Tottenham are yet to receive any formal bids for Richarlison as the final transfer windows around the world draw to a close.

Spurs’ attacking woes continued on Saturday at Nottingham Forest, where they failed to register a shot on target. They have not scored in any of their opening three league matches for the first time since 1974.

Richarlison is no longer part of the Premier League squad after telling the club he wanted to leave over the summer. De Zerbi hinted it was “not my decision” to leave him out and Spurs now have an expensive exile on their hands.

Richarlison latest

Trabzonspor, the ambitious Turkish Super Lig outfit who signed Mohamed Salah this summer, came closest to signing the 29-year-old. However, The i Paper was told the move collapsed due to “high financial demands”. That included his wages, though the transfer fee was considered the “main obstacle”.

A return to Everton fell through at the end of the English window. It was a separate deal to Iliman Ndiaye and had no bearing on the forward’s decision to move to Manchester City over north London.

Richarlison has also attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, where the window remains open until 12 October and which now looks like the most likely option if he is to get a contract before January. Al-Ahli are among the clubs monitoring the situation.

There are now very limited options remaining when it comes to high-profile leagues, with the following windows still open: Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Greece, Israel and Serbia.

Three departures

He was not the only player who expressed a wish to move on and Spurs have sold well this summer, raising more than £140m. A key part of that strategy was moving on youngsters without a clear route to the first team.

That saw Dane Scarlett, who has been on loan four times in four years, join Leyton Orient on a permanent deal. Will Lankshear is now top scorer in the Championship after scoring eight times in nine appearances at Middlesbrough. Jamie Donley, who played as a centre-forward at youth level but has since developed into an attacking midfielder, has been sent on another loan to Luton Town.

Marmoush role

Around £145m was spent bolstering the attack with the additions of Savio and Omar Marmoush from Manchester City (a number which includes sizable add-ons of a combined £20m for the pair), and with Mykhailo Mudryk joining on loan with an option to buy. Savio started on the right against Nottingham Forest, with Marmoush as the No 9.

At City the Egyptian’s opportunities were limited by the presence of Erling Haaland, while in Frankfurt he played either as a lone striker, alongside Hugo Ekitike in a two-man attack, or could also be deployed as a No 10 or out wide. Even as a front man he was inclined to drop into a deeper role.

Spurs have been hit by further injuries there. Xavi Simons is still recovering from a torn ACL and James Maddison suffered a shoulder injury in the defeat to Brentford, so Conor Gallagher has been deployed further forward. Sandro Tonali has been the only ever-present in the midfield so far and has had a torrid start after his record £100m transfer from Newcastle.

Fitness and injuries

Dominic Solanke has featured in all four games in all competitions, but his minutes will continue to be managed. Last season, he completed 90 minutes just eight times and was ruled out of 31 games, largely due to an ankle injury that required surgery.

Read more

De Zerbi is also still navigating injuries to Dejan Kulusevski, who has been out for 16 months, Mohammed Kudus, who has been edging back to full fitness, and Wilson Odobert. After the goalless draw with Forest De Zerbi said Mathys Tel “takes too many wrong decisions”