As the January transfer window approaches, the future of one of North London’s most polarizing figures is back under the spotlight.

Richarlison, a player capable of both world-class brilliance and frustrating invisibility, could be nearing the end of his chapter at Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite flashes of magic, the Brazilian forward’s inconsistency has sparked fresh speculation regarding a winter move.

“If he did it every week, he’d be at Real Madrid“

The narrative surrounding Richarlison was perfectly captured by club insider John Wenham.

Speaking on the striker’s volatile form, Wenham noted that while the Brazilian has the unique ability to rattle elite defenders like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, he simply cannot sustain that level.

“The thing is, against Forest last week, he offered nothing,” Wenham told Tottenham News. “If we saw the Richarlison we saw against Liverpool every week, he would be at Real Madrid. He causes massive problems for the best in the world, but he was basically unplayable for only 15 minutes.”

A Season of Highs and Lows

Richarlison’s 2025/26 campaign has been a microcosm of his entire Spurs career. His stats—8 goals in 26 appearances—are respectable, but they don’t tell the full story.

• The Purple Patch: He enjoyed a stunning start to the season, performing brilliantly against PSG in the Super Cup and netting a spectacular acrobatic scissor kick against Burnley.
• The Droughts: Following those highs, he has often gone missing, sometimes enduring nine-game goal droughts or being sidelined by “mysterious” injuries.

Why Tottenham Might Sell

With only 18 months remaining on his contract and no talks of an extension in sight, Spurs manager Thomas Frank may be ready to sanction a sale to fund new reinforcements.

The primary concern remains his availability; since joining in 2022, Richarlison has missed a staggering 74 games for club and country due to various fitness issues.

Potential Destinations: MLS or a Fresh European Start?

While the “Real Madrid” talk serves more as a benchmark for his wasted potential than a concrete offer, the interest in the 28-year-old remains high.

Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, who showed serious interest in the summer, are expected to return with lucrative offers this January.

As Tottenham prepares for a crucial second half of the season and navigates a potential managerial shift, moving on from Richarlison might be the pragmatic choice to finally stabilize a frontline that has relied too heavily on “moments” rather than consistent production.