Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to battle it out with Premier League rivals Everton for the signing of Lazio’s Argentine forward Joaquin Correa.
According to a report from Calciomercato.it, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are among the clubs interested in making a swoop for Lazio and Argentina attacker Joaquin Correa this summer.
Correa has been with Lazio since 2018, having arrived from La Liga side Sevilla. It is the 26-year-old’s second stint in Italy after he spent eighteen months with Sampdoria prior to his move to Spain. During his time with the Italian capital outfit, he has featured 117 times in all competitions, scoring 30 goals and setting up 18 more.
A versatile forward who can play across multiple positions in the final third but has largely been used as an auxiliary forward playing off of Ciro Immobile with Lazio, Correa finds himself staring at the exit doors this summer following the arrival of Maurizio Sarri. The Italian tactician has already revealed that the 26-year-old wants to leave the club in the current transfer window, sparking plenty of interest.
Indeed, Tottenham are one of the clubs that have been heavily linked with a move for the Argentine forward this summer. The Lilywhites are in need of bolstering their attack amid question marks surrounding the future of superstar Harry Kane. Even if the England captain stays put, the Lilywhites do not have a proper backup for him in the centre-forward role.
So, even though Bryan Gil is set to arrive imminently and Son Heung-min has signed a new long-term contract, it becomes imperative that Tottenham sign a player who can play centrally and cover for Kane, making Correa a viable target for them. However, the Londoners will now have to face competition from Premier League rivals in pursuit of the Argentina star.
The Toffees, under the new management of Rafael Benitez, are staring at the prospect of losing one of their key men in Richarlison, who is a transfer target for Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. With Bernard also staring at an uncertain future and the departure of Joshua King, adding depth in attack becomes imperative for the Toffees as they look to push for European places this term.
The signings of Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend have been completed, but more quality would be needed, making Correa an option worth looking at for Everton. Apart from Tottenham and Everton, Paris Saint-Germain also interested in the 26-year-old while Inter Milan have also emerged as a suitor, with ex-Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi now at the helm of affairs for the Nerazzurri.
Lazio, for their part, are willing to sell Correa for a fee of €35 million. It now remains to be seen if either Everton or Tottenham are willing to stump up that figure or decide to target alternatives instead.
