Possibility Everton’s name was used to up price, as transfer collapses

 

At the end of last week, Everton were heavily dragged into the Manolo Gabbiadini transfer saga. The Napoli forward has been linked repeatedly with an exit since before the last winter transfer window, and the Everton links were probably inevitable at some stage.

The player’s agent was said to be heading to England to try and build a deal for the player, with Italian claims of Everton being prepared to pay between €25m and €30m for Gabbiadini.

Fiorentina were strongly interested too, with Napoli also wanting the Viola’s Nikola Kalinic.

At the time we pondered: ‘It’s understandable if Everton are interested, but they may well be caught in a Fiorentina and Napoli domestic, and hopefully the situation will become clearer on Friday.’

It didn’t become much clearer on Friday, other than the claims spreading and evolving slightly. But Monday has brought some kind of update.

Radio Kiss Kiss may have a strange name but it’s the official radio station covering Napoli news. Tutto Napoli explain that the radio station has said Gabbiadini is now not for sale, after a swap deal with Kalinic failed.

The problem is both clubs valued their players differently. That would fit in with the scenario of Everton’s name being used to up the perceived value of Gabbiadini.