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Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison has issued a lengthy statement amid speculation over a potential deadline day move to Everton.

The Athletic's David Ornstein reported on Sunday that a deal had been agreed in principle for the Brazil international striker to return to Everton from Spurs after leaving the club to go in the opposite direction four years ago.

It later emerged that a package worth £35 million had been agreed, with Everton's Iliman Ndiaye to join Spurs in a separate deal worth £60 million.

But Richarlison posted a cryptic message to his Instagram account shortly after those initial reports, featuring a photo of a Portuguese-language mural which read in English: "I am the villain of many poorly told stories."

Fabrizio Romano claimed on Monday afternoon that the 28-year-old hadn't yet agreed personal terms with Everton which, despite reports to the contrary, was directly holding up Ndiaye's move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Senegal international is now expected to join Manchester City on deadline day.

Now, Richarlison has posted two statements, both written in Portuguese, via social media.

'I've always made it clear...' - Richarlison on Spurs and Everton reports

In a message posted to his Instagram account, he wrote: "After everything I've been through in the last few years, I decided that NEVER AGAIN would anyone decide my future for me.

"I went through a lot of bad things during that time, and almost all of them happened because of decisions made by other people. Pressure, threats, retaliation - none of that scares me. I've been through worse things... believe me!

"I've always made it clear, at every opportunity, that any move of mine to another place would also have to be good for the club. If it wasn't, I would never accept it... just like I didn't accept it when everything here was falling apart and they needed me. I stayed and gave my life.

"So, I hope they treat my situation with the same respect that I've always had for the Spurs and for all the people who worked with me during this period.

"Just don't try to decide for me."

A second statement followed, which reads: "If Spurs and Everton reach an agreement, I'll return to the club that's close to my heart.

"My intention was to go back to the place where I was so happy. But the negotiations were being driven by what others wanted, and that's not how it's going to be anymore.

"Despite all the turmoil, I am under contract with Spurs, and I will make myself available to the club."

The future of Cody Gakpo has been subject to much speculation this summer as the Dutch forward has been strongly linked with an exit, and it appears Liverpool have now made their final decision.

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have been heavily linked with the Dutch international across the final couple of weeks of the transfer window.

While Spurs appeared to be in pole position, the last few days have seen Man City occupy this role as they aimed to sign the attacker after they bid farewell to two forward options.

Savio and Omar Marmoush departed the Etihad to join Spurs, leaving City light in attack, with Gakpo believed to be the solution.

However, according to David Ornstein, after negotiations with their Premier League rivals Liverpool have opted to reject an offer worth £80 million to keep Gakpo at Anfield.

Gakpo’s good start to the campaign may have been a decisive factor in the Reds and Andoni Iraola opting to keep the 27-year-old at the club.

The Dutch international scored against Newcastle United in Liverpool’s season opener before getting an assist in the next fixture against Nottingham Forest.

This decision to keep Gakpo may have thrown a spanner in the works for a deal that Liverpool are currently working on, as they aim to strengthen their squad with some Premier League talent.

Liverpool submit fresh bid for Ismalia Sarr

Liverpool are still keen to add players to their squad before the transfer window closes, and now they are aiming to acquire a Premier League star to strengthen their attacking options.

The Reds made a double signing, Lucca Brughmans and Djylian N'Guessan, just hours before announcing that Liverpool had finally signed Bradley Barcola after a lengthy pursuit this summer.

Barcola’s acquisition, though, has seemingly thrown a spanner in the works for the club in their pursuit of signing players who are not considered homegrown.

Following the signing of the French international, the Reds have filled up the 17 permitted slots in their 25-man squad for the 2026/27 season that can be non-homegrown.

The Premier League considers a homegrown player is who was registered with an English or Welsh club for at least three complete seasons before turning 21, with where the player was developed, not their nationality, being the key detail, alongside the fact that eligible Under-21 players sit outside this limit.

