Everton Could Get Their Target At £15-20m: Why Is It Not Suitable For The Toffees?

Everton Could Get Their Target At £15-20m: Why Is It Not Suitable For The Toffees? Tottenham have reportedly set a £15m-£20m asking price for Richarlison ahead of the January transfer window, creating a question for Everton after the forward’s failed summer return to Merseyside. Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reports that Spurs are prepared to accept a cut-price fee for the 29-year-old Brazil international, who has fallen out of favour under Roberto De Zerbi. The report says Tottenham could reduce their demands because Richarlison will enter the final six months of his contract in January. That situation has changed the calculation around a player who once looked close to an Everton reunion. The Toffees had explored a deal worth £35m during the summer, but the proposed transfer collapsed. Reports have since linked Richarlison with clubs in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Brazil, while Vasco da Gama emerged as a serious option before that move failed. Tottenham have left the forward out of their 25-man Premier League squad, and De Zerbi later confirmed that the situation had not changed for domestic cup selection either. Richarlison therefore faces a long spell without competitive football unless a new solution emerges. The price could attract plenty of attention. European clubs and teams from Brazil may see an opportunity to sign an experienced Premier League forward for considerably less than the figure discussed during the summer. However, Everton should treat the situation very differently. Would Everton be wise to bring Richarlison back? SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 01: Richarlison of Hotspur celebrates kicking a goal during the Sydney Super Cup match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham at Accor Stadium on August 01, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Everton should stay away, even if Tottenham accept £15m-£20m. The emotional appeal is obvious because Richarlison remains a popular former Toffees player, but sentiment shouldn’t decide a recruitment move that could consume a sizeable part of the winter budget. David Moyes has built a side around intensity, structure and disciplined work without the ball. Bringing back the Brazilian would therefore require a clear tactical case rather than nostalgia. Richarlison can play centrally or from the left, yet Everton need forward recruitment to support the collective work that has helped their current setup. The dispute with De Zerbi adds another factor. Public disagreements don’t automatically prove a player lacks professionalism, but Everton cannot ignore the fact that Richarlison has become separated from Tottenham’s first-team plans. The club should examine the full circumstances before placing such a player inside a settled dressing room. Money makes the argument even stronger. A £15m-£20m fee would represent only part of the commitment because the striker reportedly earns around £120,000 a week, according to Capology’s estimate. Those salary figures remain estimates, but the wage level still illustrates the scale of the financial decision. Everton’s recruitment model should favour players who can grow in value, particularly while the club develop younger assets such as Jarrad Branthwaite. Spending heavily on a 29-year-old entering the final months of his contract leaves little scope for future resale value. The Toffees could therefore spend the same budget on a younger forward, preserve room for squad development and avoid committing a major wage package to a short-term solution. Richarlison’s history at Goodison Park makes the story tempting. The numbers make it far less straightforward.