Roberto De Zerbi has said Richarlison’s future at Tottenham remains uncertain.

The Brazil forward struck a late winner for Spurs in their 2-1 pre-season friendly victory over Chelsea.

However, with only one year remaining on the 29-year-old’s contract, he could leave for nothing next summer.

De Zerbi is also looking to bring in more attacking additions before the transfer window closes, but the Tottenham manager has backed Richarlison to play an important role if he remains at the club.

Speaking about the forward’s future, De Zerbi said: “I don’t know, because I like him as a player, as a guy, it’s unbelievable the attitude and behaviour, but at the end we have to respect what he wants to do.”

“And we know, every one of us knows what he wants to do, but for me he’s still an important player, because it’s not so easy to find another striker like Richarlison, because Richarlison scores goals and he knows the way.

“The new striker, we don’t know. The other striker, we don’t know. He scored 12 goals last season, not through luck, because he feels the way to score.”

Asked again whether Richarlison actually wants to leave, De Zerbi said: “I don’t know, I didn’t understand well, because sometimes he said to stay, sometimes he leaves. We have to speak anyway, there is not any problem, he’s a lovely guy.

“All of us love him, the team-mates, the club, the staff, because he works hard every day, seriously every day.”