Yet, this has not stopped Liverpool from submitting a bid for Crystal Palace winger Ismalia Sarr, according to RMC Sport.

The French outlet are reporting that the Senegalese right winger was the subject of a second bid, with the Eagles believed to have rejected the offer.

Sarr impressed last season at Palace as he netted on 21 occasions and assisted twice across his 45 appearances, and he appears to be hopeful of a move to Anfield.

Due to the current Premier League rules, Liverpool would not be allowed to register him in their squad; however, this could signal that a non-homegrown player may be close to leaving the club, with the likely individual being Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The Georgian is expected to depart the club, with Nottingham Forest being the interested party, which is why the Reds bought the youthful Brughmans from Genk.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a double deal to sign a Premier League attacker following Cody Gakpo's decision to join Manchester City.

Spurs have been targeting Liverpool forward Gakpo for much of the summer transfer window as manager Roberto De Zerbi looks to bolster his squad.

The Netherlands international started the Reds' 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at Saturday lunchtime, but it later emerged that he may well have played his last game for the club.

The Athletic's David Ornstein reported on Saturday evening that Gakpo had chosen to join City on a permanent deal, with 'all parties now in talks to reach an agreement'.

It represented in effect a double blow for Spurs, with De Zerbi's side having lost their second consecutive Premier League game without scoring via a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle.

But there is some positive news for Spurs fans, with a new attacker on his way to the club.

Spurs agree rare 'double deal' to sign Premier League star

Ornstein now reports that Spurs have reached an agreement over a deal to sign Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye.

He adds that forward Richarlison is set to move the other way, representing a return to Everton for the Brazil international after he left the club four years ago to join Spurs.

It is claimed, though, that the two deals are classed as separate rather than an official swap.

Richarlison was an extremely popular figure during his time at Goodison Park, scoring 10 goals during the 2021/22 season to keep the Toffees in the Premier League whilst playing through injury.

He has been struck by a series of injury issues during recent seasons, but did score 11 Premier League goals as part of a struggling Spurs side last season to also keep them in the top flight.

Now, with Omar Marmoush having signed on loan with an option to buy from Manchester City, and Savinho's arrival from the same club, Richarlison appears to be surplus to requirements and is now set to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the transfer deadline.

Everton set to keep one star - but lose another

Alongside Ndiaye's departure, it appeared on Saturday that academy graduate midfielder Harrison Armstrong would leave Everton to join Nottingham Forest in a £35 million deal.

Toffees fans angrily protested the deal, chanting for Armstrong to stay at the club throughout their 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.

The 19-year-old has started all three of Everton's matches this season in all competitions and is seen as a future England prospect.

It was reported on Sunday morning that the Toffees had made a 'unanimous' decision to keep Armstrong at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with chairman Dan Friedkin said to be involved.

Journalist John Percy reported that the backlash from Everton fans was 'understood to be a major factor' in the club's eventual U-turn, having been said to have accepted a bid from Forest.

Savinho has requested to be called 'Savio' after completing his £85 million switch from Manchester City to Tottenham.

Throughout his two-year spell at City, the Brazilian winger, real name Savio Moreira de Oliveira, was referred to as ‘Savinho’ -- a name that appeared on the back of his No.26 shirt in each of his 84 appearances.

It is said the addition of ‘inho’ to his name roughly translates to an affectionate way of saying ‘little’.

Speaking in an interview with the club's official website in July 2024, he explained that the origins behind being called ‘Savinho’ first cropped up in March 2024, when he was on international duty with Brazil.

“[My name change] is because in the national team, the first call-up they put Savinho on the shirt,” he said.

“People in Girona knew me more as Savinho, it was just written Savio on the shirt, you know? So I told [Manchester City] to put Savinho on the shirt. I hope it brings me luck too, this name Savinho.”

Now, the 22-year-old has once again asked to be called ‘Savio’ going forward.

