Talk of Richarlison sealing a summer move to Saudi Arabia shows no sign of going away as we edge ever closer to the new football season. Linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League over the past year, the latest reports from Saudi outlet Al-Riyadiyah claim that Al-Ahli are monitoring the Tottenham ace ahead of a potential transfer.

Richarlison is not the only player Al-Ahli are keen on as they are also believed to be keeping tabs on Arsenal frontman Gabriel Jesus. Amid previous speculation over his future, the ex-Everton man issued an update back in May and indicated that any talk of him leaving Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer is “fake news”.

“I gave up my holidays and came to work in Sao Paulo so I can come back better next season,” he wrote on his Instagram account. “What’s been happening in the media these last few days is all fake news. I will not be leaving England next season.”

Despite his stance that he will not be departing England ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, question marks still remain over his future in north London. If indeed Al-Ahli are to submit an offer around the £60million mark then Tottenham may have something to think about prior to the summer transfer deadline.

Richarlison has not proved value for money since his £60million transfer from Everton in the summer of 2022 and the opportunity for Spurs to recoup that fee could be too good to turn down. After all, the striker has contributed with 16 goals and eight assists in his 66 appearances for Tottenham.

His first season in the capital proved to be extremely frustrating as three separate injuries resulted in him spending time in the treatment room. When he was fully fit and available, the 27-year-old only managed three goals, with two of those coming on his Champions League debut against Marseille.

His second campaign at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was much better, although injury once again limited his football with four different spells out injured. He did, however, score 12 goals for the Lilywhites and also laid on four assists for his teammates.

Richarlison enjoyed a very fruitful couple of months in a Tottenham shirt as he hit nine goals in an eight-game spell between December and February as he demonstrated to all just what he can do when playing regularly and his confidence is high. Unfortunately, injury would once again leave Spurs without their frontman but he did demonstrate his value to the team on a couple of occasions late in the season.

At a time when Son Heung-min was struggling for form when leading the line as that is just not his game, Richarlison came off from the bench in the defeats against Arsenal and Liverpool to completely change the match for Tottenham. Spurs looked so much better for having the Brazilian on the pitch against the Gunners as he offered them a focal point and almost inspired an unlikely comeback, with the player the following weekend then scoring and assisting as the Lilywhites gave Liverpool an almighty scare in the closing stages after initially trailing 4-0.

Richarlison’s never-say-die attitude and his quality in the final third was very much on show in those two fixtures but his outing at Anfield proved to be his last of the campaign as injury brought his season to an early close. Injuries have proved extremely problematic for the player since his move to the club and stopped him delivering for the team on a consistent basis, aside of course from that fine spell in front of goal between December and February.

That is why Tottenham perhaps could not be blamed if they were to take the money if a £60million offer was to arrive from Saudi Arabia. Spurs do appear to be a much better team when Richarlison is in the side, though, which in turn gives them a huge decision to make if a bid is to be submitted.

A player who frustrates his opponents due to his strength, running, quality in the air and incredible desire and work rate, his defensive qualities are also a massive plus to Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham and are very much missed when he is not in the side. Having Richarlison in the team also brings out the best in Son as the South Korean operates in his favoured position on the left and is not instead nullified if trying to play from a central position.

There is no doubt that Tottenham do need to look at their striker department ahead of the new season and that is even before you consider a possible Richarlison exit. The Lilywhites have not yet replaced Harry Kane following his move to Bayern Munich on the eve of the 2024/25 season and the addition of a prolific goalscorer could be a gamechanger for Postecoglou and Spurs considering the amount of chances they create.

In an ideal world, it should be Richarlison and a proven goalscorer as the head coach’s options heading into the 2024/25 campaign. If the Brazilian is to leave, Spurs would then find themselves in a position where they need to bring in two new strikers prior to the 11pm transfer deadline on Friday, August 30.

Tottenham have been linked with a handful of strikers this summer but those names mentioned are perhaps no better than the current owner of the No.9 shirt in north London, thus raising the question why you would part with the Brazil star in the first place. Tottenham are better for having a fit Richarlison as part of Postecoglou’s squad but the main issue is ensuring he remains fit over the course of a campaign.

If indeed he can do that next season, Richarlison could prove to be a key figure in Postecoglou’s plans providing that he remains at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium beyond the closure of the summer transfer window. Time will tell if that is the case.