Richarlison set to remain at Tottenham after Vasco da Gama move falls through

Richarlison’s proposed move to Vasco da Gama is off and the forward is expected to remain at Tottenham until January, the Press Association understands.

Spurs made clear to the Brazilian forward in advance of the transfer window in England closing that he was not part of the first-team plans for this season.

However, Richarlison failed to finalise a return to former club Everton before deadline day on September 1 and after he was left out of Tottenham’s 25-man Premier League squad last week, a potential transfer to Vasco has fallen through.

Roberto De Zerbi started Richarlison during the club’s league opener at Brentford on August 22, but claimed last Friday that the 29-year-old “decided everything alone” following his squad list absence.

After the transfer windows in Turkey and Saudi Arabia shut last Friday and Sunday, respectively, one of the few remaining options for Richarlison was a move back to Brazil on a permanent basis due to Spurs already using up their six overseas loan spots.

Boyhood club Vasco emerged as a realistic solution and agreed a fee with Tottenham on Friday, but Richarlison failed to agree personal terms, PA understands.

With the transfer window in Brazil set to shut at 4.00am BST on Saturday, PA understands Richarlison is expected to stick around at Spurs for the first half of the season – even though he cannot play in the Premier League.

Asked for the latest on Richarlison during Friday’s press conference, De Zerbi said: “I don’t know.

“It’s not my job. What I can say is I know very well what the club has done for Richarlison and I know very well what Richarlison has done for the club in the last month, two months.

“I know, the club knows, he knows, his agent knows. Everyone knows better than you (the media).”

Richarlison was reportedly this week trying to explore whether the final nine months of his contract at Spurs could be terminated.

The Brazil international joined Tottenham from Everton in 2022 and scored 11 league goals last season to help the club avoid relegation.

De Zerbi acknowledged on Friday that Richarlison’s story could have ended better, but pointed to actions over the last 45 days by the wantaway striker as crucial to events over the last fortnight.

“I’m sorry because I have one player less on the list,” De Zerbi insisted.

“Richarlison is a good guy, a very good guy. I spoke with him a lot of times and I spent time to convince him to stay, but if you ask me, I know the truth.

“I know what happened in the last month, the last 45 days and it’s clear, but I’m not frustrated.

“If I had decided myself to leave him outside of the squad, I would have regrets, but the decision has not even been taken by the club. It has been a consequence of what I told you already that he has decided by his own.

“I’m sorry because it could be different. Even the end of the story, but a different way, I think.

“It could have been better, or it was much better Richarlison inside of the list, Richarlison happy to stay, maybe to extend his contract, because he is still an important player.

“He was important last season, we can’t forget, but we can’t forget also the last 45 days.”