Aston Villa are ready to rival Everton and Leicester City in the race to sign Joaquin Correa, identified as the ideal replacement for Jack Grealish.
According to Il Messaggero, Everton and Leicester City are set to face fresh competition from Aston Villa in the pursuit of Joaquin Correa. The Lazio attacker is expected to leave the club in the summer, with his representatives working day and night to find him a move away from Rome.
Everton were among the favourites to secure the services of Correa. But the Argentine international has recently emerged as a target for Aston Villa, who are desperate to replace Jack Grealish, following his move to Manchester City. The Villans even have the cash to meet Lazio’s €30 million-plus demands for the attacker.
Formerly of Sevilla, Correa has also been linked with a move to Arsenal. The north London giants, in fact, have reportedly submitted a €20 million offer recently, though that may not be enough to appease Lazio. The capital club from Italy are holding out for €30 million, which makes sense given the success the player has had since joining the club in 2018.
In just three years, the Argentine has mustered 117 competitive appearances, scoring 30 goals. His versatility in front of goal, coupled with his aggression, have now made him an appealing target for the Premier League clubs.
Everton, in particular, have targeted him as a potential alternative for Richarlison. There is no doubt that the Brazilian’s future at Goodison Park is not secure amid links surrounding Real Madrid’s interest. Rafa Benitez, therefore, is keen on adding some fresh faces in the attacking department.
Leicester City’s interest in Correa stems from the lack of options out in the wide areas. Indeed, Brendan Rodgers does not have any natural wingers in the squad barring Harvey Barnes and Marc Albrighton. Thus, a move for someone like the Lazio forward would make sense given his versatile nature.
As for Aston Villa, they are courting the Lazio star out of sheer necessity. The recent departure of Grealish has left a massive void in the attacking unit for Dean Smith, who is determined to fill the gap.
The club has done well to secure the services of Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey. The further addition of Correa should definitely make them a strong contender for the top seven finish in the Premier League next season, though it will be interesting to see how they fare without star man Grealish.