Report: Mourinho deals Benitez blow in bid to replace unwanted £27m Everton man

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Jose Mourinho has dealt Rafa Benitez a blow in his bid to replace Everton defender Yerry Mina with Clement Lenglet after Roma tabled an offer to Barcelona, according to Sport.

Lenglet is wanted across Europe by clubs looking to capitalise on Barcelona’s financial crisis. And while the Camp Nou outfit are not desperate to part with the Frenchman, they are open to any offer that would help reduce a gargantuan wage bill.

Lenglet set Barcelona back €36m (£31m) in 2018 after joining from Sevilla on a five-year, £101,000-per-week contract. The La Liga giants would now demand €25m (£21.5m) to sell, although the centre-back’s preference is to stay in Catalunya.

Yet Roma are one of the teams to have opened discussions with Barcelona over a potential deal for Lenglet. Mourinho’s Serie A side have been speaking with the Catalan outfit for a few weeks now, after Ronald Koeman’s club requested Lorenzo Pellegrini in part-exchange.

The Giallorossi immediately rejected sending Pellegrini to Spain, but remain interested in Lenglet and have offered Barcelona €15m (£13m). It is not enough to strike a deal right now, however talks continue to find more suitable middle ground.

Roma’s pursuit of Lenglet could prove problematic for Benitez, who wants the Barcelona man to replace Mina at Everton. That’s according to Sport, who recently reported the Colombian’s Toffees career is as good as over under his new manager.

Roma deal Benitez blow with bid for Everton target Lenglet

Roma bidding for Lenglet and holding talks with Barcelona over several weeks will be a blow to Benitez’s Everton pursuit. The Spaniard clearly admires what the Frenchman can offer as an upgrade on Mina – a player the Blues signed from Barcelona for £27m in 2018.

But Roma are taking the initiative to capitalise on the Camp Nou natives’ crisis to try and drive a bargain. Moving early could also see them edge interest from Everton and West Ham, who AS report want him as well.

Yet Everton remain in the race for Lenglet with Roma’s offer some way shy of Barcelona’s asking price. Sport add he wants to test himself in the Premier League if his future is away from the Camp Nou. So, while Mourinho’s dealt Benitez a blow, the race is not over.