Rumor: Spurs, Everton interested in LAFC’s Diego Rossi

We’ve been waiting for a big LAFC player sale for some time now, and while that means a key player will depart, it’s possible one of the most promising stars could be going to a much bigger stage soon.

Diego Rossi is linked to both Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, with the Premier League clubs “locked in a battle” to secure the Uruguayan, according to Talksport this week. The Telegraph also reported the same rumor.

Rossi is in his fourth season with LAFC, coming off his best campaign in 2020 when he won the MLS Golden Boot and was voted the Best Young Player in MLS. Now 23, he speaks English, he seems like he’s on the cusp of making his senior Uruguay debut whenever an attacker ahead of him on the depth chart is unavailable or retires, and he really seems like he’s ready for a bigger step in his career.

The English outlets are reporting the move would be in the range of £10 million, which is a little over $14 million. It’s unclear if Rossi is out of contract with LAFC at the end of this year or if his contract extends beyond that, which makes a difference in terms of his valuation.

Is there any truth to this rumor? That remains to be seen, of course. The British press have a history of inventing rumors out of wholecloth, and while I’m not saying that’s what’s happening here, I would urge skepticism until we start hearing some corroboration from reputable sources stateside.

It’s also worth wondering if Rossi would qualify for a British work permit at this point. If he becomes a senior Uruguay international, that’s like a golden ticket and he would essentially get it no questions asked. Beyond that, the rules have changed post-Brexit, and while there has been talk that South American players can more easily get work permits in England than before, it’s unclear how many of those benefits would go to Rossi, who’s been playing outside South America for the last several years. The short answer is: We don’t know if he would be able to get a work permit or not.

A request for comment from LAFC on this rumor by Angels on Parade was not returned as of publication.

So, this is definitely a wait and see rumor at this point. I think if Rossi got a move to the Premier League and played, it would be a huge success for him and LAFC. Will that happen? We need a lot more smoke before we start calling this one truly worth following.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.