Gabbiadini move on as agent flies in for talks?

Lyndon Lloyd | Thursday, 25 August 2016

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Everton's reported interest in Manolo Gabbiadini could have some substance if a claims made in Italy are correct.

While the link hasn't gained much traction in the more reputable outlets in the British media, the likes of Gazetta dello Sport have been reporting this past week that the Blues have lodged a bid for the Napoli striker, suggested by Sky Sport Italia's Mario Giunta as being €22m.

Now, Mediaset Premium say that his representative has flown to England to discuss the proposed move.

Gabbiadini hasn't yet been unable to hold down a starting role at Napoli, particularly since the arrival of Arkadiusz Milik and given the competition from Dries Mertens.

He was the subject of an offer from Fiorentina to swap Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic, himself linked with Everton last week, but that appears to have fallen by the wayside.

Gabbiadini, a left-footed striker credited with pace among his key attributes, has scored 19 goals for Napoli since joining from Sampdoria but that strike rate came from just 20 starts out of 56 total appearances.

He scored nine goals in 32 starts in 2013-14 for Sampdoria and then registered seven goals in 13 games in his final half-season for them before he transferred to Stadio San Paolo. He has six caps for Italy had a goal rate of one every two matches for his country's U21s.

Assuming this report is true, Everton have moved on to the 24-year-old after being pipped to Spanish striker Lucas Perez by Arsenal.