Joaquin Correa in action for Serie A side, SS Lazio. (imago Images)
According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (h/t The Sun), Tottenham Hotspur transfer target, Joaquin Correa, could cost around £40m. Apart from the Lilywhites, the Lazio forward is eyed by Spurs’ London rivals, Arsenal, as well as Everton. PSG’s interest in the Argentine forward, however, has cooled recently.
Correa started out his career in his native country, Argentina, at Estudiantes. Sampdoria gave him his first break in Europe during the January transfer window in 2015, before selling him to Sevilla in the summer of 2016. Two years later, he joined his current club, where he continues to impress. But is he a player that is necessary for Nuno Espirito Santo at Tottenham Hotspur?
Gone are the days of Spurs having strikers like Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente as backups for Harry Kane. The Englishman had Carlos Vinicius as his understudy last season, but the Brazilian striker was a loan signing and is back at SL Benfica this summer. That raises some concern for their new boss, Nuno Espirito Santo.
On paper, the club does not have a backup for Harry Kane in the form of a true centre-forward. Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura often played down the middle under Jose Mourinho, but their services are mostly required on the wings. Even if the South Korean deputizes for Kane, the club would still need a quality replacement for Son on the left flank.
Troy Parrott and Dane Scarlett, the two teenage academy strikers at Hotspur Way, are too inexperienced as of now to be thrown straight into the Spurs starting XI. Spurs need someone to compete for starts up front or offer quality back up to their 27-year-old talisman. And that is something they would have in Joaquin Correa.
Correa has largely played down the middle of Lazio’s attacking line and has shown that he can play as a centre-forward. But the main aspect of why the Argentine would be useful for Santo is his immense versatility. Correa can play as a number 10 to offer competition to the likes of Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso.
But most importantly, he can ply his trade on either flank. That could potentially offer quality backup for Son while also filling in the void left by the departing Gareth Bale. The Welsh winger arrived on loan from Real Madrid last summer. After a slow start, he was a regular fixture in Spurs’ team towards the end of last season.
With him gone, Spurs would feel a gap down that side. They do have Steven Bergwijn and Bryan Gil, who according to The Athletic (Subscription Required) arrived at Spurs in a cash plus player deal that will see Erik Lamela head the other way.
But the Spaniard, at 20, is still very young and can use some time to ease into the squad. This is where Correa’s addition would add an extra layer of safety to their squad depth. Moreover, one of their versatile forwards, Lucas Moura, could even end up leaving N17 during the summer.
According to The Athletic (Subscription Required) earlier this month, the Brazilian winger has been told to find a new club with the forward potentially up for sale if a decent offer comes in. Amid so much uncertainty regarding their forward line, splashing the cash of Correa, who is still just 26 years old, makes sense for the former Wolves boss as a way of giving his team an added edge next season.
