Newcastle United have become the latest club to join the race to sign Argentine attacker Joaquin Correa, who Inter Milan are looking to sell this summer.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Newcastle United are exploring the possibility of signing a new forward. And Inter Milan’s versatile forward Joaquin Correa has emerged as a potential target for the Magpies in the summer transfer window.
Formerly of Sampdoria and Sevilla, the 27-year-old was considered one of the finest attackers in Serie A when he arrived at Inter on an initial one-year loan with an obligation to buy from Lazio last summer. And his stellar output for Le Aquile backed the hype around him at the time with 48 goal contributions from 117 outings across his three seasons at Stadio Olimpico.
However, despite his move being made permanent, Correa has failed to live up to initial expectations and has not been able to translate his form for Lazio to consistent performance at San Siro, where he quickly became surplus to requirements after a lacklustre loan spell.
The Argentine international managed just six goals and two assists during an injury-hit season. He made 36 appearances for the Nerazzurri but most were from the bench, with only 12 league starts, missing much of the winter due to two hamstring problems.
While the player has made it clear that he prefers to stay at the club and fight for a starting spot, Inter’s pursuit of Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala may force Correa to leave if the Nerazzurri find an appropriate suitor.
Despite Correa’s underperformance this past season, there seems to be no shortage of suitors for his signature. Marseille head coach Jorge Sampaoli is very keen on signing the Argentine international. Now, Newcastle United have jumped on the bandwagon of potential suitors for the 27-year-old.
The Magpies have already started what is likely to be a hectic summer, as their new owners want to build a team capable of building on last season’s foundations. Newcastle have made bolstering their offensive department a priority this summer, with Hugo Ekitike their top target.
While they have already reached an agreement for the striking prodigy, the 19-year-old is likely to be one for the future. And Newcastle can make do by signing someone of Correa’s versatility and skills, and he will be a shrewd addition if they manage to get him on loan with a purchase option.
Correa has many strengths; standing at 6ft 2in, he is adept at holding onto the ball, but is best known for his flair, trickery and dribbling ability. The 27-year-old’s combination of ball control, strength, and size make him a nightmare for defenders to defend against.
Then comes his versatility; the Argentine international is primarily a supporting striker or attacking midfielder, but he can also operate from the left-wing if needed. It will be interesting to see whether Newcastle’s interest in Correa intensifies in the coming days if the Ekitike deal stalls once again.
