Roma are now eying a move to sign Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Anguissa, according to Calciomercato, who Arsenal, Aston Villa and Everton have also tracked this summer.
Giallorossi CEO Tiago Pinto continues to establish a shortlist of alternative options for Jose Mourinho after Arsenal retained Granit Xhaka. Pinto has observed Anguissa as a suitable target, as he believes the Cottagers star would strengthen the Roma engine room.
Pinto also does not expect Anguissa to stay at Fulham after the west London outfit dropped out of the Premier League. And with his contract at Craven Cottage expiring in 2023, Marco Silva will likely sanction the Cameroonian’s exit this summer.
Fulham would demand €25m (£21.5m) to sell Anguissa amid Roma’s potential pursuit and previous Premier League interest in the 25-year-old. The Daily Mail noted in May that Arsenal and Aston Villa were monitoring Anguissa with Fulham set for relegation.
Mikel Arteta admires what the 29-cap international could offer in a midfield pivot alongside Thomas Partey at the Emirates Stadium. But Dean Smith also has eyes on Anguissa, as the Villans look to build on their promising campaign last season.
Everton, too, held an interest in Anguissa in May, but the Mirror noted Carlo Ancelotti was behind the Blues’ bid. The Italian, now in charge at Real Madrid, is a big fan of the Fulham star and felt he would add dynamism and steel to his squad at Goodison Park.
Fulham paid Marseille £30m for Anguissa in 2018, but he left on loan for the 2019/20 season after relegation. He then returned last summer with the Cottagers back in the Premier League, but could again depart within 12-months.
Should Arsenal and Aston Villa rival Mourinho’s Roma for Anguissa?
Xhaka staying at Arsenal could take Arteta’s side out of the Anguissa market, to Aston Villa and Roma’s potential benefit. But the Spaniard may still bid as he had high hopes for the Cameroonian in north London.
Anguissa caught the eye with Fulham last season, despite then-Scott Parker’s side bowing out of the top-flight again. He started 29 of his 36 Premier League appearances and offered three assists from a deep-lying holding role.
He also produced vital tackles in lively performances under Parker, who previously called Anguissa ‘superb’ via West London Sport. The all-action engine room occupant additionally looked a class above his Cottagers teammates on occasion when performing at full stride.
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