Bad Richarlison take could come true if Everton halt concerning transfer trend

This correspondent’s phone flashed up with the following shocking message from an old friend just as I was just putting the finishing touches on a comment piece headlined ‘Painful Richarlison Everton exit leaves hole in fans’ hearts and huge challenge for Frank Lampard.’ It read: “£50m for Richarlison is the best bit of business Everton have done in years,” but I sternly begged to differ.

My article was written shortly after the Brazilian’s (£60million by the way, it seems others like to use the base figure when Everton sell and the add-ons when they buy) transfer to Tottenham Hotspur had been agreed with the main thrust of it being that the player, who was loved by Evertonians and misunderstood by so many rivals who didn’t know him, will always have a special place in Blues’ hearts. I therefore felt the bad take on Richarlison from my Liverpool-supporting pal vindicated every word.

I pointed out that here was someone who is Brazil’s number nine, a proven Premier League performer who had scored double figures in three of the past four seasons despite playing mostly out wide for a mid-table team (who then slipped to become one facing the serious threat of relegation last term) and that Jack Grealish, who plays in a similar position but scores fewer goals, had gone from Aston Villa to Manchester City for £100million last summer. The chastened texter then backed down and admitted that he was probably blinded by a “hatred” of the player.

That’s a strong word but it seemed that Richarlison possessed a special knack for winding opponents up the wrong way, which in turn just endeared him further to Evertonians so it will be interesting to see what kind of treatment he receives from the home crowd if lining up against the Blues