Tottenham Hotspur legend, Glenn Hoddle, has claimed Richarlison is not the answer when it comes to replacing Harry Kane as the club’s lead striker.
Richarlison signed for Spurs last summer in a deal worth a reported £60m (BBC). It was hoped the Brazilian could come in and provide serious competition for the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son in the Tottenham attack.
Things did not go to plan for Richarlison, or any player in the Spurs squad last year. Richarlison managed just three goals all season, and had to wait until April to bag his first Premier League goal (Transfermarkt).
After the disappointment of the 2022/23 campaign, there is now fresh hope that Richarlison can get back to his best under new Spurs boss, Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian has previously said that he feels Richarlison has ‘all the attributes’ he would want in a striker (Football.London). Now, the 26-year-old is really going to have to step up, in the wake of Kane leaving the club.
Can Richarlison replace Harry Kane at Tottenham?
Unfortunately, Glenn Hoddle does not believe Richarlison has what it takes to fill that gap left behind by Kane.
He told Premier League Productions (13/08/23 at 1:05 pm): “I really don’t understand how Richarlison is going to play up there.
“He isn’t going to be able to score the goals Harry scored or play the same way. Richarlison won’t get anywhere near the goals that Harry Kane scored, so it has to be a team scenario.
“If you are buying Richarlison… say if Postecoglou is at a different club now, would he go ‘I would go and get him’. He scored one goal in 20-odd games. No way!
“He now has to come into the Tottenham team and have that pressure of Harry over his shoulders. He’s not going to be able to do it.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I don’t necessarily think Richarlison needs to play the same way Harry Kane did, and I’m sure no one is expecting him to score 30 goals a season.
But to write him off like this is incredibly pessimistic and unfair. Richarlison is Brazil’s main striker, so he obviously has the talent, we just need to utilise him properly.