Goal crisis & in drop zone - so why is Spurs' £60m striker stuck in U21s?

What the report says

Tottenham forward Richarlison has been pushed into appearances for the club’s under-21 side after being left out of Spurs’ Premier League squad, according to BBC Sport Football. The 29-year-old scored for the youngsters in an EFL Trophy match against Cheltenham Town, in a rare competitive outing after only one senior appearance this season. BBC Sport said the Brazil international, who joined Tottenham from Everton for £60m, also converted in a penalty shootout that Spurs’ reserves lost 7-6 after a 2-2 draw.

The report said Richarlison’s situation stems from a failed late-summer attempt to leave the club, with a proposed return to Everton collapsing and another possible move, to Vasco da Gama, also falling through. Manager Roberto de Zerbi said in September that the decision to omit the forward from the 25-man league squad was not his alone, and he indicated Richarlison had made clear his wish to depart.

BBC Sport added that Tottenham’s attacking issues give the omission added significance. Spurs have struggled for goals early in the Premier League season and are second bottom in the table, with Richarlison having been last season’s top scorer for the club in the league. The story said the EFL Trophy may now offer him one of the few chances to gain match practice before January.