Stephen Warnock says Richarlison shouldn’t have been allowed to secure a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur from Everton in the summer given the struggles of Frank Lampard’s side.
The former left-back asked ‘why’ Frank Lampard’s relegation-threatened side would allow one of their best players to leave, yet they didn’t bring in a replacement.
With Antonio Conte in his first full season as Tottenham’s boss, those in the boardroom were keen to back their trophy-laden coach in the market.
And they put their money with their mouth is because Richarlison was purchased by Spurs for a club-record transfer of £60 million (Sky Sports).
The Toffees survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, with Richarlison playing a huge part in that, but they are once again struggling above the drop zone after their 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Boxing Day.
Given Everton’s current situation, where Warnock is worried that they could go down, he raised the point about Richarlison’s transfer, as he told the Football Show on Sky Sports.
“I also think on the Richarlison situation,” said Warnock. “And a lot of it might come down to the money side of things, but why did you get rid of Richarlison without replacing him?!
“If you know that you are losing someone who is that influential in your team. Be selfish. Say ‘you’re not going anywhere. We can’t afford to let you go. Unless we get someone through that door who can replicate what you do, then we aren’t letting you go’.
“The potential now is that Everton could go down. They are in that situation, they are so close now that they can go down. They are having a new stadium being built and they are playing Championship football in the new stadium. That would be absolutely disastrous.
“From a selfish point of view and the club point of view, why let your best players go without replacing them or having someone ready?”
RICHARLISON’S QUALITIES
Whilst Everton miss Richarlison’s goals, it’s what he does outside of that which Lampard will be craving.
From his ability to churn out something from nothing, getting the supporters on side to getting the absolute best out of his teammates.
It’s the reason why he was a starter for Brazil at the Qatar World Cup and why Spurs fans feel he should start ahead of Son Heung-min when he returns from his injury.
