De Zerbi's Spurs face striker void as Richarlison eyes Turkish move

Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Brazilian striker Richarlison, Tottenham’s top scorer with eleven Premier League goals last season, was omitted from the club’s 25‑man squad on Thursday and is now training alone while he awaits a possible move to Turkey before the Friday deadline.

Contract saga and potential exit

Richarlison’s departure leaves Tottenham without their leading scorer, creating a clear void on the front line. The club also failed to secure Cody Gakpo, who remained at Liverpool, and Iliman Ndiaye, who joined Manchester City, further limiting options on the left. De Zerbi has indicated he will rely on Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush to fill the gap, while still seeking an additional left‑winger. He made these comments on 4 September 2026, noting that Richarlison’s exclusion from the first XI highlights the need for reinforcement.

Richarlison arrived at Tottenham for £60 million from Everton in 2022 and now has one year remaining on his contract, with an option for a further year. Spurs confirmed they received an offer believed to be £35 million from Everton, coinciding with a £65 million deal arranged for Iliman Ndiaye to move the other way. De Zerbi stressed that the player, not the club, decided to reject the proposal, saying, “Richarlison decided everything.”

Spurs reinforce the left wing

Trabzonspor’s interest in the Brazilian only emerged on Wednesday, and the Turkish side has yet to meet Tottenham’s asking price. Richarlison continues to train alone as he waits for the deal to be finalised before the Turkish transfer deadline on Friday at 10 pm. If the move does not materialise, the striker remains available for other overseas markets still open for business.

In response to the failed acquisitions, Tottenham secured Mykhailo Mudryk on loan from Chelsea to bolster the left flank. Mudryk is not yet fit to start but is expected to feature from the bench, complementing Mathys Tel on the wing. De Zerbi recalled bringing Mudryk through the Under‑21s and giving him his first‑team debut against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu when he was twenty.

De Zerbi revealed that he approached Richarlison at the start of pre‑season to discuss a contract extension, which the player declined. He added that he must stop pressuring players who wish to leave, and will now focus on integrating Solanke and Marmoush into the attack. The manager also warned that without a concrete offer, a player’s desire to depart cannot be satisfied.

The immediate obstacle is the approaching Turkish deadline; without an acceptable bid from Trabzonspor, Richarlison’s future remains uncertain. De Zerbi acknowledged that the “right offer” arrived after the main transfer window closed, leaving limited options for the club. Spurs will therefore monitor any late overseas proposals while preparing their squad for the upcoming Premier League campaign.