Published Sep 21, 2026, 6:40 AM GMT+1

The display from his side against the Villans on Saturday lunchtime was nothing short of embarrassing, and has kept his side in the relegation zone ahead of the first international break.

It’s also the third time his new-look side have shipped three or more goals in a game this campaign, further highlighting the work that needs to be done during the break.

However, it’s likely that one player will not be a part of De Zerbi’s squad going forward, with the saga around his future one which continues to drag on despite the window closing.

Why Richarlison's career at Spurs is now finished

After finishing the previous season as the club’s top scorer, you would expect that player to once again be an integral part of the manager’s plans during the following year.

However, that’s not the case for Spurs talisman Richarlison, who has been left out in the cold by his manager De Zerbi over the last couple of months.

The Brazilian ended last season with 11 goals in the Premier League, with his efforts within the final third undoubtedly saving the club from suffering an embarrassing relegation.

Despite his efforts, he’s been excluded from the league squad for the 2026/27 campaign, with the likes of Omar Marmoush, Savio and Mykhailo Mudryk arriving to improve the front line.

The 29-year-old was linked with a return to former side Everton during the summer window, but the proposed swap deal for Iliman Ndiaye fell through after Manchester City’s late hijack.

As a result, Richarlison is now left on the fringes of the senior squad and has been forced to train away from the main group - but with the window closed, he’s unable to go anywhere.

The only way the attacker could secure a move elsewhere is if the club decide to terminate his contract - but it’s highly unlikely that the Lilywhites board would sanction that decision.

Spurs player should join Richarlison in not starting again

The arrival of striker Marmoush has handed De Zerbi the added central option he craved during the summer transfer window in an attempt to mount a push for a European spot.

The Egyptian international is yet to find the back of the net for the Lilywhites since his subsequent move, which has already seen supporters question his summer move.

He was even shifted out to the left-hand side on Saturday for the visit of Aston Villa and tasked with providing the quality in wide areas rather than through the middle.

Such a tactical change allowed for one-time club-record signing Dominic Solanke to start just his second league game of the 2026/27 campaign to date.

The Englishman’s only previous start came in the 0-0 draw against Everton back in early September, but he was unable to provide the goods that day and dropped to the bench in the Carabao Cup.

However, De Zerbi did hand him another opportunity to impress during the recent clash with Aston Villa, but it’s safe to say the 29-year-old failed to make the desired impact. In the words of Spurs content creator Ben Bowman, he is having "a horror start to the season" and that was summed up at the weekend.

He massively struggled to provide the goods within attacking areas of the pitch, which saw the talisman withdrawn despite 25 minutes remaining in the encounter.

Solanke could only register 26 touches of the ball during his 65-minute display, with such a tally fewer than that of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky - subsequently highlighting his lack of impact.

The attacker did register two efforts on goal, but was unable to direct either of his shots on target - with the centre-forward unable to trouble Zion Suzuki in the opposition goal.

Solanke could only win 50% of the total duels he entered in North London, with the opposition backline able to deal with the attacker throughout the entirety of the contest.

After such a display, it’s evident that the £65m man is no longer at the level required if the side are to get out of their current rut at the bottom end of the table.

He should join Richarlison in being away from the senior ranks in North London, with both players undeniably failing to live up to the mega fees paid for their signatures.

It’s unclear how much money the club could recoup for the Englishman, but they would likely lose a small fortune on their investment from the summer of 2024.