Richarlison looks set to leave Tottenham, despite the English transfer window closing, after being left out of Roberto De Zerbi's 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the 2026/27 campaign.
The Brazilian can still leave north London, but only for Saudi Arabia or Turkey, with the Super Lig transfer window open until Friday, September 4 and the Saudi Pro League window closing on Sunday, September 6, meaning he needs to tie up a deal quickly in order to move on.
Richarlison was Spurs' top goalscorer last season with 12, but has clearly frustrated De Zerbi during pre-season, with the Italian admitting to the media that he did not know what the striker would do this summer - stay at the club or leave.
"I don't know, because as a player, as a guy, he's unbelievable [in] his attitude and behaviour, but in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do," said De Zerbi.
I didn't understand well because sometimes he says [he wants] to stay, sometimes he [wants to] leave.
De Zerbi did then confirm, later in the summer, that Richarlison, like Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr, had indicated he wanted to leave the club and had looked set for a return to Everton, with Iliman Ndiaye moving the other way.
The reason Richarlison has not left Spurs already
However, the Brazilian could not agree personal terms with his old club and Ndiaye would make the move to Manchester City instead.
That left him looking at an extended Spurs stay, although reports emerged that Turkish club Trabzonspor were keen to make a move. They have already had two bids of £15million and £20million rejected, with Spurs looking for nearer £40million for the 29-year-old.
Richarlison was left out of De Zerbi's 25-man squad for the Premier League when it was named on Thursday, that despite Xavi Simons being unlikely to return to action until the start of 2027, when clubs are able to make changes to their squad to add January transfer signings in.
Tottenham's 25-man Premier League squad:
Antonin Kinsky, Martin Dubravka, Brandon Austin, Andy Robertson, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, Xavi Simons, Conor Gallagher, James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Sandro Tonali, Savio, Mateus Fernandes, Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Omar Marmoush, Pedro Porro, Mykhailo Mudryk, Wilson Odobert, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, Jacob Knightbridge
The decision may be an attempt to force the Turkish club's hand when it comes to agreeing a deal and former Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah has now got personally involved.
Reports suggest that Richarlison would triple his salary with the Turkish side, but the club will need to stump up the required transfer fee first. According to ESPN Brasil, Salah has phoned the Spurs striker to convince him to make the move.
Salah completed a move to the Turkish outfit this summer, after his contract at Liverpool was terminated by mutual consent. fellow Brazilian and another former Liverpool star Fabinho has also spoken to the Spurs star about the move.
If a deal with Trabzonspor cannot be agreed before Friday's deadline, Richarlison will have to consider Saudi Arabia, or face at least half a season with the Spurs U21s.