The Saudis considered Richarlison as a second option after failing to land Mohamed Salah.

Brazil's top striker Richarlison has been linked with a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League. Photo: Getty Images/Rob Newell

Tottenham striker Richarlison was the subject of late interest from Al Ittihad on Saudi Pro League deadline day after they failed to land Mohamed Salah.

< p>The Saudi Arabian club, which had a £150 million bid for Salah, was rejected by Liverpool a week before the deadline. When it became clear they would have to wait for their No. 1 target, they looked at alternatives, with Richarlison seen as an option as time ran out.

After negotiations through intermediaries, a deal for the Brazilian striker, who started against Bolivia in the qualifier World Cup over the weekend, expired and was not implemented by the 10pm deadline on Thursday.

But the interest in Richarlison is further evidence of Saudi Professional League clubs' desire to attract the world's biggest names to the Middle East. The 26-year-old played for Brazil at the World Cup and is their main striker.

He has started three of four Premier League games at Spurs this season and has been kept on the pitch small blow. on the bench before the international break as Burnley suffered a 5-2 defeat.

He scored three goals in his first season in north London last season, but he fared better in Brazil, scoring three goals at the World Cup, including an impressive scissor strike against Serbia. His move from Everton cost Spurs £60m and he has four years left on his contract with his current club.

He was substituted off against Bolivia this weekend after missing a chance and was pictured on the bench in tears.

Al Ittihad are likely to replace Salah again after missing the Egyptian striker last week. He has made no public comments about Saudi Arabia's interest in him since it emerged that he was being targeted by a Saudi Pro League club. Liverpool were confident the 31-year-old was not for sale and kept their word.

Salah's team-mates Jordan Henderson and Fabinho moved to Saudi Arabia on transfers, with Roberto Firmino heading there as a free agent after his contract at Anfield expired. Richarlison's Brazil teammate Neymar also moved to Saudi Arabia, to Al-Hilal.