€78 Million Investment at Risk: Brazilian Forward Richarlison Falls Out of Favor at Tottenham as Contract Nears Expiry

After the third round of the Premier League, Tottenham produced a highly disappointing record: one draw and two defeats, with no goals scored. It was the first time since the 1974-75 season that they had failed to score in their opening three league matches. Even more striking than the goal drought is that Richarlison, the Brazilian forward signed from Everton for around €60 million four years ago, was not included in the 25-man Premier League squad list for this season. More surprisingly, according to talkSPORT, Tottenham are considering not how to sell him, but whether to pay compensation to let him leave.

In this summer's transfer market, Tottenham were among the Premier League's biggest spenders. Their 10 new signings cost around €366 million in total, with net spending exceeding €200 million: Tonali for €108 million, Matheus Fernandes for €99 million, Savio for €87.7 million, Van Hecke for €60 million, plus loan arrivals Marmoush and Mudryk, and free transfers Robertson, Senesi and Dubravka.

The money was spent, but the scoreboard did not change. Tottenham lost 0-3 away to Brentford in the opening round, lost 0-2 at home to Newcastle United in the second round, and drew 0-0 away with Nottingham Forest in the third. After three matches, Tottenham had scored no goals and conceded five, leaving them bottom of the table. Against Forest, Tottenham failed to register a shot on target, their first such occurrence since April 2022.

Manager De Zerbi took charge of the team on March 31 this year. When he arrived, Tottenham were in the relegation zone, but they secured survival by collecting 11 points from their final seven matches. The club gave him unprecedented financial backing this summer, but in the first three league games of the new season, his team have struggled to find solutions in the attacking third. De Zerbi said he was not worried, adding that the team could have scored three or four goals that day and that the issue was the final pass and finishing decisions.

Within this rebuilt attacking setup, Richarlison has no place. On September 3, Tottenham announced their Premier League squad list for the season, and the 29-year-old Brazilian was not included. After the 0-2 defeat to Newcastle United, De Zerbi said he had heard Richarlison say many times that he wanted to leave. BBC reported that De Zerbi did not include him in his plans for the season and personally informed the player before the transfer window closed.

Going back to July 1, 2022, Tottenham officially announced the signing of Richarlison that day. The fixed transfer fee was £50 million, with another £10 million in add-ons, bringing the total package to £60 million, and the two sides signed a five-year contract. In Tottenham's transfer spending rankings, the deal was second only to Ndombele. At the time, Richarlison was an important part of Brazil's national team attack and had just scored an overhead kick against Serbia at the World Cup.

Four years later, the investment must be reassessed. The transfer fee was only the first part, and with several years of wages included, Tottenham's total spending on Richarlison is estimated at around €78 million. His return has been occasional moments of brilliance, a continued goal drought, reduced playing time, and a decline from starter to substitute and then to being left out.

Richarlison was not without contribution last season, scoring nine Premier League goals and providing three assists, and one statistical measure even listed him as Tottenham's top league scorer. However, Tottenham's choice this summer has been clear: they would rather spend heavily rebuilding their attacking line than continue building the team around him.

Attempts to sell Richarlison began at the start of the summer transfer window. Former club Everton were once interested in bringing him back to Goodison Park, with the proposal even linked to Ndiaye's move to Tottenham, but the deal collapsed because the player was unwilling to accept a wage reduction.

Turkish club Trabzonspor pursued him more aggressively. The club, which signed Salah this summer, made Richarlison their top target and submitted two offers, the first around €15 million and the second around €20 million, both rejected by Tottenham. Romano reported that the player had already agreed personal terms with the club, with wages set to be three times his current salary. Personal terms could be agreed, but the clubs could not reach a transfer fee agreement.

The player also has his own plans. ESPN reported that Richarlison does not currently want to return to Brazil, and even a public appeal from fans of his former club Vasco da Gama has not changed his plans. He would prefer to wait for an offer from the Saudi league, even if it means being frozen out at Tottenham until December.

Tottenham's arrangement has caused further dissatisfaction: being left out of the first-team squad and assigned to play with the U21 side. According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte on September 10, Richarlison's team believes the club does not have the right to do this and is preparing to seek contract termination through legal channels, with the aim of joining Vasco da Gama. Tottenham's asking price for a buyout exceeds £20 million, which Vasco cannot afford.

A familiar name has been mentioned again: Ndombele. The French midfielder joined Tottenham for a club-record fee but eventually left on a free transfer, becoming one of the club's clearest examples of a failed signing. The two situations currently share similarities: high fees, high wages and high expectations at the start, followed by low output, a reduced role and low residual value.

Richarlison's contract runs until June 30, 2027. From December this year, he will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with other clubs. Tottenham's consideration of a payment to end the contract comes from the need to address the potential final losses from this investment.