Talking in such matter-of-fact terms about any fanbase in the EPL can quickly spiral out of hand. We’ve seen how social media has become a hotbed of divisive clickbait titles and ideas, with people desperately drumming up engagement in any way they can. One of the quickest ways to do this is to come up with ideas and news stories that speak directly to the most polarizing topics within that fanbase.
Now, over the last decade, there’s a mountain of topics you could go through if you were trying to catch the attention of Evertonians on the internet. Their woes have been a well-documented rollercoaster, from half a dozen managers in a decade to points deductions, and the completion of their new stadium.
Throughout this tumultuous period, there’s one player who has had the power to bring Everton’s fervent fanbase to pretty much unilateral mutual ground – Richarlison. Despite clearly yearning for a return to Everton, and apologizing whenever he found the net against his old club, how close is he to heading back up North and becoming the talisman that Everton has desperately lacked since his departure?
A Changing Of The Guard At Spurs
To say Spurs have had a rough 12 months would be the EPL understatement of the decade so far. They’ve had three managers in the last year and avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth on the final day. That said, they’re being talked up again as potential European contenders. The sports betting odds waste no time in the off-season, and Spurs archrivals Arsenal are the bookies’ favorites to retain their title.
As outright markets become a key talking point before the season begins, eagle-eyed bettors often utilize a parlay calculator to piece together their bets for the upcoming season.
Prior to the start of the season, EPL outrights are heavily influenced by the incomings and outgoings of the transfer market, and with De Zerbi clearing out much of the deadwood, this has given Spurs fans and sportsbooks more confidence that there will not be a repeat of last year. Although Richarlison played an integral role in ensuring Spurs survived, there is a growing belief that he will be plying his trade elsewhere next year.
Is Richarlison Merseyside Bound?
It’s fair to say that Brazilian football has taken a reputational hit over the last 25 years; for many of us who grew up in the early 2000s, Brazil was the gold standard. Over time, this unbeatable aura waned. Solidified once again by a dreadful World Cup 2026. As a result, more Brazilian players found themselves competing outside the upper bracket of elite club football.
Although he has been in and out of the Brazil squad over the years, as this veil of superiority has slipped, teams with smaller budgets, like Everton, have been able to attract Brazilian internationals. Other teams will likely enquire about Richarlison but given that he still often posts about Everton on his social media channels, you’d think that if there was serious interest, Merseyside would become his number one choice.
Staying In England?
While Richarlison will certainly miss the weather back in Brazil, he has now made England his home and has done so for the last decade. If he’s given the autonomy to make his own decision, then he may be holding off for his old club to swoop in, or for a club based in England to offer him a deal.
He has kept tight-lipped on the matter, and while most players do have their price, you’d have to think that Everton have made some sort of inquiry for him behind the scenes, given how much hysteria it would cause amongst millions of Everton fans who would love to see him back in blue.
Will Everton Make A Big Summer Move?
David Moyes seems to be setting their sights elsewhere, for now. Apparently, he has weighed up a big-money move for Morten Hjulmand, despite apparent interest from the likes of Arsenal and Man Utd.
If you look at social media comments, there are countless Evertonians who would love nothing more than to see their favorite Brazilian donning their royal blue jersey, but it seems increasingly unlikely to materialize. Everton has tried to plug the Richarlison-shaped hole upfront with Thierno Barry and Beto, both of whom have polarized opinions over at the Hill Dickinson.
Fenerbahçe seems to be the ones making the most noise about snapping up Richarlison, and with one year left on his contract, it’s likely that he won’t be featuring for Spurs too much longer as De Zerbi looks to adopt a new approach.
Ultimately though, Everton don’t seem too keen on the move either, especially since they are trying to haggle Man City down by nearly 90% on their 50 million asking price for Jack Grealish; it looks unlikely they are going to put a similar bid in for Richarlison, who Spurs value within a similar range.
These stories can pick up significant traction, particularly toward the final few days before the window closes, but if you are an Evertonian, don’t be holding your breath expecting Richarlison to return, as it looks as though Turkey is likely to be his next destination. After that? Who knows? It’s a funny old game.