Tottenham: Everton stance on Richarlison sale baffles BBC Sport pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former Scotland right-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
Alan Hutton has been left baffled by Everton’s claim that part of the reason for their breach of profit and sustainability rules was the hard bargain driven by Tottenham for forward Richarlison.
The Toffees were docked 10 points for the breaches and documents in their case showed that they claimed part of the reason they failed to comply with limits is because Spurs paid around £60million for Richarlison when they wanted £80m.
It reportedly caused a furore with Spurs, who the Daily Mail (20 November) said were unhappy with Everton’s stance, and any hopes the Toffees had of Tottenham restructuring a deal that would have seen them receive another £10m if Dele Alli played another seven games has been severely diminished.
Former Tottenham defender Hutton, now a BBC Sport pundit, thinks Everton have no leg to stand on as they knew the structure of both deals when agreeing to them.
Speaking to Tottenham News, he said: “Well I don’t understand how it gets to that situation because obviously if Spurs sign Richarlison for ‘x’ amount and this is how the payments are agreed over four years or five years or ‘x’ amount up front and we’ll get the rest later, that’s been agreed.
“So, I don’t understand how you can go back and forth saying ‘I’m not happy because you’re not paying enough’, they’ve already agreed the deal, the player’s moved so unless I was to see the whole ins and outs I don’t get it, I don’t understand it.
“And if I was Tottenham I would do the same thing, if they’re not happy through some clause or some instance whatever it may be I’d say ‘well do you know what the Dele Alli situation’s off the table if he plays ‘x’ amount of games you need to pay us the money’.
“I mean it is a little bit tit-for-tat but I can see how it happens, I can see how it arises, when you’ve got that leverage they’re going to use it.‘
In other Tottenham news, Dr Rajpal Brar has given his take on Manor Solomon’s injury status.