Everton wanted the Serie A pair, according to their agent.
Quoted by Sport Witness, the agent of Serie A strikers Nikola Kalinic and Manolo Gabbiadini has revealed that Everton tried to sign the duo during the summer.
The uncertainty surrounding Romelu Lukaku’s future at Goodison Park forced Everton to explore possible replacements for the towering Belgian striker, who ended up staying on Merseyside despite the speculation.
The Toffees were linked with Kalinic and Gabbiadini, but their agent, Vincenzo Morabito, has explained that the former was not allowed to leave Fiorentina – despite an “interesting offer” being submitted.
Morabito went on to claim that Everton looked at the Napoli hitman instead, but Stadio San Paolo side refused to sell as a result of struggling to identify a viable replacement.
“Initially, Everton showed interest in Fiorentina’s Kalinic, putting Pantaleo Corvino in great difficulty, but could not do the operation because of the will of Sousa who would not allow the player to leave,” he said via Sport Witness.
“Then, Everton went on for Manolo Gabbiadini, with Napoli panicking to find a replacement. The Neapolitans have tried for Kalinic, but Fiorentina rightly fired up. Everton offered an interesting figure for Kalinic.”
Everton did not sign an established centre-forward in the summer, with 18-year-old Bassala Sambou – a Bosman from Bristol City – the only striker recruited.
And it could cost the Toffees this season. God forbid Lukaku should endure a lengthy injury at some stage of the campaign. Should that happen, it is truly puzzling to consider where the goals are going to come from.
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