West Ham United target Joaquin Correa in line for cut-price Inter exit
West Ham target Joaquin Correa is now “expendable” at Inter and could be available for a reduced price this summer, Gazetta dello Sport reports.
The Hammers were interested in the Argentine last summer before he left Lazio for the then-Italian champions, but after struggling in Milan he looks set to move on again.
They are trying to make space at San Siro to sign free agent Paulo Dybala, having already re-signed Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea.
Correa, 27, is one of the two options who could yet still be shifted to clear room for his compatriot, with veteran striker Edin Dzeko the other.
Gazetta report that he could be let go for as little as €22.5million [£19million] as the Nerazzurri try to avoid making a loss on him, and his salary is said to be very affordable.
As well as interest from La Liga in the form of Sevilla, Valencia and Betis, as well as a previous approach from Marseille in Ligue 1, the report notes that Leeds have become a key suitor as they seek to bring in help to replace Barcelona-bound Raphinha.
On offer
While the report notes that his current club will only let him go if they receive a satisfactory offer it looks like what is considered satisfactory is now very reasonable for a Premier League club.
David Moyes has been chasing after Jesse Lingard for so long now he could be minded to move onto an alternative, and with wage demands seem as a stumbling block with the Englishman it appears to be the exact opposite situation here with Gazetta claiming Correa earns less than €1.5million.
That would surely more than make up for the fact that a fee is required, albeit a reduced one, so if the manager considers the Argentina international an option then there looks to be no better time to get him than now.
Although his first season after leaving the Italian capital was not seen as a strong one by his standards, he still scored six times in Serie A.
While striker is surely the priority for the club right now, the troublesome pursuits of Lingard and Villareal’s Arnaut Danjuma show Moyes also wants more attacking options around the front man.
Correa can play wide or in attacking midfield, and with Said Benrahma potentially leaving West Ham this summer this is a deal that works from a financial standpoint.
On paper the value for money seems clear, so it will depend on how suitable the club feels he is for the Premier League, but should other chases drag on and some money come in from a sale or two this would appear to make a fair amount of sense.