According to a recent report by Calciomercato, Everton are eager to acquire the services of Lorenzo Pellegrini from AS Roma. The same source has also revealed that the Italian midfielder wants to pen a new lucrative contract, but Roma are unwilling to match his wage demand which has put his long-term future in doubt at the Stadio Olimpico. However, the Toffees will face stiff competition from Inter Milan in pursuit of the Serie A playmaker (via Calciomercato).
Pellegrini’s Splendid Season In Italian Football
Pellegrini has managed to improve his productivity going forward after putting in some memorable performances under Paulo Fonseca’s stewardship this season. He has registered three goals and 11 assists in 24 matches for the Italian outfit this term on all fronts which goes to highlight his growing influence in the Roma starting XI.
The 23-year-old had averaged 2.7 shots, 2.9 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Italian top-flight (stats via whoscored) before the season came to a standstill because of the coronavirus pandemic. Defensively, Pellegrini has made an average of 1.1 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 0.6 clearances per game in league football which proves that he is capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch (stats via whoscored).
The Roma-born talent has also represented the Italian national side in 12 international matches and has netted one goal for his country in the process. He has the ceiling to become one of the best players in his position someday so a change of scenery this summer would be a welcome move for Pellegrini at this stage of his playing career.
What Will The 12-Time Italy International Add To Ancelotti’s Side?
Pellegrini is a moderately-paced playmaker who shows excellent ball-control that enables him to make some dangerous runs with the ball from midfield. He is a very accurate ball-distributor as evidenced from his pass success rate of 81.2% in the Serie A this season (stats via whoscored). He also has the vision to pick out a defence-splitting pass in the attacking third of the pitch which explains how he has broken into double figures with his assists tally this term.
The addition of a midfielder of Pellegrini’s skillset will undeniably add some much-needed creativity to Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield at Goodison Park. The likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Gomes, Tom Davies and Fabian Delph have all struggled to create enough goal-scoring opportunities in the final third this season, so the Toffees are in dire need of a proven playmaker similar to the qualities that Pellegrini can offer on the field. Therefore, Ancelotti should consider making a move for the Italian midfield ace when the transfer window reopens later this summer.
Pellegrini’s creativity, coupled with goal-threat from long-range, make him a great fit for the Merseyside club. However, with Inter also in the mix to land him this summer, Ancelotti would hope that a guaranteed first-team spot would be enough leverage to lure the player to the blue half of Merseyside. The Italy international will also make other players around him better so we can expect to see Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin bang in even more goals at the Goodison next season.
