Tottenham could rip up Richarlison’s contract and blow transfer saga wide open

There is a possibility of Tottenham ripping up Richarlison’s contract amid the ongoing transfer saga surrounding the forward, talkSPORT understands.

Spurs are trying to offload the Brazil international after leaving him out of their Premier League squad.

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Richarlison no longer needed

Roberto De Zerbi has deemed Richarlison surplus to requirements, but a return to Everton collapsed late in the transfer window, with the player insisting he would only leave Spurs on his own terms.

The 29-year-old has since agreed terms with Trabzonspor, though time is running out to complete a deal: the window in Turkey closes at midnight on Friday, September 4.

As such, Spurs could potentially terminate Richarlison‘s contract to allow him to move on a free transfer.

Spurs holding out for more money

Explaining the time-sensitive situation, talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs said: “Time is running out here. The player has not given a green light to the [Trabzonspor] project yet, but that could change today. He has accepted the broad financials. No surprise there.

“The issue is whether Richarlison wants to go and, interestingly, the Brazilian window stays open into mid-September as well – so he could get a return home if he holds out.

“The challenge here with Trabzonspor is the fee with Tottenham and, as you can imagine, the Turkish club are not prepared to match the deal that was agreed in principle between Spurs and Everton worth £35m because they know that Tottenham want Richarlison out.

“They know that he’s been removed from their Premier League squad – so the initial bid that went in now, I’m told, about 48 hours ago, was in the region of only £15m plus add-ons, and Tottenham want a little bit more than that if they’re to sanction it.

“That was their position 48 hours ago, and Trabzonspor, as a consequence, started looking at some other targets.

“It kind of stagnated a little bit, particularly yesterday, but it’s not entirely dead. This is going to be one to watch today to see whether Richarlison goes or whether, alternatively, he holds out for Brazil.

“There’s even an outside chance that, a bit like Karim Benzema at Al-Hilal [the striker has just become a free agent], you get a mutual termination of contract.”

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“Chelsea did it with Raheem Sterling as well, and that would allow Richarlison to enter into free agency and then take his pick of a far bigger pool of suitors.”

Sterling went on to join Feyenoord in February of this year after mutually agreeing to leave Chelsea in January.

Richarlison’s Spurs story

Richarlison joined Spurs from Everton in the summer of 2022, having previously played in the Premier League for Watford.

He’s scored 32 goals in 134 games for the North London club, making what looks to have been his final appearance in last month’s season-opening defeat to Brentford.

Having been an unused substitute for the Carabao Cup second-round win over Charlton, the 54-cap Brazilian was omitted from the matchday squad for last weekend’s loss to Newcastle.

Spurs finalised their 2026/27 Premier League squad after the end of the transfer window, with Richarlison not making the cut.