Arsenal, Tottenham step up interest in Argentina forward starring in Italy
Arsenal and Tottenham have reportedly stepped up their interest in signing Lazio attacker Joaquin Correa this summer.
Corriere Dello Sport claims that the north London duo are ready to bid for the Argentina star after both Everton and PSG cooled their interest in signing him. Both Arsenal and Spurs are looking to strengthen up front, with the Gunners still looking for a suitor for Alexandre Lacazette, while Harry Kane wants out of Tottenham.
Correa certainly caught the eye last season when he notched eight goals and added three assists in Serie A.
Mikel Arteta is looking at the 26-year-old after growing frustrated at the inconsistency of Nicolas Pepe and Willian last term.
Spurs, meanwhile, have been overly reliant on Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. To that end, Correa is considered an upgrade on the likes of Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn, as per the report in Corriere.
The former Sevilla star has scored 30 goals in 117 appearances for Lazio in all competitions. He cost €16million when he swapped Seville for the Italian capital in 2018.
Correa has also won eight caps for Argentina, scoring twice. He was part of their Copa America-winning squad this summer, making three appearances in the competition.
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Arsenal tipped to surprise many next season
Meanwhile, Danny Murphy believes that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will “surprise” people next season.
Arteta could only guide the Gunners into eighth place last season in his first full season in charge.
It’s the second season the club have finished two places outside of the top six, although hopes had been raised last summer after he guided the Gunners to an FA Cup final triumph.
Arsenal failed to gather any momentum last term and finished six points outside the top six. That was a huge 25 points behind champions Manchester City.
However, without Europa League football next season Arteta’s men could benefit.
The Spaniard is also looking to move shrewdly in the transfer market with Ben White understood to be their next focus.
Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga from Benfica and Anderlecht respectively have already swelled the ranks at The Emirates. That apparently is enough to make former Liverpool and Fulham star Murphy think that Arsenal could be a force again.
“I’ve got a feeling and I don’t know where it’s come from,” Murphy told talkSPORT. “I think with no European football and it looks like they’re having a go in the market, I think Arsenal might surprise a few.
“Although they’ve got a tough start, I think some of their young players – Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, for example, are tremendous.
“If [Thomas] Partey stays fit, we’ve seen glimpses of his ability. It could rest on [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang], he’s only had the one bad season.
“I think Arsenal might just surprise a few people but we’ve been wrong before about them.”
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