Everton and Leicester City are reportedly preparing an offer worth €25 million for Lazio’s Argentine forward Joaquin Correa in the ongoing transfer window.
According to a report from Italian publication Il Messaggero, Everton and Leicester City are ready to firm up their interest in Lazio forward Joaquin Correa by making an opening offer of €25 million plus bonuses for the Argentine.
Correa came through the ranks at Estudiantes and made the jump to Italy in January 2015, signing for Sampdoria. After an eighteen-month spell, the versatile attacker left for Sevilla, where he enjoyed a decent two-year stint before joining Lazio in 2018.
Since returning to Serie A, Correa has been a steady performer, forming a solid partnership with Ciro Immobile for Lazio. The 26-year-old has made 117 appearances for the Italian capital club, bagging 30 goals and setting up 28 more. While he has largely been used as an auxiliary striker in Rome, the Argentine can play anywhere across the frontline or even as an attacking midfielder.
Following the arrival of new manager Maurizio Sarri, Correa, who was part of Argentina’s Copa America winning squad earlier this summer, has been made available for transfer. And there has been no shortage of suitors for the attacker, with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham being linked not long ago, while Everton and Leicester are also keen on him.
Everton have already strengthened their attacking unit with the signings of Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray, which offset the departures of Theo Walcott and Bernard. However, star man Richarlison continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid, while the lack of a quality backup for Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also a concern that new manager Rafael Benitez needs to address at the earliest.
In Correa, the Toffees would find a player who can fill in on the wings or double up as a striker when needed, thus improving the squad dynamics for Benitez to work with. However, they will have to stave off competition from fellow Premier League club Leicester City in order to land the Copa America winner.
Like Everton, Leicester have also strengthened their attack this summer by signing Patson Daka, who will support Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho up top. However, when it comes to the wide areas, Brendan Rodgers does not boast of many options, with Harvey Barnes and Marc Albrighton the only natural options at his disposal.
And, while Correa has been playing off of Immobile at Lazio, the 26-year-old is also capable of slotting in the wide areas while his ability to operate in the No. 10 position could also come in handy for the Foxes amidst uncertainty surrounding the future of star playmaker James Maddison.
And, as per the report, both Everton and Leicester are now preparing an offer worth €25 million plus bonuses for Correa, who still has three years left on his contract with Lazio. It remains to be seen if the Premier League clubs submit such an offer and whether it is deemed acceptable by the Italians.
