‘He’s a top player’: Jermain Defoe can’t understand what’s happening to Tottenham player

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Jermain Defoe says he can’t understand why Richarlison is struggling at Tottenham Hotspur as he labelled him a ‘top player’.

The Brazil star was handed yet another start by Ange Postecoglou on Saturday, as Tottenham beat Bournemouth 2-0.

Whilst Spurs maintained their unbeaten start under their new manager, it was another frustrating afternoon for Richarlison, with Defoe hoping he can get ‘a run of games’ to prove his worth, as he told Premier League Productions (26/08/23 at 1:25 pm). 

The 26-year-old still has one Premier League goal to his name following his big-money transfer from Everton last summer.

And now that Harry Kane is out of the door, he is playing as a centre-forward, but he just can’t seem to find the back of the net, he isn’t helped by the fact that he missed a guilt-edge chance yesterday.

Even though Kane is gone, Defoe stated that he hopes Richarlison has learnt from the club’s record goalscorer because he did the same when he was at Spurs with Robbie Keane.

“He is a good player,” said Defoe. “We spoke about when he plays for Brazil at the World Cup. He’s a top player.

“But, for whatever reason, it hasn’t happened for him at Tottenham, yet.

“Like you said, Harry isn’t there anymore and it’s up to him to, hopefully, get a run of games and show everyone that he can do it.

“I would like to think when Harry was there, as a young forward, he should try to learn off forwards that are ahead of you. I remember when I signed for Tottenham and Robbie Keane was there. I remember watching his movement in training. Maybe I can get a little bit of that into my game, even if you are good at that.”

Can Postecoglou get the best out of Richarlison?

Six months into Richarlison’s club-record transfer to Spurs, he was having a public verbal fall-out with his manager, Antonio Conte.

This is despite the Italian being the one to sign the player, and that for a record fee.

Someone like Postecoglou isn’t built like that and, more than likely, will put his arm around the shoulder of the player, which might just work in his favour and turn his current form around.