Napoli defender Nikola Maksimovic saw a move to Everton collapse because Carlo Ancelotti’s performance at Goodison Park lessened his transfer power at the club.
That’s according to Italian journalist Luca Cerchione, who says a deal had been agreed for the defender to make the move to England.
Maksimovic has been regularly linked with Everton since Ancelotti arrived in December 2019, with his name regularly mentioned throughout the following January transfer window.
No move happened, but he was again linked in the summer transfer window when Everton were on the hunt for a central defender before eventually signing Ben Godfrey from Norwich.
He was again linked last month, with it explained that Everton and West Ham were eyeing up a move as he’ll be a free agent come the summer.
Whether that happens remains to be seen, but according to Cerchione, a move to Merseyside was already done in the past.
“Carlo Ancelotti had promised Nikola Maksimovic a salary of 3.5m per season to follow him to Everton,” he told Area di Rigore, relayed by Area Napoli.
“The defender was supposed to sign a three-year contract.
“The deal also fell through because Ancelotti did not do well in England and now has no power to conduct such market negotiations.”
