Recent reports in Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport have cited Everton with an interest in Napoli’s 24-year-old Mexican winger Hirving Lozano. These reports were also picked up by Liverpool Echo and Inside Futbol, suggesting some validity to these rumours. However, the Toffees would do well to steer clear of signing Lozano from Naples.
Lozano moved to Napoli in the summer window, and thus played under Carlo Ancelotti before the Italian was removed from his post. He has had a very underwhelming start to life in Naples, scoring just twice and registering one assist in 15 Serie A appearances. Despite this record, it is reported that the Toffees are looking at him for a summer move.
Everton have only made one signing this month – 17-year-old centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite has joined from League Two outfit Carlisle United. They have let Turkish forward Cenk Tosun leave for Crystal Palace on loan, but are yet to bring in a replacement. Everton have struggled for goals this season, having scored only 28 goals in 24 games, and definitely need more firepower up front. Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads the scoring charts at Goodison Park with 10 strikes in the league, with Richarlison behind him on eight goals. Everton’s big-money signing in the summer, Moise Kean, has struggled to settle into life on Merseyside and has just one goal so far. Ancelotti and Everton need to recruit a proven goalscorer this month to remedy these issues.
Lozano was a revelation for PSV before leaving for Italy. Between 2017 and 2019, he scored 40 goals and supplied 23 assists in just 79 games, and also came to the fore in Mexico’s World Cup campaign, memorably scoring against Germany. However, as mentioned previously, he has struggled to replicate this form for Napoli, with just three goals and two assists across 22 appearances in all competitions.
Seeing how Lozano has struggled with the step-up to a tougher league, it would be wise for Ancelotti and Everton to resist moving for him, and look for other proven alternatives to strengthen their attack.
