Tottenham forward Richarlison has had trouble staying healthy and staying relevant in the Spurs lineup. Over the past few weeks, Richarlison has been scoring a healthy dose of goals in assorted Premier League matches whether in the starting lineup or off the bench, but in the important games, it is Dominic Solanke who has distinguished himself more.
Richarlison initially joined Tottenham in 2022 for 58 million euros after being linked with clubs as big as Real Madrid and PSG, starting alongside Neymar at Copa America. At the time, the transfer was above market value by only just, because Richarlison was a highly-regarded attacker entering his prime after carrying Everton out of the relegation zone in Herculean fashion.
Now in 2025, Everton, still in need of an attacking savior, are being linked with a Richarlison reunion. Although Richarlison stayed with Spurs despite rumors this past summer, the chance to do something special again at a club that loves him may be more alluring to him than the gold of Saudi Arabia, which would have been the reason for leaving last summer.
Richarlison could potentially have a future at Tottenham. He is an accomplished Premier League player, and while things haven't worked out for him in North London thus far, there's a sense that it's more down to situation than a lack of quality. In his first season at Tottenham, Richarlison was too injured to make a difference. The same can be said about his second season but with the added twist of such strong organizational dysfunction that even club legend Son Heung-min has suffered a career-low campaign with Spurs.
Dominic Solanke is a big-game player for Tottenham
Yet the exact same argument about being a victim of circumstance can be applied to Dominic Solanke, an even more significant financial investment in attack last summer at a cool 65 million pounds. Like Richarlison, Solanke was a hero at a lower-level Premier League side in Bournemouth and has prodigious talent, as he was one of the most highly-touted young strikers in Engalnd, on the books at Liverpool and Chelsea before reviving his floundering career with the Cherries.
As with Richarlison, it hasn't been a season to write home about for Solanke, but when push has come to shove, it has been the Englishman who has stood out above his peers in attack. His Europa League statistics are quite impressive, and he added another decisive goal, pouncing on the go-ahead score in the second leg of the semifinals at Bodo Glimt.
Solanke has five goals and four assists in 12 Europa League appearances on the road to the Final despite only starting roughly half of those matches. On a per 90 basis, Solanke is averaging 1.4 dribbles completed and 1.3 key passes. Those are strong all-around numbers, and there is a clutch factor Solanke provides that has become more appreciated after the win that has sealed a historic Europa League Final appearance for Spurs.
Richarlison is more likely to be sold than Solanke. More teams are after Richarlison, he's been with Tottenham for longer, he has a worse injury history, and he is one of the few sellable assets the club has. A higher percentage of his initial investment is more likely to be recovered this summer than with Solanke, who is worth more to Spurs than he is on the transfer market after being a 65 million pound splurge.
More to the point, if Richarlison wants out at Tottenham and thinks heading back to Everton is better for him personally, Spurs will be less likely to say no because of the positive signs and difference-making quality Solanke shows for Spurs in their biggest games. Solanke's performances in the Europa League are coming more into focus, and the lingering taste of those displays will carry into the club's summer decisions. Everton should be lying in wait.