It is not clear why the player has gone back to the name he used before joining City, when he played at Atletico Mineiro, Troyes, PSV and Girona. Neither Savio nor Tottenham have provided an explanation.

Speaking about his big-money move to Spurs, Savinho said: "It's taken a while but I'm very happy to be here. It's a wonderful opportunity at a brilliant club with one of the best managers in the world.

"As soon as I spoke to the head coach I knew I had to come. He told me he wants to help me reach the highest level, and I believe we can do that together, as a team."

Roberto De Zerbi explains reasons behind Savio signing

Savio, who could feature for Tottenham in their Carabao Cup clash against Charlton on Wednesday, has been described as a player who "brings energy, imagination and quality" in wide areas by De Zerbi.

"He has the courage to attack defenders and the ability to change a game with his creativity," the Italian added. "We’re very pleased to have him with us, and I’m looking forward to working with him, helping him continue to grow and seeing him bring his personality to the team."

Johan Lange, the club's sporting director, says Savio is someone who has been on their radar "for a while".

"He has already shown his quality at the highest level, and we believe his ability, style and mentality will be a great fit for the squad we are building here," said Lange.

"I know he will excite our supporters every time he gets on the ball and I'm looking forward to watching his development under Roberto's coaching."

Tottenham are in 'direct contact' with Chelsea over a potential move for striker Nicolas Jackson, according to reports - but they may have to fight off interest from Aston Villa to make a deal happen.

It is expected to be a busy week at Spurs as the summer window draws to a close, with Saturday's disappointing 3-0 defeat to Brentford potentially accelerating the need for attacking reinforcements.

If widespread reports are to be believed, the North London club are preparing to spend a combined £140 million on Omar Marmoush and Savinho from Manchester City.

They have agreed an £85 million deal for Savinho, which will see them pay an initial £75 million for the winger plus £10 million in add-ons, while Egypt international Marmoush could be snapped up for £55 million.

Those two arrivals could push Tottenham's overall spend to around the £350 million mark, although that figure could rise significantly if they add Jackson to their ranks before Tuesday's deadline.

A report from Football FanCast suggests the club are in direct contact with Chelsea as they 'look to understand the conditions of a deal'. The Blues, meanwhile, value the out-of-favour striker at £65 million.

Aston Villa have also been linked with a transfer for Jackson, who scored 11 goals in all competitions during a loan spell at Bayern Munich last season.

Earlier this week, a report from Sky Sports claimed Villa are expected to make a move if they sell Ollie Watkins to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.

Jackson played under Unai Emery during his time at Villarreal and scored 12 goals in 35 appearances for the Spanish side before joining Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for around £32 million.

Atletico Madrid are also interested in signing Jackson on a season-long loan deal, although Chelsea want a permanent transfer. As mentioned above, the Blues are commanding a fee of £65 million for the player.

Spurs midfielder 'transfer-listed' by Roberto De Zerbi on Premier League opening weekend

Ahead of their trip to Brentford on Saturday, Tottenham are said to have transfer listed Pape Matar Sarr, according to Sacha Tavolieri.

Last season, the 23-year-old Senegal international made 26 appearances in the league for Spurs but started just 13 matches in what was a turbulent campaign at the North London outfit.

Turkish side Galatasaray are reportedly in talks to sign Sarr as they look to challenge the likes of Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Trabzonspor, three clubs that have shown serious ambition this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are exploring the signing of a surprise player after they complete deals for Manchester City pair Savinho and Omar Marmoush, it has been reported.

Spurs have reached an agreement with City, per multiple reports, worth an initial £75 million fee plus £10 million in add-ons to sign Savinho.

They have been pursuing the 22-year-old Brazil international for much of the summer, and are now closing in on signing his City team-mate Marmoush as well.

According to The Athletic, Spurs are 'advancing' in talks to sign Marmoush in what would be a separate deal to the one that will bring Savinho to north London.

Spurs have embarked on an overhaul of their squad under manager Roberto De Zerbi and have already spent in excess of £225 million before their latest two deals are completed.

