Keith Wyness shares what he's 'heard' about Richarlison returning to Everton

Everton will only be able to re-sign their former striker Richarlison from Tottenham in the very final stages of the summer transfer window. 

That is according to former Toffees chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that his former club will only have a genuine chance of reuniting with the Brazilian if it is a truly “last-minute” deal.

Richarlison has been linked with a move back to Merseyside in recent days, with both Everton and Tottenham in the market for new strikers before the 1 September deadline. 

However, Wyness believes that Tottenham will price David Moyes and Co. out of a move for the 29-year-old, with the only potential caveat coming if they decide to sell on the cheap right before the deadline.

Richarlison ended last season as the Lilywhites’ top goalscorer with 11 strikes in Premier League action, but Roberto De Zerbi is still keen to replace him.

Everton have been touted as a potential landing spot for the ex-Watford man of late, but it will not be an easy deal for them to do.

Richarlison is ‘not the answer’ for Everton

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Richarlison is “not the answer” to what his former club needs at the top of the pitch.

The Scottish businessman also revealed that he does not believe the frontman to be worth the level of money that Spurs are holding out for in order to let him go.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained the only scenario that could potentially see Richarlison move back to Everton.

“I think it'll be a last day of the window option if it has to happen. We've said this many times since the start of the window, Everton need a right-back and a striker,” he said.

“And here we are with no right-back and no striker. Richarlison, while he's loved and he professes his love for Everton as well, which I believe to be genuine, he's not the answer I'm looking for in what we need going forward.

“Is he another short-term option in terms of coming off the bench? Yes, I think he is. But I don't think he's the answer, and he's not at the levels I've been hearing that Spurs are asking for; he certainly isn't worth that sort of money.

“I think Spurs are playing the game and if there is to be a deal done it'd be a real cut-price deal, it'd be the last minute, last day of the window. That's how I see that one happening, if at all, because he will be a last-ditch option as far as I'm concerned.”

Everton get green light to sign Hector Fort

Football Insider revealed on Tuesday that Barcelona are ready to let Everton target Hector Fort leave the club this summer. 

The Toffees are keeping tabs on the right-back at the moment, and the La Masia graduate is available for as little as £15million ahead of the deadline. 

The 20-year-old is seen as the ideal profile for the Toffees due to his experience beyond his years in La Liga, and also his huge potential to improve in the coming years.

However, they will have to fend off competition if they want to sign Fort, with Fulham and Borussia Dortmund also clear admirers of the starlet.