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Everton eye £11 million River Plate midfielder

By Parth Jhaveri

Argentina's River Plate Uruguayan Nicolas De La Cruz is pictured during the closed-door Copa Libertadores round before the quarterfinals football match against Brazil's Athletico Paranaense at the Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil, on November 24, 2020. (Photo by RODOLFO BUHRER / POOL / AFP) (Photo by RODOLFO BUHRER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Argentina's River Plate Uruguayan Nicolas De La Cruz is pictured during the closed-door Copa Libertadores round before the quarterfinals football match against Brazil's Athletico Paranaense at the Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil, on November 24, 2020. (Photo by RODOLFO BUHRER / POOL / AFP) (Photo by RODOLFO BUHRER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Marcel Brands and Carlo Ancelotti have not been very eager to get transfer business done in the January transfer window. The idea was offload players with no future at Goodison Park, to free up the wage budget and make space for arrivals in the summer. Yannick Bolasie has already left, Cenk Tosun is said to be talking to a number of clubs over a short loan deal, Jonas Lossl is set to leave the Toffees and Jonjoe Kenny remains a target for Burnley.

With so many departures, Everton would like to strengthen the team in summer if not now. There is little to no time left to begin a transfer operation in the winter transfer window, naturally shifting all the focus to the summer.

Everton will now be able to approach soon to be free agents and strike a possible deal. One such free transfer that Everton are possibly considering is of River Plate playmaker Nicolas De La Cruz. According to TEAMtalk, Everton have joined a list of clubs linked to the Uruguayan. The player has been with the Los Millonarios since 2017, playing 96 games while scoring 17 goals and providing 23 assists.

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De La Cruz is one of the most exciting young players emerging from the South American circuit. The quality and promise he brings to the table has left many European sides interested in his services, especially because he’ll be available on a Bosman transfer.

The 23 year old averages 2 key passes, 1.6 dribbles, 41 passes per 90 minutes in the Argentine Superligab (stats via whoscored). Apart from his natural position of an attacking midfielder, De La Cruz can slot into the left midfield role, wide role and even central midfield. So why are River Plate willing to lose such talented player from their ranks on a free transfer?

Reason for Nicolas De La Cruz exit

River Plate are not keen to offer a fresh contract and would instead let him leave as a free agent. Initially, River Plate were close to tying him down to a new deal but the Uruguayan put forward his demand of clearing the debt owed to his previous club Liverpool Montevideo, where he rose through the ranks and signed his first professional contract.

Los Millonarios owe $1 million for De La Cruz’s image rights and the player won’t accept a new deal until the money is paid to his former club. The Argentine outfit are in little mood to pay that money which means that the 23 year old is likely to leave in the summer for free. Everton and Manchester City are keen on De La Cruz but more and more teams will get fond of him as we slowly inch closer to the summer.

Next. Everton predicted lineup vs Newcastle. dark

Which European club will snap up Nicolas De La Cruz?

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