Report: After Arsenal held talks, Everton now join race to sign £17m man likened to Benzema

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According to Marca, Everton have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Real Madrid outcast Luka Jovic, who has been likened to Karim Benzema.

What’s the story?

Well, it was a separate report from Marca which claimed that Arsenal were in talks with Real Madrid over a deal for the Serbia international.

Now, Everton have joined the race, having already ‘tested the ground’ in the January window according to the Spanish news outlet.

Real Madrid paid £52.4m for Jovic in 2019, although things haven’t gone too well for him at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 24-year-old has only scored three goals in 49 games for the Spanish giants, and Carlo Ancelotti has seemingly lost patience.

So far this season, Jovic hasn’t started a single game in La Liga, and he looks set for the exit door.

Marca believe Real Madrid are open to his departure, with Jovic now valued at €20m (£17m) following a difficult period in Madrid.

Arsenal or Everton could sign a gem

In our view, Jovic still has plenty of time on his side to turn his career around at the age of just 24.

At Eintracht Frankfurt, the Serbian was one of Europe’s deadliest strikers, scoring 40 goals in 93 appearances.

Of course, Real Madrid is a completely different environment, and the pressure to perform can be tough to handle.

In our view, Jovic has simply struggled to settle, although that doesn’t make him a bad player by any means.

He’s even been described as a better forward than Benzema, as well as Luis Suarez, by his former teammate Omar Mascarell.

As quoted by the Bundesliga, Mascarell said: “I would say he’s like Luis Suarez, but with a lot more quality.”

When Benzema’s name was mentioned, he added: “You can compare them, they hold up the ball well, but I see Jovic as being stronger in the air, he’s very good with his head. He’s practically two-footed, he’s quick, strong. Every ball he gets in the air is a danger for opponents.”

If Arsenal or Everton can sign Jovic on the cheap, and he rediscovers his Eintracht Frankfurt form, it may turn out to be one of the signings of the summer.