Everton right to place astronomical pricetag on Richarlison

The season hasn’t formally ended and the transfer window isn’t open yet either, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from cranking into high gear already.

The latest rumour has it that Barcelona have been scouting Richarlison, which is not really new news. However, what is interesting about the O Globo report (via Sport Witness) is the £90m price tag that the Blues apparently have slapped on the Brazilian forward in a bid to ward off the Catalan side’s advances.

The article goes on to state that they have scouted the player extensively, including at Goodison Park in the wins over Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as in three of Brazil’s friendly internationals against Panama, Cameroon and the Czech Republic.

‘With a style of strength that resembles in some points Luis Suárez, Richarlison scored goals in the two Everton games in which representatives of Barcelona went to see him against Chelsea and Manchester United. It is considered a good fit with the entire Catalan attack’

Suarez and Philippe Coutinho have been widely panned for Barcelona’s limp 4-0 collapse in their Champions League semifinal second leg hammering at Anfield, with both players going missing against their former team Liverpool.

Everton reportedly paid a princely sum of £45m for the hitherto unproven Brazilian at the beginning of this current season when Marco Silva took over, and the forward has delivered for the most part. While still retaining an irritating habit of going down too easily under the slightest of challenges, he has shown an unerring eye for goal and his haul of 14 for the season is impressive considering he’s lined up all along the forward line for Marco Silva.

While an important piece of Silva’s plan at Everton, Richarlison is certainly not irreplaceable, especially if Barca come in with that kind of money. Liverpool have already shown how they not only sold Coutinho to the Catalans for a huge sum, but they strengthened their squad using those funds in multiple areas and then turned around and beat them as well.

But for now, we’ll treat the rumours like everything else we’re hearing so far - trust in Marcel Brands.