Reported Everton and Manchester City target Nicolas De La Cruz has an £18 million release clause in his River Plate contract, as reported by TYC Sports.
When City show an interest in a talented South American, it doesn’t always mean the player in question is fighting for a place in Pep Guardiola’s star-studded team.
Nahuel Bustos, Yan Couto, Diego Rosa and Yangel Herrera have all been snapped up by the so-called ‘City Footall Group’ in recent transfer windows.
But none of them have made a first-team appearance for the runaway Premier League leaders, being farmed out on loan instead to one of City’s many sister clubs.
It remains to be seen whether that fate would befall De La Cruz.
At 23, however, the Uruguay international is a proven, first-team star rather than a budding youngster with just a handful of first-team appearances under his belt.
In fact, De La Cruz has been one of the most influential forwards in Argentine football for a while, winning four trophies so far and producing 11 goals and ten assists during a stand-out 2020/21 campaign.
Rather than head out to Girona or New York, could the adaptable attacking midfielder compete with Phil Foden, Kevin de Bruyne and co for a place in Manchester City’s forward line? Maybe so.
Marca recently reported De La Cruz is also a target for an Everton side that, in the absence of the mercurial James Rodriguez, has frequently struggled to open up deep-lying defences this season.
You would think a man who hit double figures for goals and assists last year would go some way to solving that particular problem.
And, according to TYC, River Plate will be powerless to prevent De La Cruz’s departure if Everton or Man City trigger the £18 million release clause in his contract.
“The Premier League is one of the leagues that seduces me the most,” admitted the 5ft 6in schemer, via Telam.
“European football, for me, would be a very big leap. In the June transfer window, we will listen to offers.”
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