Tottenham Hotspur attacker Richarlison has supposedly told the Saudi Pro League that he would be open to moving to the Middle East this summer.
The former Everton man has struggled to settle in North London since joining in a £60m deal two years ago and only made a fleeting impression in Ange Postecoglou's debut campaign.
Richarlison hit a rich vein of form during the winter months, scoring nine goals in eight Premier League games from December to February, but he lost his way towards the end of the season.
A few niggling injuries did not help the 27-year-old, who sat out Spurs' last three matches of the campaign with a hamstring injury as the Lilywhites missed out on a top-four finish.
Richarlison also opened up about mental health issues he had been dealing with since joining the Lilywhites, and his hamstring issue also prevented him from making the Brazil squad for the Copa America.
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Richarlison wanted by three Saudi clubs?
The ex-Watford man still has three years left to run on his contract with Tottenham, whom he boasts 15 goals and eight assists in 66 games for, but there is no indication that he will be offered an extension.
As a result, HITC claims that Richarlison has informed the Saudi Pro League that he would be willing to jump ship and head to the Middle East this summer, sparking a three-way transfer tussle.
Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli are supposedly leading the interest, but newly-promoted Al-Qadsiah - who recently captured Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - are also in the running.
Tottenham will supposedly not stand in Richarlison's way of an exit for the right price, but they will hold out for at least the £60m that they paid to sign the Brazilian in 2022.
The Lilywhites will then reinvest any funds into bringing a new striker to the club amid links with Lille's Jonathan David and Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez, the former of whom could cost as little as £20m.
Arsenal forward 'targeted' alongside Richarlison
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As well as Richarlison, clubs in Saudi Arabia are supposedly pursuing his compatriot and North London rival Gabriel Jesus, who has also endured a frustrating time at Arsenal.
The former Manchester City man has been laid low by a few knee injuries since leaving Manchester City, and he was relegated to second-choice centre-forward behind Kai Havertz last season.
However, Mikel Arteta is not believed to be open to letting Jesus leave this summer, as the Spaniard believes that the South American will come good if he can enjoy a disrupted pre-season.
Jesus was on target for Arsenal in a 2-0 win over Leyton Orient in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday, where Emile Smith Rowe also found the back of the net.
Ben Knapton
