Richarlison, Raphinha, Both, or Neither; What’s next for Tottenham?
By Ben Wylie
It’s now apparent that one of Tottenham’s top targets for the summer is forward reinforcements, with Antonio Conte believed to be eyeing one of Brazilian duo Richarlison or Raphinha.
Initially, it was thought Spurs could move for Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus; however, the striker now looks in line for a switch to the lesser side of North London.
In truth, there were never any concrete links to the City forward, only speculation. Still, now Conte appears to be focusing on either Richarlison or Raphinha to bolster an already quality frontline.
Richarlison is vastly more experienced in the Premier League, with 173 appearances compared to Raphinha’s 65. However, the duo’s relative output is remarkably similar.
Respectively, they boast goals per game records of 0.28 and 0.26, and whilst a 0.18 assist per game ratio sees Raphinha double Richarlison’s return, this is still noting to wax lyrical about.
Neither player looks to command a £50+ million fee on numbers alone, but there is more to consider than just output.
Last season with Everton and Leeds, both played for relegation-threatened sides yet still reached double figures for goals. It can be argued they were the catalyst for their teams avoiding the drop and have shown the ability to play at a “bigger” club like Tottenham.
The duo also fit Conte’s criteria of hard-working forwards and would likely meet the defensive standards the Italian expects of his attackers.
Moreover, they are both 25 and have two years left on their current deals. In truth, there is little to separate the pair at face value; they are strikingly similar.
Of course, with upgrades to be made elsewhere, if any, Conte will only sign one of these two, so considering all factors on and off the field, who would be the better fit at N17?