Osman praises Richarlison for forcing his way into Spurs side since move

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Leon Osman has told the Premier League YouTube channel that no one could see how Richarlison was going to force his way into the Tottenham Hotspur side when he arrived in the summer, but is now one of four players Antonio Conte could pick at any time.

Richarlison made the switch to Spurs after a superb campaign with Everton. No single player did more to keep the Toffees in the Premier League last season.

Of course, finding competition for Harry Kane has been a problem for Spurs for years. But Richarlison was also facing a battle with the likes of Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski.

Richarlison proves doubters wrong at Tottenham

Son won the golden boot last season. Meanwhile, Kulusevski has been an absolutely inspired signing. Unsurprisingly, Richarlison was forced to bide his time following his switch.

But he has made nine starts in all competitions for Tottenham. And Osman suggested that the Brazilian deserves real credit for disrupting the status quo at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“I think he’s a very good player. I’m not surprised Tottenham signed him in the summer,” he told the Premier League YouTube channel.

“He’s been frustrated with a couple of injuries. But you think about him going in to the Spurs team, no one could see how he would get in that top three. No one could understand who he was going to force out, whose position he was going to take.

“But his performances, his enthusiasm, his hunger to never give up – we compare him to Jesus in that manner – they’re a front four now and interchangeable and adaptable. And he could pick any of the front four at any moment.”

Striker returning to Spurs with boost to his confidence

It should be noted that Richarlison has benefitted from Son struggling for form and Kulusevski being absent for a lengthy period due to injury. But he has made the most of his chance.

And he looks set to return from the World Cup with a huge boost to his confidence. He has led the line superbly for Brazil, with Selecao now gearing up for a quarter-final with Croatia.

As Osman hints, Conte probably cannot feel that he has a clear first-choice lineup in attack. Obviously, Harry Kane is one of the first names on the team sheet.

It is clear what Son and Kulusevski bring to the side. But Richarlison has made a really positive impact since his move.