Credit: Imago

Scott Mason

Sat 23 May 2026 19:10, UK

Richarlison is a much-loved figure at Everton, and rumours of a return to Merseyside are ever emerging.

The Brazilian played a key role in keeping the Toffees in the Premier League during an unprecedented relegation battle in the 2021-2022 season.

In the final 10 games of the campaign, the forward carried the Blues on his back with six goals and two assists.

His performances earned him a big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur, but he has somehow found himself in yet another relegation battle.

Everton could send Tottenham down if they defeat the North London side on Sunday and West Ham secure a win against Leeds.

Why Everton will have transfer incentive to send Tottenham down

Everton already have plenty of incentives to beat Tottenham, but with a potential return for Richarlison on the cards, that may be the biggest of the lot.

If Spurs are to go down, questions will be asked on if the Brazilian is willing to help push the N17 side back into the Premier League.

Richarlison will have national team ambitions, and already this season, Tottenham’s position looks to have kept him out of Brazil’s World Cup squad.

That may be an eye-opener for the former Everton forward, who, at 29 years old, could have missed out on his last chance to feature for his nation at football’s biggest showcase.

So, if David Moyes can send Tottenham down to the Championship, it could open the door to the Richarlison return that has long been mooted.

How Everton are now in a position to meet Richarlison’s demands

When Richarlison left Everton in 2022, he cited that he felt like the club were not ambitious enough for him as a player.

At the time, the Toffees were quite poor in the market due to financial restrictions and were becoming a consistent relegation-fighting side.

Now, with the Friedkin Group in charge, things are likely to change. Already this season, the Blues made the jump to being a side competing for European places but did unfortunately fall at the final hurdle.

Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2022, Richarlison stated: “I was happy at Everton and I’m grateful for everything I learned there. It’s a big club with a lot of history. 

“However, perhaps they’re suffering with a lack of ambition nowadays. You know, that eagerness to win matches and trophies.”

With the return of the 29-year-old, who has scored 11 Premier League goals, they could go one step further in the fight for Europe and finally meet his demands.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.