One of the most underrated stars in the European game is SS Lazio striker Joaquin Correa.
The 26-year-old has shone in the Italian capital for the past three seasons, but his light has been overshadowed by the mammoth names Ciro Immobile, Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
A frustrated figure in Rome / Silvia Lore / Getty Images
And it’s time for Correa to make a decision, and that decision is to leave Lazio. The Argentine has made it clear that he does not intend to play for Aquile next season, and is ready to throw his transfer fishing rod and ask for a piece.
Although he was previously expected to join Paris Saint-Germain, this particular move has been placed on ice, and he is now grazing some bait in the deep, rich seas of the English Premier League.
Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are all considering moving for Correa and believe he could be the answer to any creative problems they may face. But what kind of players would they get in the Copa America winner?
For three teams that are all desperate to lift cutlery for their suffering followers, it is imperative to have someone in their ranks who can boast of that experience.
Correa have done so in a team that probably has less quality than at least two of the above-mentioned trio of English clubs, after playing and scoring in Lazio’s 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the 2019 Coppa Italia final.
He killed the game with a brilliant maze and cool finish, something he also demonstrated in the Super Cup final, just to exclude this particular gem.
And it is without mentioning that he was part of Argentina’s Copa America winning side this summer. The man is a happy charm.
When it comes to what he delivers on the pitch, Correa is extremely technically gifted. The forward plays just outside the main game and takes up space both in front of and behind his partner, which gives the opposition’s defenders a lot to think about.
He is a real living thread and enjoys the opportunity to dimension his marker and point beyond him with a shimmy and a nice footwork. His dribbling ability is astonishing, which Merih Demiral found out earlier in the season.
For a moment he looked quickly for Correa, and the next time he was gone. A step-over and a drop in the shoulder was enough to give one of the most talked about defenses in Serie A. Scary stuff.
Correa is a consistent artist for Lazio / Insidefoto / Getty Images
Correa has really made its mark in Serie A in recent seasons and has started to put up decent numbers for the Eagles. In fact, statistics show that he is only getting better.
He contributed 16 goals in all competitions in the 2018/19 campaign, 15 the year after (although he had 11 times fewer in his second campaign) and 17 last season.
He has learned how to influence games more effectively during his three years with Lazio and becomes a more well-rounded and clinical forward. The boy is a talent.
A team player / Insidefoto / Getty Images
There’s a reason you’ve heard far less about Correa than any of Lazio’s other attacking superstars. This is because he provides the perfect foil for them and helps them flourish to the maximum.
His trick and ability to drive with the ball or dart through challenges means that teams often double on him as he pushes out to the side and pulls players out of position or away from the real threat.
Immobile has drawn countless times from his teammate’s mere presence and reputation for disrupting defense, and any club with a fantastic striker (Harry Kane) would benefit greatly from his selfless attitude.
Correa is incredibly versatile / Marco Rosi – SS Lazio / Getty Images
it is difficult to dove an exact role for Correa, and that is because he performs seamlessly in a number of positions.
The Lazio star can play as a supportive striker, a deep forward, a false nine or a winger on either flank, and that flexibility allows any coach to tip with the formation in the game and give opponents something to think about.
With Correa at the side, you can easily start with him as a lone striker, as part of the front two or even a dynamic, attacking front three. He gives new dimensions to the team.
