Tottenham and Everton saw their Richarlison deal collapse on deadline day, leaving Everton short of attacking options.
Tottenham Hotspur and Everton had established an agreement in principle for the transfer of wantaway striker Richarlison back to Merseyside, but the move collapsed during deadline-day negotiations. Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, club expert John Wenham labelled Everton’s conduct in the market an absolute disaster, leaving David Moyes’ side dangerously thin in attack ahead of their trip to North London next weekend.
The proposed move would have seen the 29-year-old Brazilian return to Goodison Park to reignite his Premier League career. However, personal financial terms and contractual settlements prevented the deal from being finalized before the deadline.
Wenham, who operates the Lilywhite Rose account, explained that while Richarlison’s financial demands contributed to the stalemate, Everton’s subsequent handling of alternative transfer targets compounded their problems:
“They’ve had an absolute disaster and their behaviour around the Richarlison thing has really come back to land egg on their face because he would have been good for them. He was looking for more money, he was looking for some sort of payoff from Tottenham, so that’s why he didn’t end up going. Then they pressed ahead with Folarin Balogun and then they mucked him around and he didn’t sign, so Everton have just been left with egg on their face and no striker. If Thierno Barry gets any sort of injury, they’re in big, big trouble.”
Following the failure to secure Richarlison, Everton turned their attention to Folarin Balogun, but negotiations stalled late in the window. Consequently, Everton enter the upcoming stretch with Thierno Barry as their sole senior central option.
Added Tension Ahead of North London Clash
The failed negotiations over Richarlison follow another collapsed arrangement between the two clubs earlier in the window, where Tottenham had an agreement with Everton to sign Iliman Ndiaye before the forward ultimately joined Manchester City.
These recent transfer missteps add significant intrigue to next Saturday’s Premier League fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Everton travel to face Roberto De Zerbi’s side. However, Richarlison will play no part in the contest. Having been left out of Tottenham’s registered 25-man Premier League squad submission following his desire to depart, the Brazilian striker remains ineligible to feature for Spurs while the club continues to seek an external exit route in active international markets.