According to Fabrizio Romano, Richarlison will be joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer, ending his four year stay at Everton, amassing 152 appearances for the Royal Blues, scoring 53 goals and assisting another 14. Richarlison’s departure almost guarantees that Everton will not have to sell Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
After intense negotiations between Everton and Spurs, the Richarlison deal has finally gone through. The deal structure is simple and a straight transfer as opposed to the idea of a player plus cash deal. The Merseysiders will receive £50 million guaranteed as transfer fees but the deal could go up to £60 million based on add-ons.
Everton completing a deal before the end of June means that the Toffees will not face any Financial Fair Play complications, allowing Frank Lampard to have more wriggle room in the transfer window. In an ideal world, Everton would’ve wanted to keep hold of their talisman Richarlison but his sale was the only way Everton would have funds for a summer rebuild.
It was looking increasingly likely that the Merseysiders would have to sell one of their most prized assets this summer. Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were the most valuable players and either player sale would have produced a huge amount of cash for the Toffees to fund a squad overhaul that Frank Lampard is targeting.
Richarlison deal means Everton no longer need to sell Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin had a terrible year because of injuries but ended the season on a strong note, scoring the all important goal that kept the Toffees afloat in the Premier League, that too in classic DCL fashion, scoring a flying header.
Arsenal were one of the most interested sides in Calvert-Lewin with Mikel Arteta regarding him highly. In fact, the Gunners also targeted him in the January transfer window but Everton did not allow the striker to leave. In the end Arsenal never really came close to signing the 25 year old and instead shifted their attention to other targets like Gabriel Jesus who will join Arsenal soon.
Newcastle United viewed the former Sheffield United man as the main man to lead the revolution at St. James’ Park. Now, that Richarlison is sold and Everton are safe in terms of FFP regulations, they won’t be forced to sell Calvert-Lewin this summer. Lampard has spoken highly of Calvert-Lewin and having him leading the backline next season will be a huge boost given that his partner in crime Richarlison left this summer.
Unless the 25 year old asks for a transfer, which seems a highly unlikely scenario, a move for Calvert-Lewin remains out of question.
Will Dominic Calvert-Lewin be Everton’s main man next season?