Tottenham forward Richarlison has shut down suggestions he could leave the club this summer after being linked with a move back to Brazil. The 27-year-old enjoyed a solid campaign under Ange Postecoglou last season, scoring 11 times in the Premier League and laying on four assists from just 18 starts – averaging a goal involvement every 99 minutes. He struggled with injuries, however, undergoing groin surgery in November before knee and calf issues limited his game time in the run-in, playing just 141 minutes from mid-February onwards.

Despite his decent goal return, Richarlison has been repeatedly linked with a big money transfer to Saudi Arabia this summer while reports in his homeland claimed he was unhappy in north London and could even make a move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama. But the former Everton frontman has now hit out at the reports, branding them ‘fake news’, and says he has no intention of leaving Spurs. ‘I forfeited my vacation and came to work in SP [Sao Paulo] so I could return well and be ready for next season,’ wrote the Brazilian on social media.

‘I have never said I am unhappy at my club, and everything that has been coming out in the media here about negotiations is fake news. I don’t know where they got that from! ‘I won’t leave England next season!’ Richarlison’s latest injury, a calf issue which ruled him out of Spurs’ final three games of the season, saw him miss out on a place in Brazil’s squad for the Copa America. Speak.