarlison affected by transfer rumours or is it just an off-year for him?