Everton are battling Inter Milan to sign Italy international Gianluca Mancini from Serie A giants Roma, as reported by Leggo.
On paper at least Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey are fine defenders capable of forming a rock-solid understanding at the heart of Carlo Ancelotti’s back line.
But none of that quartet will reflect on the past week of action with any degree of fondness.
The usually reliable Keane and Mina were breached four times in the topsy-turvy FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur before Holgate endured a nightmare evening in the shock 2-0 home defeat to relegation-threatened Fulham.
So reports linking Mancini with the Merseyside giants have emerged at an intriguing time.
The 6ft 4in Italian is an uncompromising, tough-tackling, man-marking powerhouse of a defender. Mancini was at his brutal best as Roma thumped Udinese 3-0 at the weekend and a faultless defensive display will only increase his standing at home and abroad.
Leggo claims Everton will face competition from Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan for the former Atalanta youngster, who moved to the Stadio Olimpico in a deal worth up to £20 million.
Interestingly, Everton were first linked with Mancini in January 2019, when Marco Silva was still in charge (The Mirror).
Does this suggest the Tuscan-born defender is a target for Marcel Brands rather than Ancelotti?
Either way, the former Napoli, Milan and Juventus boss will certainly know all about a man developing into one of Italy’s finest centre-backs.
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