According to a recent report by Ole, Everton are eyeing a move for Nicolás De La Cruz from River Plate this summer. The same source has also stated that the Toffees are considering triggering his €22m release clause but could face competition from an undisclosed German side in pursuit of the Uruguayan attacker in this off-season.
De La Cruz’s Rapid Emergence In South American Football
The 22-year-old came through the youth ranks of Uruguayan club, Liverpool FC before joining River Plate back in 2017. He has enjoyed an impressive season in South American football after putting in a series of eye-catching performances as part of Marcelo Gallardo’s attack.
The Montevideo-born talent has featured in 18 matches for the Argentine giants this term, netting four goals and providing six assists in all competitions which proves just how productive he can be in the final third. He has primarily been used as an attacking midfielder but is also versatile enough to play on the flanks as a wide player if required.
De La Cruz has also represented Uruguay at various youth levels. He is currently a crucial member of his country’s Under-20 team, having registered five goals in 26 appearances for them thus far. Maybe a summer switch to the Premier League could offer him the platform to showcase his skills at the highest level which might help him earn a place in the Uruguayan squad for next year’s Copa America after the competition got delayed as a result of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
What Will The Uruguayan Youngster Add To Carlo Ancelotti’s Side?
De La Cruz can use his speed and agility to cause all sorts of problems for the opposition defenders. He has the vision to pick out a killer pass in the final third and can also score his fair share of goals from midfield. The South American sensation is usually quite tidy with his ball-distribution. However, he needs to work on improving his finishing if he wants to break into the world-class bracket someday.
Recruiting a playmaker of De La Cruz’s skillset will undeniably be a decent move for the Toffees as they have often lacked creativity from their midfielders this season. The likes of Fabian Delph, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Gomes and Bernard have all struggled to find consistency with their performances at Merseyside. Therefore, Ancelotti needs to add more quality to his squad if he intends to compete with the Premier League’s big spenders in the years to come.
At 22, De La Cruz is only going to get better with each season as he has his peak years ahead of him. Hence, the Toffees should strongly consider bringing him to Goodison Park before the start of the new season. He will not only add more goals and creativity to Ancelotti’s attack but also increase competition for places within his squad. Plus, the Uruguayan whizkid will offer the Everton boss the freedom to be more flexible with his formations, tactics and team selections next season.
