Suarez won’t last forever
Barcelona are keeping tabs on Everton forward Richarlison, according to Spanish sports newspaper Marca. Director of football at the Catalan club and former player Eric Abidal is reportedly a big fan of the Brazilian, who followed Everton boss Marco Silva to Merseyside from Watford last summer.
Barça are on the search for a long-term successor to Luis Suarez, and think Richarlison could be the rightful heir, after impressing in a central role for Brazil.
The club have a long list of strikers on their radar, but a variety of obstacles could prevent them from being able to sign them. Luka Jović, for example, just signed a permanent contract with Eintracht Frankfurt after impressing during his loan spell from Benfica, and is understood to prefer a move to Real Madrid. Antoine Griezmann is no longer Barça’s top priority despite his apparent availability. And Marcus Rashford, whose first appearance at the Camp Nou didn’t go as he would have hoped on Tuesday night, would cost an arm and a leg.
Richarlison is seen as the more gettable option, although negotiating with a wealthy Premier League club will not be easy, even considering the heavy pull of the Blaugrana.
Barcelona have earned a lot of good will with the Everton board, having loaned them Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina for this season and selling them Lucas Digne on a permanent deal. But any deal for Richarlison would still cost in excess of €50m, Marca report.
