Everton table loan-to-buy bid for Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo in deadline busting deal
Everton have tabled an offer to sign Nicolo Zaniolo on loan with an option to buy in the summer on deadline day, according to Calciomercato.
Zaniolo wants out of Roma after a fall-out with management, with the club now open to offers for his exit.
Leeds and AC Milan are among the interested clubs and Bournemouth saw an offer accepted before the player turned them down, but it’s now been reported that Everton also tabled an offer to bring the Italy international to the Premier League.
“Nicolò has made it clear that he likes the Leeds destination, one of the many proposals presented by agent Vigorelli in these hours as well as those of Leipzig, Everton, Southampton and obviously Milan,” they wrote (31 January).
“However, all with the same formula: a loan with the right of redemption which becomes an obligation on the basis of certain conditions. Roma were inflexible: Zaniolo is only leaving on a permanent basis.”
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Zaniolo would be one heck of a signing, with his talent undeniable considering he scored the winning goal in the Europa Conference League final at the back end of last season.
Since then he has fallen out of favour at the club under Jose Mourinho and the board, and all parties have now agreed that the best option should be an exit this month.
But the player wants to play at a particular level, hence rejecting Bournemouth, although there is no clarity on if he would have accepted the Everton offer.
As it stands he didn’t get the choice because Roma rejected the bid, but there is every chance that we return with a new offer considering the lack of time in the window that remains and the desperation we have to add to our attacking options.
It will be super close and probably is more unlikely than likely to happen, but it’s certainly one for fans to keep an eye on should there be a development.