Newcastle, Everton and West Ham were all reportedly keen on AS Roma striker Gregoire Defrel.
AS Roma striker Gregoire Defrel has been linked with a move to four Premier League side this week including Newcastle United, but Sky Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims he is set to join Sampdoria this summer.
Di Marzio credited Newcastle with an interest in the 27-year-old French striker on Wednesday, after Corriere Dello Sport claimed that Everton, West Ham United and Crystal Palace were also interested in the former Sassuolo and Parma striker.
However, it seems the Roma ace is set to remain in italy, after a disappointing campaign that sees Roma keen to offload the striker as soon as signing him.
Roma were forced to complete a £17.8million deal for Defrel this summer, after agreeing a season-long loan with an obligation to buy this time last year. A year on, Roma have been forced to land him permanently, despite scoring once in 20 games.
Defrel has been made to wait for first-team game time, considered third choice with Edin Dzeko and Patrick Schick ahead of him in the pecking order. In his 20 outings, Defrel started just seven times and failed to complete 90 minutes once.
Nevertheless, Newcastle, Everton, West Ham and Palace were all said to be keen following Defrel’s excellent spell with Sassuolo but they are set to miss out. Di Marzio now claims Defrel is “arriving soon” at Sampdoria.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
