Lecce name price as Everton eye January transfer for midfielder Joan Gonzalez
Lecce are reportedly looking forward to doing a deal as Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are keen on signing their midfielder Joan Gonzalez.
According to Italian media outlet Gazzetta [13 December], Barcelona already regret losing him on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.
The Serie A side know about the interest in the 20-year-old and are prepared to do a deal in the region of £13million.
Tad steep
Everton roped in an array of midfielders in the summer and are unlikely to spend relatively big money on someone who’s not going to be a first-team regular.
While Gonzalez does play week in and week out for Lecce, he’s not used to playing in a league as fast and physical as the Premier League.
With all due respect to Lecce, he’ll be facing a tougher battle whenever he moves to a bigger club as the competition for places there will be intense.
The Toffees already have good enough midfielders on the bench and James Garner is still waiting to establish himself as a first-team regular.
He was also signed for slightly more than what Lecce want for the Spaniard and there are other positions that need to be strengthened first before they can add to their midfield depth.
Gonzalez would make a lot more sense for Spurs and West Ham and we’re hoping that the Toffees do not get involved in a transfer saga that they should nowhere be near.
Instead, they must think of spending this money on centre-backs with both Yerry Mina and Michael Keane likely to leave.