Why Mauro Icardi 'protest' elsewhere hands Everton transfer boost in 'complex' developments
Mauro Icardi could be on the verge of making a decision on his next club after interest from Everton.
The Toffees have assessed the free agent market following the failure to capture Folarin Balogun on deadline day.
David Moyes will surely have been disappointed after he was left with one striker once the window finished, with Beto leaving to join Fiorentina.
Icardi is one name that has been linked with a move to Hill Dickinson since, following the expiration of his contract with Galatasaray.
The Argentine scored 16 times for the Turkish giants in all competitions last campaign, and could be competition for Thierno Barry.
Though he's been in talks with Lazio, the latest update may only hand Everton a timely boost to land him on a free transfer.
Why Lazio update only benefits Everton for Mauro Icardi
They had already sent a proposal to ex-Manchester United forward and free agent Anthony Martial, but the Frenchman will not be joining.
Icardi has been in talks with Lazio in recent days, but there are still many complications for a potential move to the Serie A club.
According to a report from Il Messaggero, Icardi has been pushing to join Lazio, and no offer as significant has yet to arrive for the Argentine.
Talks are ongoing, but are far from done, and there's no certainty that an agreement will be reached.
He is set for face-to-face talks with sporting director Angelo Fabiani on Tuesday, but the Lazio figure is not said to be overly keen on the move.
There has been a "protest" from Lazio fans over the move, which has now become "complex" with doubts coming from the management team.
That said, Everton could swoop in to offer him somewhere where fans would welcome him with open arms.
Why Everton have no-brainer Icardi move
It's clear that Everton had money to spend on Balogun, so paying the wages of a free agent is a worthy gamble.
If Barry gets injured before the January window, it could derail the Blues' season, and Moyes would be left asking why a free agent was not signed as cover.
Everton could even try to secure Icardi on an initial short-term deal until the winter, where they could reassess an extension depending on his form.
Either way, a move to Lazio is not done yet, which gives Everton a no-brainer decision to move in on the centre-forward.