Tottenham’s decision to sign Richarlison from for a whopping £60m doesn’t make any sense, according to former midfielder Paul Merson.
Spurs announced that they had agreed a deal to bring the 25-year-old Brazil international to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday, subject to a work permit.
Richarlison helped Everton secure Premier League survival last term with 10 goals and five assists in 30 games and has now scored 43 times across 135 top-flight appearances which have come over five seasons in England’s top division.
He had been strongly linked with a move away from Goodison Park this summer, with Spurs and interested in securing his signature, but he opted to join ’s side.
Richarlison can operate as a centre-forward or left winger and joins the north London team alongside Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster as Spurs look to build on their fourth-place finish last term and challenge for trophies.
However, former Arsenal man Merson warned that the Brazilian’s arrival could cause selection headaches as Conte must now pick between him and Dejan Kulusevski.
Kulusevski plays in a similar position for Spurs and has impressed since joining from Juventus in January – currently on loan with the option to buy at the end of 2022/23 – with eight assists and five goals across 18 Premier League games.
‘Spurs have bought very, very well this summer and they aren’t quite finished,’ Merson told .
‘Reports suggest they’ve agreed a deal to sign Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet on loan, while the deal to sign Brazilian striker Richarlison is also close to completion.
‘Personally, I don’t see why they are splashing the big bucks on the latter, as he’d effectively replace Dejan Kulusevski in the starting lineup, who was outstanding in the second half of last season.’
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