Richarlison’s chances of securing a return to Brazil this summer have been handed a boost by the Club World Cup.
That is according to South American football expert Tim Vickery.
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The Tottenham forward has been linked with a move away from the club this summer amid interest from his homeland.
Palmeiras have been reported as a potential suitor for the 28-year-old.
Richarlison has entered the final two years of his contract in north London following an injury hit campaign.
A string of enforced absences limited him to just 24 appearances across all competitions.
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In those matches, Richarlison scored five goals for Spurs as they ended their 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League.
Meanwhile, Palmeiras scooped £29.1million in prize money by reaching the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup.
Abel Ferreira’s side were beaten by eventual winners Chelsea in the last eight but were still able to boost their funds at the tournament.
Those earnings could now go a long way to signing Richarlison, who is said to have been valued at £55million by Spurs.
Assessing their chances of landing the former Everton man, Vickery told Hawksbee & Jacobs: “The teams that have come back from the Club World Cup, they’ve got a lot of money. So suddenly a move like this is a possibility.
“Now, you scan round Europe and you think, well they’ve got all this money but who can they persuade to come back?
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“It’s very unlikely they can do that with someone in their prime doing well in Europe, but that’s not really the case with Richarlison, is it? He’s been one injury after another.”
As for the cause of those injury woes, he added: “I think ever since Everton, and this was a sign that Everton were going to let him go, they let him play the Copa America and the Olympics and so he didn’t have any rest at all.
“It’s an illustration to me of the danger that we’re flirting with the players by making them play too many times.
“Since then at Tottenham it’s been one injury after another so he might be up for it, that’s a possibility.”
Elsewhere, however, Palmeiras and their rivals could struggle to attract signings from Europe this summer.
Botafogo, Flamengo and Fluminense also competed at the tournament, with all four reaching the knockout stages.
Troy Deeney believes time is up for Richarlison at Tottenham and suggests where he should go next
Vickery explained: “You look around and think, they’ve got all this money, who can they persuade to turn their backs on Europe and come back.
“You can always get veterans like Jorginho, for example, who’s just slotted right in.
“You can bring him back but those in their prime, if they’re doing well, tough. Richarlison, maybe they’ve just got a shot.”
Palmeiras already have pedigree when it comes to spending big to bolster their frontline.
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The club broke the Brazilian transfer record for a striker as recently as February.
Their £22million move for Vitor Roque saw the forward return to the country from Barcelona ahead of the domestic campaign.
