Of all the problems Tottenham faced during previous transfer windows, finding a viable alternative to Harry Kane was undoubtedly the greatest.
Over the years, several strikers have come and gone, but none of them has been able to get close to competing with Kane. Carlos Vinicius, Fernando Llorente and Vincent Janssen all fall into that category, while the list is even greater if you count Clinton Njie and Steven Bergwijn as wide forwards who it was hoped could operate through the middle if needed.
Spurs, however, will believe that in Richarlison they finally have a player who will buck that trend — and the fact that they are spending a club-record fee of £60million on him underlines that hope.
Being an understudy to Kane is an unenviable task, not least because the England captain boasts such an incredible goal record, but also due to the fact he hates being rested.
The fact is, though, with Tottenham back in the Champions League and a World Cup sandwiched into the middle of next season, Kane cannot play every game and there needs to be a plan for when he is not available.
Richarlison certainly will not shy away from that challenge. Since moving to England in 2017, he has matured into a confident character.
When he joined Watford, he was quiet, not least because he did not speak any English, but with the help of fellow Brazilian and ex-Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes he came out of his shell. By the end of that first season, Richarlison was relishing his importance to Watford and moved to Everton for £40m.
At Goodison Park, his prominence has only grown, and it was telling that when Everton were struggling in a relegation battle last season, it was Richarlison who dragged them over the line. He will relish having to compete with Kane.
Crucially, however, there is scope for Richarlison to play alongside Kane, which is what separates him from the likes of Llorente and Janssen. They always felt like understudies, whereas Richarlison can be Kane’s co-star.
The 25-year-old can operate out left or right, offering goals and pace from the flanks. His work-rate out of possession is good, too, something Spurs boss Antonio Conte demands.
There is an edge to Richarlison, who has a bit of devil in him, and that also makes him an ideal fit for Conte. There are few managers as streetwise as the Italian and Richarlison should thrive in that environment.
Perhaps the biggest challenge for Conte is working out what his preferred front-three will be, given how well the trio of Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski finished the last campaign.
They were largely responsible for Spurs qualifying for the Champions League, but if they want to stay there, then Conte needs options. The fixture schedule will be packed next season and the fact teams can once again make five substitutes in the Premier League means squads need to be deeper.
There is an edge to Richarlison, who has a bit of devil in him, and that also makes him an ideal fit for Conte
Then there is the environment that Conte wants to create. The Italian is a competitor and wants that to be the case at Spurs, too. The idea of a set XI would not sit well with him — and the summer’s signings so far are evidence of that.
Tottenham have strengthened areas where starting players looked nailed on for their places last season. Richarlison will put pressure on the forwards for starters, but it is the same in midfield, where Yves Bissouma could break up the successful partnership of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur.
Richarlison will certainly be hoping to break up Tottenham’s lethal front-three, with the man they call ‘O Pombo’ (the pigeon), due to his goal celebrations, ready to spread his wings at Spurs.
