If reports are to be believed, Everton have now joined the race with other clubs like West Bromwich Albion and Torino to land Serie A striker Diego Falcinelli. The 25-year-old has been quite impressive for Crotone playing a significant role in a campaign where the side escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth.
Everton are believed to be in desperate search for a striker after Ronald Koeman had to rely solely on Romelu Lukaku last season. Fortunately, the Belgian didn’t stumble upon any injuries whatsoever, and the Toffees finished the season at the seventh position. However, next season is bound to be different and with Lukaku most likely moving away from Goodison Park this summer, Koeman would need immediate replacements.
The only other striker, who showed some vitality in front of the goal other than Lukaku was West Ham United loanee Enner Valencia. Both of them would be gone before the next season as the Toffees face a more hectic schedule owing to their Europa League involvement, and Koeman would definitely need more than one quality forward to fill the void.
The Merseyside club has already seen themselves linked with the likes of Malaga CF’s Sandro Ramirez, Lazio’s Keita Balde and even Arsenal’s outgoing striker Lucas Perez, which only indicates Koeman’s intention to have multiple options available at his disposal. Falcinelli, among them, could be the real deal with a cheaper price tag.
The Sassuolo striker was sent on loan to Crotone last summer. And he hasn’t been very disappointing either garnering 13 goals and three assists in 40 appearances for the lower table side. A centre-forward by nature, Falcinelli can play on either of the flanks. His versatility could be a huge advantage for Koeman too, who has often been seen playing Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas centrally as well as from wide areas.
An academy product of Pontevecchio Giovanili, Inter Milan’s Under -19 side had given him a try for a year in 2008. The loan stint didn’t go well and Pontevecchio Giovanili had to sell him to Sassuolo in 2010. Since then, he has mostly been a loan player for the Italian club spending time with the likes of Città di Foligno 1928, SS Juve Stabia, SS Virtus Lanciano, AC Perugia Calcio and at last Crotone.
However, it was last season that the striker got a breakthrough in Italy’s top-flight football. Mostly being a Serie B player, international football has mostly evaded him so far, until his eye-catching displays earned him a national cap last month. And now with the World Cup coming up, Falcinelli would be desperate to prove himself next season.
