On Saturday, The Athletic broke the news that Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Richarlison this summer. Contrary to other reports, Spurs are just thinking about the Brazilian and have not made any official bids so far. A move will only be made for him if the asking price is fair and not inflated.
If the Toffees want to sell Richarlison, they’ll be hoping to get the maximum money in order to fund a rebuild this summer. Everton are expecting an offer above €60 million for the former Watford man. As per the report, there’s a good chance of a sale happening this summer and even if Spurs do not manage to sign the 25 year old, there are other clubs like PSG who would be interested in the forward.
The Brazilian was instrumental in Everton’s survival and has been a talismanic presence since joining Everton in 2018. Richarlison is a fan favourite and is dearly admired for his dedication and passion for the club.
The Royal Blues are in no place to offer Richarlison Champions League football but admirers PSG and Spurs can do so. The 25 year old has always been keen to play in the most elite European competition and chances of that happening at Everton immediately are grim.
In such scenario, Richarlison may end up leaving this summer and the Toffees can get exorbitant fees from the transfer that can help Frank Lampard initiate the rebuild. Here are five replacements for Richarlison should he leave Everton in this transfer window.
Here are five replacements for Richarlison should he leave Everton
continued on the next slide…
Ismaila Sarr is a player previously linked with Everton
1. Ismaila Sarr
Ismaila Sarr has previously been mentioned as a target for Everton but there have not been any concrete advances from the Toffees. Now, Sarr primarily operates on the right flank whereas Richarlison calls left flank his home in a front three forward line. However, Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon are much more suitable on the left flank instead of the right so in case of Richarlison leaving, either of the Everton wingers will shift to the left.
Sarr can also operate on the left and being right footed, he’ll be the incisive inverted winger who can cut inside. The Senegalese joined Watford in 2019 and since then has suffered two relegations and one promotion with the Hornets.
They finished 19th and in the process suffered their second relegation in three years. Last time Watford were relegated, they were successful in keeping hold of Sarr but they may not be lucky the second time.
Sarr possesses blistering pace in his locker and the ability to beat his opponent through the combination of dizzying dribbling skills and staggering acceleration. Playing on the right, he can stretch the opposition defence, playing as wide as possible. The Senegalese can be lightning quick on the counter and his tendency to hug the touchline always gives his side a chance to switch the play by playing diagonal balls to him.
Gray possesses similar pace and ability to get past his man in a flash and having two speedsters with supersonic jets on their back could make Everton one of the fastest counterattacking units. The 24 year old is valued at £25 million by Transfermarkt and the Toffees should manage to get him around that price.
continued on the next slide…
Adama Traore could be available for cheap as he has one year left on his deal
2. Adama Traore
Adama Traore is a player that has been loosely linked to Everton this summer. The Wolves winger returned from Barcelona after his loan expiry and since the Blaugrana have not exercised the buy option, he’s available in the transfer market. The Spanish international will enter the final 12 months of his deal this summer which means that Everton can get him for a fair amount instead of a pumped valuation.
Traore is most dangerous when operating on the right in a front three. The muscle man uses his pace and excellent dribbling qualities to get past the opposition while also having the physical prowess to fend off pressures. Just like Sarr, Traore often leaves space between him and the opposition full back, hugging the touchline and then runs at him with the ball. Traore’s bulky muscle build means that it is almost impossible to bully him off the ball.
Traore likes to exploit the space behind the defensive line and though his swashbuckling speed, he does it with alarming ease. He completes 5.24 dribbles per game, featuring in top one per cent of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues.
Thanks to his dribbling and strong build, he is one of the best ball carriers, completing 10.49 progressive carries per 90 minutes. His market value stands at £18 million which will be quite affordable for Everton after the windfall from Richarlison’s sale.
continued on the next slide…
Maxwel Cornet has been mentioned as a target for Everton this summer
3. Maxwel Cornet
Even though Burnley were relegated, Maxwel Cornet was a star performer and gave enough in his one season at Turf Moor that he is too good to be playing at Championship level. The Ivorian joined Burnley last summer and was their top scorer, scoring nine goals in the Premier League.
