River Plate midfielder Nicolás de la Cruz has admitted he will listen to offers this summer amid interest from Everton.
Cruz was set to leave the Argentine club on a free transfer this summer with his contract due to expire but recently renewed his deal at the club until December 2022.
That, on paper at least, should have brought an end to any speculation about his future, but that has not been the case, with the 23-year-old continuing to be linked with a move away.
Several English sides have been linked with the young Uruguayan in the past, but the latest to be named as suitors were Everton at the end of January.
That claim, from MARCA, stated that Everton, as well as several other European clubs, ‘intend’ to make a move for De la Cruz if he was available on a free transfer.
That has now become impossible with his new deal, but he’s left the door open for a move, revealing he will be sitting down to see what’s on offer.
“We said that in the June transfer period, we were going to hear about many offers that, although they had arrived in the past, it was an atypical year due to the pandemic where European clubs lost a lot of money,” he told Sport 890, relayed by ESPN.
“So from June, we will listen to offers, but also, with the peace of mind that there is a contract until December 2022.
ESPN also added the player made it clear that while he knew a move to Europe would be ‘a big step’, he also had a ‘great’ Premier League dream.
De la Cruz added: “Today, I am happy and calm in River, and although I am looking to the future and I would like to make the leap to European football, I focus on River, in the competition that we started.
“This tournament is very important, and then the Libertadores comes and I want to continue with a regular performance that allows me to continue to be in the sights of the national team.”
