The Napoli striker has scored the majority of his 2016/17 tally in the last two games – Everton are surely watching.
Signing a striker in January is possibly the most difficult deal in football. Fees are inflated, clubs are unwilling to sell and the market is, for the most part, populated with cast-offs and teams desperately attempting to recoup hefty fees for short-sighted signings.
Therefore, Manolo Gabbiadini appears the archetypal winter window arrival. Failing to convince at Napoli since arriving from Sampdoria two years ago, the Italian international’s below-par scoring record and inability to fit into coach Maurizio Sarri’s preferred 4-3-3 formation means his departure has appeared a formality for some time.
However, in typical January fashion, his monstrous price tag hardly matches up to the fact that he has been, for want of a better phrase, an underperforming reject.
According to The Mirror, Southampton and Wolfsburg are interested in meeting his £17 million valuation but it is the repeated links with Everton that catch the eye. The same publication claims that the Toffees have scouted Gabbiadini on a number of occasions as their over-reliance upon Romelu Lukaku persists.
However, although Gabbiadini’s tally of three goals in seven Serie A appearances this season will hardly elicit too much excitement, the versatile striker appears to be hitting his stride at the perfect time.
Coming off the bench to inspire Napoli’s comeback win against Sampdoria, Gabbiadini has scored in successive Serie A games for the first time in 22 months.
It will take more than that to justify a huge price tag but his handy knack for making a difference late on could come in very useful at an Everton side lacking in any semblance of forward depth.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