Versatility is Cornet’s best friend as he can conveniently operate from a number of positions. He can slot into a left wing back role, operate out wide or also as a secondary striker in a front two formation. The 25 year old feels most at home when deployed on wide left.
Cornet’s contract runs till 2026 but his deal has a special clause that allows him to depart for just £17.5 million if the Clarets are relegated. Upon their relegation, this clause is active and any interested party can acquire the winger’s services for a modest sum.
Now, £17.5 million is a modest sum for what Cornet can offer. Cornet is a very hardworking winger just like Richarlison. He’s always committed to helping the team in defensive endeavours. In attack, he’s got the guile and the temperament needed in front of the goal.
Even though Burnley struggled to get goals, Cornet was their best attacker and if provided with decent service, he can be a goal threat which will ease some pressure off the striker’s shoulders.
continued on the next slide…
Jack Harrison is a hard working winger just like Richarlison
4. Jack Harrison
Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is another name that Everton are looking at. Leeds United face a tough battle to keep their stars Raphinha, Harrison and Kalvin Phillips at Elland Road. The Englishman had a fruitful campaign with the Whites even though they just scraped themselves out of a relegation battle, similar to Everton.
The 25 year old scored 10 goals and provided two assists in 38 games for Leeds, achieving his best goal tally of his career. The former Manchester City man fits well in Lampard’s system. Lampard knows him well from his New York City FC days.
Unlike his Leeds colleague, Raphinha, Harrison isn’t an enigma but a more calculated and devout winger. His greatest strength is to swing in pin point crosses into the box. The 25 year old can deliver low aerial balls or whip lofted balls over the opposition defence and find a towering striker like Dominic Calvert-Lewin with ease. He doesn’t cut back too much, but when he does, he ensures that they are well timed and lay into the path of a teammate who is making a run in the box.
What doesn’t come as a surprise is pressing skills and ability to win the ball back. Under former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds were rigidly trained to press intensely and regain possession. Harrison will bring that quality to Everton.
His contract at Elland Road runs till 2025 and Everton will have to offer more than his market value to test Leeds’ resolve.
continued on the next slide…
Steven Bergwijn is also a direct winger like Richarlison
5. Steven Bergwijn
Signed in January 2020, Steven Bergwijn has found himself out of place at Tottenham after the arrival of Antonio Conte. Under Jose Mourinho he had chances to impress in bits and parts but since Conte’s arrival last November, his role has reduced to being a substitute in most games.
The Dutchman is touted to leave Spurs this summer in search of better playing opportunities where he is guaranteed regular playing time. In case of Richarlison’s sale, Bergwijn becomes an ideal candidate.
Bergwijn primarily operates as a left winger but is also capable of playing from the right. The Dutchman has enough pace in his locker to run at defenders and breeze past them but what makes him even more threatening is his directness in attack. The 24 year old is always a reliable outlet in wider areas, opening up space for his teammates in the centre as he stretches the opposition.
The 24 year old is a competent shooter too, a quality that not many wingers can boast about (Traore). The former PSV winger averages 3.03 shots per 90 minutes and has a non penalty xG of 0.49, putting him in the top two per cent of wingers in the top five leagues of Europe.
He is always present in the opposition’s final third, averaging 7.17 touches in the opponent’s penalty area per game. Despite his average physical build, the Dutchman has great balance which helps him in dribbling past his opponents. His directness allows his side to quickly transition from defence to attack if he’s given the freedom to stay up the pitch.
Everton will be getting a skilled player in Bergwijn but the €30 million asking price is a steep valuation that Everton may not be willing to pay. However, if Spurs end up signing Richarlison, Bergwijn could end up being included in the deal and sign for the Toffees.
Will Richarlison leave the club?