By George Overhill

30th Jun, 2022 | 2:40pm

Everton star Richarlison completes medical, on brink of Tottenham move

Everton forward Richarlison has completed a medical in Brazil ahead of his expected transfer to Tottenham, according to FA registered agent Paul O Keefe.

The 25-year-old is set to complete a move to North London for a fee of around £60million including add-ons [Mirror], with the club backed into a corner by the Thursday deadline to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

His transfer saga has been building for weeks, and Antonio Conte’s side have looked the most likely throughout the month, since UOL Esporte’s Bruno Andrade reported they were in negotiations as far back as 11 June.

It now appears the final hurdles have been cleared after what The Mirror described as “tense” negotiations between Bill Kenwright and Daniel Levy on Monday night where they were spotted at dinner by former BBC North America editor Jon Sopel.

Despite a late attempt from Chelsea to get in on the deal it looks like it will be completed imminently after O Keefe wrote on his Twitter account that the medical was complete, before following up in the comments it had indeed taken place in the player’s home country.

Goodbye

In many ways it should never have come to this, as without the dreadful season on the pitch requiring late heroics from Richarlison and Jordan Pickford to keep the club from relegation, and the financial situation forcing the Toffees’ hand in negotiations, perhaps he would be staying.

But that is the current landscape at Goodison Park, and in these reduced circumstances it comes as something of a relief that the mooted fee is even as strong as it is.

With two years left on his contract he could conceivably have gone for north of £70million, but there had been some suggestions that clubs would look to take advantage of the financial difficulties to force the price below £50million.

Frank Lampard’s own transfer window has been left in stasis waiting for movement on this front, since the incoming funds were needed to give him some room to manoeuvre.

It isn’t anything other than a frustrating day for the Everton fans who had built up a very strong bond with the player affectionately known as “The Pigeon” thanks to his celebration.

How long that bond will hold up with him playing for a Premier League rival remains to be seen, but after he pledged to keep the club up and was one of the key reasons survival was eventually secured he at least helped leave them in a safer place than they would have otherwise been.

Players that were mooted to come the other way have been kept out of this deal so Everton may still be in contact with Spurs if they can reach suitable agreements on the likes of Harry Winks or Steven Bergwijn, as Lampard should finally now be able to get moving to some extent.