Fans have had to wait since July 6, when Sandro Tonali arrived from Newcastle for a club-record £100 million fee, for their next arrival but it appears that the wait could be worth it.

Spurs 'exploring' move for Premier League striker

Spurs will be not done there, however.

That's according to Football Insider, who report that De Zerbi still wants to add to his forward line and has identified Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as a target.

The Frenchman has been a reliable source of goals for Palace, netting double figures in the Premier League in each of his last three seasons.

That form earned him a place in France's World Cup squad, where he played 21 minutes across three substitute appearances as France reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Spain.

He was close to joining Italian giants AC Milan in the January window, but the move was called off after his medical discovered a long-standing knee issue.

It was revealed that the problem dated back to when he ruptured his meniscus while playing for Mainz all the way back in 2019, and he had to undergo surgery before he could return to action for Palace.

Mateta said he was grateful to Milan's medical team for spotting the issue, as he claimed it was 'more serious' than what he had been previously told.

"If I hadn't done that medical exam, how long would I have been dragging this knee issue along?" he told French outlet Canal+ in July.

For that reason, a potential move for Mateta may be seen as a slight gamble by Spurs, given the chequered injury histories of both their existing strikers Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.

But the Frenchman returned to action for Palace in March and helped them win the Conference League title, before then travelling to the World Cup.

He hasn't featured at all during pre-season since returning from the World Cup, but new Palace boss Pierre Sage is confident that he will be fit for their opening game of the Premier League season away to Everton on Saturday.

Spurs, who kick off their campaign away to Brentford on Saturday, are also believed to be interested in a move for Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, though it is unclear whether their pursuits of Savinho, Marmoush and Mateta will change that stance.

Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane has finally addressed whether he is planning to return to the Premier League after previously being linked with both Manchester United and his former club Tottenham Hotspur.

Kane first joined Bayern from Spurs in 2023, and despite missing out on the Bundesliga at the first attempt, his goals have since secured back-to-back German titles for the Bavarians, as well as the 2025/26 DFB Pokal.

The 33-year-old, who captained England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is into the final 12 months of his deal at Bayern, with both Barcelona and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal showing interest in the striker during the transfer window.

On Tuesday (August 18), Kane spoke out on how he is “calm” about his future as talks over a new contract are ongoing.

Speaking to Kicker, he explained: “We obviously said we wanted to talk after the World Cup and after my holiday. So I’m not sure exactly when, but they’ll start this week, next week… We’ll start those talks.

“Like I’ve said before, we’re calm; I think they’re calm with the situation.”

Kane had earlier linked up with his Bayern team-mates after being granted extended leave following the World Cup before taking part in a 4-2 pre-season friendly victory against Heidenheim.

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And while it appears Kane is happy at his current club, talk of a return to the Premier League is never far, with Spurs and Manchester United previously linked with moves for the forward, who is just 47 goals away from matching Alan Shearer’s Premier League goalscoring record of 260 strikes.

Kane speaks out on Premier League return

However, based on Kane’s most recent comments, he does not plan on returning to England anytime soon.

Speaking to Henry Winter after receiving his second European Golden Shoe at an award ceremony on Wednesday, he said: “When I first left (Spurs in 2023), for sure it was something that I thought I'd definitely be coming back. That itch isn't there as much anymore. I'm extremely happy here in Munich. It’s opened my eyes to a totally different world of football outside of England. It’s made me appreciate European football even more.

“With the team we have here, with the manager (Vincent Kompany). My family are really settled here. It's just about being in the best place possible. I never say never but, for now, I'm concentrating on Bayern Munich and we'll see what the future holds.”

The Englishman is also in the running to win the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded in October, an accolade he has described as “as big as it gets, from an individual point of view”.

“I know I had a great season last season, but the focus is on this new season,” he said in a separate interview earlier this week.

