In a recent report, Gazzetta dello Sport has claimed that Everton are locked in a three-way battle for Lazio playmaker Luis Alberto. It is understood that the Toffees could face fierce competition from Inter Milan and Juventus in pursuit of the Spanish midfield ace. The ex-Liverpool player recently vented his frustrations on social media over the Italian club buying a plane but not paying the salaries of the players which has not gone down well and has put his long-term future at Rome in doubt (via Gazzetta dello Sport).
Alberto’s Solid Season At The The Stadio Olimpico So Far
Alberto has made a bright start to this campaign as he has been responsible for producing a string of influential displays as a box to box midfielder in Simone Inzaghi’s squad. The 28-year-old has participated in eight matches for Lazio this term, scoring one goal and picking up three assists in all competitions.
The San Jose del Valle-born talent has managed to give a good account of himself at both ends of the field based on his average of 1.6 tackles, 1.0 interceptions, 2.0 shots, 2.5 key passes, 1.0 crosses and 1.6 dribbles per game in the Serie A and the UEFA Champions League. He has also distributed possession relatively well after completing 79.8% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
What Are The Spanish Midfielder’s Best Attributes?
Alberto is a deceptively quick playmaker who can complete some penetrative dribbles from midfield. He is not afraid to get stuck in with some well-timed tackles that allow him to earn possession back for his side at the centre of the park.
The one-time Spanish international has got the vision to play a killer pass in the attacking third and can contribute by scoring some important goals from midfield as well. He possesses a wide passing range and is an excellent crosser of the ball, so Carlo Ancelotti will do well to lure him away from Rome when the transfer reopens in January or at the end of this campaign.
Is Alberto The Right Choice For The Toffees?
The way Alberto has been playing over the past 18 months, he deserves to make a big move back to England, where he initially struggled to prove his worth during his time at Liverpool. He is already quite familiar with the city and would be a good fit for Ancelotti’s style of play at Goodison Park.
The Toffees need a capable back-up for the likes of Andre Gomes, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure as both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Tom Davies has flattered to deceive with their performances of late. At the same time, Fabian Delph has been far too injury-prone during his spell at Merseyside.
With all things considered, it makes sense for the Toffees to orchestrate a move for Alberto in the future as he will be a great choice for them in the short-term. At 28, the Spaniard has still got a few years left in his locker to play at top gear which Ancelotti can look to benefit from in the coming seasons.
