According to Friday’s print edition of A Bola (via Sport Witness), Everton have launched an enquiry over FC Porto winger Jesus Corona’s availability during the summer transfer window. The same source has also stated that the Toffees will face stiff competition from West Ham United, Valencia, Schalke, Sevilla, Inter Milan and AS Roma in pursuit of the Mexican wide player. However, it is believed that Porto are not willing to sell him for anything less than €50m due to their recent financial struggles (via Sport Witness).
Corona’s Majestic Form In Portuguese Football
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic season at the Estádio do Dragão after putting in a series of eye-catching displays on the right side of Sérgio Conceição’s midfield. He has been a joy to watch in the Liga NOS and his creativity in the final third has made him a favourite among the Porto supporters. Corona has featured in 41 matches for the Portuguese giants this term, scoring two goals and providing 17 assists in all competitions which highlight his growing influence in Conceição’s first XI.
The Monterrey youth product has not been afraid to do his defensive work down the right flank as evidenced by his average 1.3 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 0.9 clearances per game in the Liga NOS and the UEFA Europa League this season. More importantly, he has averaged 0.7 shots, 1.7 key passes and 2.6 dribbles in every 90 minutes of Portuguese top-flight and Europa League football so far (stats via whoscored). His impressive stats has enhanced his reputation across Europe as it proves that he can make a significant impact at both ends of the pitch.
Corona has earned 42 senior caps for the Mexican national side and has netted seven goals for his homeland in the process. He has previously won the Gold Cup with Mexico back in 2015 and will continue to play a crucial role for Gerardo Martino’s side in the coming years.
What Will The Mexican International Bring To Goodison Park?
Corona is highly versatile as he can play as a winger on both flanks or operate in a more reserved role down the right side of the midfield as a full-back or a wing-back. As mentioned earlier, he can influence the game at both ends of the field, which make him a complete wide player. The Mexican can read the game well that allows him to make some crucial interceptions for his side at the back. He can also clear the danger when required and excels at using his blistering pace to make driving runs with the ball out on the wide areas.
What makes him such a potent threat going forward is his ability to create some clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities for others around him which explains how he has bagged 17 assists this season. However, Corona needs to add a few more goals to his game if he wants to be a household name in English football.
Will Corona Be A Good Fit For The Toffees?
Carlo Ancelotti can benefit from adding the Porto star to his squad as he ticks all the right boxes in terms of what’s required at Goodison Park in the off-season. The Toffees have often lacked natural width down the flanks, and so Corona will be a welcome acquisition for them heading into the new campaign. The likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi and Bernard have all struggled to put in a consistent run of performances out on the wide positions. Therefore, the Mexican attacker will be a significant upgrade over any of them as he has the proven track record to orchestrate scoring chances regularly at the highest level.
However, the jury is still out on whether Corona will be able to cope with the physicality and high intensity of Premier League football if he decides to seal a move to England. Either way, he will be an excellent fit for the Merseyside club as the pros outweigh the cons of signing him when the transfer window reopens later this summer.
