Tim Sherwood believes Tottenham should have found a way to allow Richarlison to return to Everton during the summer transfer window.
The Brazilian remained at Spurs beyond deadline day and has since been left out of their Premier League squad. Sherwood believes a return to the Hill Dickinson would have made sense for both player and club.
Sherwood wanted to see Richarlison back at Everton
Speaking in comments carried by the Liverpool Echo, the former Tottenham manager said: “It’s a shame for Richarlison. They got rid of (Cristian) Romero, they didn’t want him, they didn’t want Djed Spence, and they should have tried to pave the way for Richarlison to leave.
“It didn’t materialise, or everyone thought he was going back to Everton. It would have been a good move for him; it would have been a good move for Everton.”
Sherwood’s comments don’t establish how far any discussions over a return progressed during the summer. Richarlison has remained popular with Everton supporters, though, after scoring 53 goals in 152 appearances for the club before his £60m move to Tottenham in 2022.
His future at Spurs and the possibility of a return to Merseyside have previously been covered in our Richarlison transfer update. Sherwood also pointed to the 11 goals Richarlison scored last season and rejected the suggestion that his current situation necessarily amounted to disrespect from Tottenham.
“I’m not sure he’s being disrespected. I hate to say that. He’s a footballer, he’s earned his money, and he’s just fallen out of favour,” he said.
The former Spurs boss was equally clear that he had no inside information about how Richarlison is currently being treated at the club.
“But it’d be interesting to see the dynamics there at the moment, because I haven’t got any inside information whether he’s training with the group, whether he’s in the same dressing room as the first-team players, or whether he’s been banished, but no-one is doing well out of this situation,” Sherwood added.
Balogun disaster…
Everton did look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements during the summer. A £40m move for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun fell through, as detailed in our previous transfer round-up.
That has left Thierno Barry as David Moyes’ main option through the middle, and the 23-year-old has responded with five goals in seven appearances this season. Sherwood hopes Richarlison will not have to wait beyond the January window for his own situation to change.
“Hopefully, that can have a quick resolution in January. It’s a real shame for him and the club,” he said.
There is no guarantee that resolution will involve Everton. Sherwood clearly believes it should have happened during the summer, but January remains another matter entirely.
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