“The Ballon d'Or's not in my hands. I've done what I can do in terms of putting in the performances. It's now down to votes and other people and the media - stuff I can't control - so we'll see what happens.

“Obviously, it would be amazing if it was to happen. But ultimately, it's still two or three months away before that's decided, so it's not something that's at the front of my mind right now.”

Bayern get their Bundesliga campaign underway against Stuttgart on August 28.

Spurs could continue their huge summer spending with an ambitious move for a £57 million star who turned down their rivals Arsenal.

After avoiding relegation, Roberto De Zerbi has been putting his stamp on Spurs with a flurry of new arrivals totalling £228 million.

Spurs have brought in Sandro Tonali for £100 million, a club-record signing that eclipsed the £85 million capture of Matheus Fernandes which was completed days earlier.

Jean-Paul Van Hecke has also been signed from Brighton for a fee of £52 million.

But Spurs are still pressing hard for further reinforcements, with particular focus on a new central defender following Cristian Romero's departure to Atletico Madrid.

According to TEAMtalk, they could launch a move for Paris Saint-Germain defender Illia Zabarnyi, who could well be available this summer.

Zabarnyi only joined PSG last summer in a £57 million deal from Bournemouth and won the Champions League in his debut season.

However, it's claimed a summer switch is a "realistic possibility" and there could be developments as we move towards the end of the transfer window.

According to the report, Spurs have "taken a look' at the Ukraine international but are yet to follow that up with serious discussions.

The 23-year-old's situation appears to be one to keep an eye on, with a Premier League return very much a possibility.

He was linked with a reunion with Andoni Iraola at Liverpool but the Reds brought in Ronaldo Araujo from Barcelona, a move which makes a Zabarnyi pursuit unlikely.

Similarly, Chelsea snapped up Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace and look to be done when it comes to strengthening in central defence.

Spurs are now credited with interest and a transfer could make sense given Zabarnyi's strong ball-playing qualities and the way Di Zerbi likes to play out from the back.

Spurs target turned down Arsenal as Premier League return mooted

Zabarnyi may already have the love of Spurs supporters as he reportedly rejected a move to Arsenal in the summer of 2024.

The Gunners are understood to have sent scouts to watch him in action at Euro 2024 and looked to a deal.

However, he ended up signing a contract extension with Bournemouth.

After penning a deal until 2029, he said: "I’m so excited and so happy to be here.

"I’m really enjoying it, it’s a beautiful town and a really exciting project. I’ve enjoyed a lot of good moments, last season was important for me.

"We achieved a record points total but we can do more, it’s a really great place to be and I’m pleased to extend my stay."

Having joined from Dynamo Kyiv in a £24 million in January 2023, Zabarnyi went on to stay for another year before joining PSG, where has played a total of 38 times in all competitions.

Tottenham Hotspur will effectively have to pay back a small part of the fee they received for two other players due to Djed Spence's transfer to Inter Milan.

Spence joined Inter on Saturday for a fee of around €30 million, ending what had become a protracted transfer saga.

The England full-back announced his exit minutes before Spurs' 3-0 friendly win over Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon, writing on Instagram: "A special chapter comes to an end. It's been some journey, with plenty of memories, moments and experiences that I'll carry with me for forever, especially that night in Bilbao.

"Thanks to all the staff members who've helped me along the way, the players who've become family & most importantly thank you to the fans. Time for a new chapter now, but Spurs will always have a place in my heart. COYS."

Spence's departure means Spurs will once again have to do business with a club they have seen a lot of throughout the summer transfer window.

Why Spurs will 'pay back' small part of their transfer profit

The 26-year-old moved to north London in 2022 from Championship side Middlesbrough, with Spurs paying a fee in the region of £19 million.

Boro inserted a sell-on clause into the deal which is worth 15 per cent, though it is unclear whether that relates to a percentage of Spence's sale to Inter - which would be approximately £3.8 million - or simply on the percentage of profit, which would equal around £1 million instead.

