MusaTottenham Hotspur have several pressing issues to address as they continue their efforts to turn around a difficult Premier League campaign. However, the uncertain futures of Richarlison and Mathys Tel have emerged as another interesting storyline surrounding the north London club.
Richarlison’s situation has become increasingly complicated following the events of the summer transfer window. The Brazilian forward has been excluded from Roberto De Zerbi’s Premier League squad, leaving him without a clear pathway back into the first team.
The 29-year-old is now having to prove his fitness and sharpness with Tottenham’s Under-21 side, with a January departure increasingly appearing to be a realistic possibility.
Richarlison Returns to Scoring Form With Tottenham’s Under-21s
Despite being frozen out of the senior squad, Richarlison has continued to get opportunities to play, although his latest appearance came in rather unusual circumstances.
The Brazilian finished last season as Tottenham’s leading goalscorer, but he has yet to register a goal for the senior team during the 2026/27 campaign. He had found the net during pre-season before being left out following the close of the transfer window.
On Tuesday evening, however, the former Everton striker showed a glimpse of his attacking ability while representing Tottenham’s youth team.
Richarlison scored a well-taken goal with a turn and finish during a 2-2 draw against Cheltenham in the EFL Trophy. Unfortunately for Spurs, the match ended in disappointment as they lost 7-6 on penalties.
Operating from the left flank, the experienced forward remained heavily involved throughout the contest, recording 69 touches. However, he also surrendered possession 23 times, highlighting some of the difficulties he encountered during the game.
Although Richarlison found the net during normal play and successfully scored in the penalty shootout, his performance was not entirely convincing. He missed one significant goalscoring opportunity and won only four of his ten duels.
Overall, it was an inconsistent display from the Brazilian. More importantly, his involvement with the Under-21s is unlikely to change his immediate situation, particularly given De Zerbi’s decision to exclude him from the senior squad.
Is a January Departure Now Inevitable for Richarlison?
Richarlison’s uncertain future at Tottenham has been developing for some time.
According to previous comments from De Zerbi during pre-season, the striker had expressed a desire to leave after spending four years in north London. However, despite interest in finding a new destination, a suitable transfer failed to materialise before the summer window closed.
A potential return to Everton did not work out, while reported opportunities involving clubs in Turkey, Brazil and Saudi Arabia also failed to produce a breakthrough.
Consequently, Richarlison has found himself in an uncomfortable position, unable to feature for Tottenham’s senior Premier League team after being left out of the club’s registered squad.
That decision means his immediate opportunities in the league are severely restricted, with Tottenham unable to make changes to their squad registration until January. His chances of returning to action before the winter transfer window therefore appear limited.
The club’s elimination from the Carabao Cup has further reduced the available opportunities, particularly after Richarlison was not brought into the side for the competition’s matches against Liverpool and Charlton Athletic.
Those decisions could indicate that the Brazilian is no longer part of De Zerbi’s immediate plans.
With his contract reportedly running until next summer, the January transfer window could represent Tottenham’s last realistic opportunity to secure a transfer fee rather than risk losing him later without compensation.
A departure during the winter window consequently looks increasingly plausible, especially if Richarlison remains determined to find regular first-team football elsewhere.
However, the Brazilian may not be the only Tottenham forward considering his future.
Mathys Tel Could Follow Richarlison Out of Tottenham
While Richarlison’s situation continues to attract attention, Mathys Tel is another player whose position at Tottenham has become increasingly uncertain.
Spurs secured a point against Manchester United at Old Trafford over the weekend, although their performance offered some encouragement despite the frustrating result.
De Zerbi’s side started brightly, putting United under considerable pressure during the opening 25 minutes. Tottenham created promising situations but struggled to find the decisive finish, with Dominic Solanke eventually scoring during stoppage time.
The performance nevertheless suggested that the attacking unit has the potential to improve as the team adapts to De Zerbi’s methods.
However, the situation could become more complicated for Tel, who has struggled to establish himself in recent weeks.
The 21-year-old French forward, who arrived with a reported valuation of around £30 million, has seen his involvement decrease as competition for attacking positions intensifies.
With Savinho impressing and Mohammed Kudus returning from injury, Tottenham have additional options across the wide attacking positions. That increased competition could make it even more difficult for Tel to secure regular minutes.
His recent experiences have done little to ease concerns about his role under the Italian manager.
Following a reported public disagreement with De Zerbi after Tottenham’s draw against Everton, the former Bayern Munich forward featured against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup. However, he struggled to make a significant impact against Jeremie Frimpong down the left flank.
Things subsequently became more difficult when Tel was left out of the matchday squad entirely for the Aston Villa fixture.
He was included among the substitutes against Manchester United but was not introduced, with other attacking options preferred when De Zerbi made his changes.
The sequence of events has raised further questions about the young forward’s standing within the squad.
Tottenham Could Consider Selling Mathys Tel in January
Reports have suggested that De Zerbi could be open to allowing Tel to leave during the January transfer window.
Football FanCast has reported that the Tottenham manager is keen to move the Frenchman on, with the club potentially looking to secure a profit on the player who arrived in 2025.
If those reports reflect Tottenham’s current thinking, Tel’s future could become a significant talking point as the winter window approaches.
At 21, the forward still has considerable time to develop, but regular football will be important if he is to fulfil his potential. Remaining on the fringes of Tottenham’s first team would do little to help him establish himself as a regular senior player.
A transfer request could therefore become a consideration if his situation fails to improve over the coming weeks. Such a move would potentially put additional pressure on Tottenham to negotiate his departure, although there is no guarantee that the club would agree to his preferred terms.
For now, Tel’s immediate priority will be to convince De Zerbi that he deserves another opportunity. However, continued exclusion from the starting line-up and limited substitute appearances could strengthen the case for a move elsewhere.
With Richarlison already facing an uncertain future and Tel struggling to secure regular minutes, Tottenham could have important decisions to make when the January transfer window opens.
Whether both forwards ultimately leave remains to be seen, but their situations suggest that further changes to De Zerbi’s attacking options could be on the horizon.
Musa
