Why Everton should plot a summer swoop for the reliable Andrea Belotti
As per Tuttosport (h/t Liverpool Echo), Everton are among several clubs interested in signing Italian forward Andrea Belotti.
Belotti, 26, came through the ranks of AlbinoLeffe’s youth system and moved to SSD Palermo in September 2012. After making 64 appearances for the then-second division club, he was signed by Torino in the summer of 2015.
In his first season in Serie A, the Italian scored 12 goals and followed it up by scoring 26 goals in the next season. He burst onto the big scene in his second season with Torino and since then, he has never looked back as he went on to make his debut for Italy in September 2016.
He has been a regular member of the squad and has consistently plundered goals for the Italian outfit in the last four campaigns. His performances have also seen him become the first-choice striker in the national team.
Meanwhile, Everton lost just once in 11 league games before they faced defeat at the hands of Arsenal. Since then, they have failed to muster a win and are currently 12th in the league standings. Their inconsistency in recent weeks has overshadowed the upturn in their form.
They were humiliated by Chelsea last weekend and Carlo Ancelotti should look to avoid this next season. One of the reasons for their inconsistency is the lack of depth and quality in the attacking unit, especially in the centre-forward role.
Englishman Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been in tremendous form this season, scoring 13 goals but has not been supported well by the backup options. Cenk Tosun scored just one goal for them before leaving for Crystal Palace on loan and Moise Kean hasn’t really clicked in the Premier League despite getting enough chances.
Therefore, to add depth and quality to the attacking unit, the manager should go for an established striker in the summer and Torino’s Andrea Belotti would be a suitable choice.
The 26-year-old has already plundered 15 goals across all competitions this season and has been the lone leader in the front line for Torino. He is a proven goalscorer, which is evident from the 85 goals he has scored in 179 games for the club.
Belotti is an out-and-out striker, which can be helpful for the team. He can be made to partner the young Englishman, allowing Richarlison to play in his favoured left-wing position. And this combination could prove to be lethal as both Calvert-Lewin and Belotti come with a guarantee of goals.
Read more
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Verdict
Ever since Romelu Lukaku departed in 2017, the Toffees have struggled to find a reliable striker. With Calvert-Lewin coming to the fore, it would be good if Belotti is added to the squad too, as it would help in building a successful partnership. The Italian is capable of being a game-changer and could be successful if he continues with the same form.
Hence, Everton should look to add firepower to their attacking system by making a move for the 26-year-old Italian in the summer.