Spurs have already done business with Kim Hellberg's side twice this summer, selling striker Will Lankshear for £8 million plus add-ons and centre-back Ashley Phillips for £7 million plus add-ons.

The combined value of the two deals could equal £40 million if all add-ons are achieved, with Spurs holding sell-on clauses in both cases.

With Boro announcing the arrival of Phillips on Saturday afternoon - just before Spence's deal was confirmed - the Championship club have effectively got a small discount on the 21-year-old's signing through their now former player.

Spurs already paid out £2 million to Boro for Spence prior to the World Cup, with Teeside Live reporting that they were entitled to a fee once the full-back started two competitive England matches.

Middlesbrough have had an incredibly profitable summer, first from the £16.5 million sale of star midfielder Hayden Hackney to Everton and then a payment of at least £20 million from Morgan Rogers' £117m transfer from Aston Villa to Chelsea.

That money has enabled them to spend big on signings this summer, with other Championship clubs in general having to bide their time to get players in due to the World Cup.

Transfers have been starting to take place regularly over the past week, but it has been a tricky time for those clubs attempting to secure Premier League loans - given that many young players have been needed during pre-season as a result of mandatory post-World Cup breaks for top stars.

Tottenham are chasing the signature of a Chelsea player who previously hailed their fans as "amazing".

In a record-breaking transfer window, Spurs have been one of the Premier League's most active clubs as Roberto De Zerbi assembles a squad capable of challenging for Europe.

The Lilywhites have flexed their financial muscles by spending just under £250 million on new players, notably breaking their transfer record to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m before doing it again when they splashed £100m on Newcastle's Sandro Tonali.

Defensive reinforcements already arrived in the shape of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi - who both joined as free agents - as well as Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton.

De Zerbi is now switching his focus to bolstering his attack ahead of the September 1 deadline after admitting that he wants more firepower in the final third.

Just seven clubs scored fewer goals than Tottenham's 48 in the Premier League last season, and they're actively trying to sign players who can alter that narrative for the better.

Spurs have reportedly offered a combined £145 million for Savinho and Cody Gakpo from Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively, in a bid to improve their wide options.

But De Zerbi also wants a central striker to rival current options, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, with reports suggesting that Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson is on their radar.

According to RMC Sport, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are all interested in signing Jackson, who is deemed surplus to requirements under new manager Xabi Alonso.

The Senegal international returned to Stamford Bridge following a solid loan spell at Bayern Munich, where he played understudy to Harry Kane, scoring 11 in 34 appearances.

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But that form isn't enough to convince Alonso that he deserves a prominent role at the Blues, with the Spaniard leaving him, Tosin Adarabioyo and Liam Delap out of the squad that beat Real Sociedad 3-1 on Saturday.

An exit therefore looks increasingly likely for Jackson, who has 30 goals in 81 appearances for Chelsea, but only if BlueCo lower their asking price.

It is widely reported that the West London outfit want in the region of £60m for Jackson, with RMC Sport stating that to be a 'major obstacle' for various suitors.

What Nicolas Jackson has said about Tottenham fans

Under contract until 2033, Chelsea are under no pressure to sell Jackson, but the player is desperate to play regular first-team football and that isn't promised at Stamford Bridge, as Joao Pedro, Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha are all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Tottenham's interest in the 25-year-old will also come as no surprise, given how he's performed against them in the past, netting a hat-trick during Chelsea's 4-1 win over the Lilywhites in November 2023.

Jackson was in rare clinical form in that game as Spurs were reduced to nine men, and many were surprised by what he claimed after demolishing their rivals, admitting that Spurs have "amazing" fans.

"I need to always improve and work harder. We continue working. Tottenham have an amazing stadium and amazing fans, so we needed to fight and win the game," Jackson said.

That comment went down like a lead balloon with Chelsea supporters, but if he does make the short trip across to north London to join Spurs this summer, he will be able to experience the "amazing" support every week.