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Everton have been dealt a huge blow in the club’s rumoured chase of AS Roma defender Gianluca Mancini, who has performed at a higher level than Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly this season.

What’s the word?

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Roma hierarchy have declared that Mancini is ‘untouchable’ in the summer transfer window and will block any attempts to sign the 24-year-old.

Mancini is aware of Roma’s position regarding his immediate future and will look to use the club’s stance as leverage in discussions over a new deal.

The centre-back’s agent Giuseppe Riso is due to meet with Roma in the coming weeks to discuss a new contract, as Mancini has become one of the most important parts of Paulo Fonseca’s plans.

Mancini is currently tied down at the Stadio Olimpico through to the summer of 2024 on a €2m-a-season (£33k-a-week) deal, and has started 25 of a possible 28 Serie A fixtures this term.

His efforts have attracted widespread interest, including from Everton, who Calciomercato claimed are big admirers of the Italy international earlier this month.

Premier League rivals Chelsea, as well as Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich and Serie A giants Juventus and Inter Milan, were also listed as potential destinations, but any side wishing to sign Mancini were claimed to face a €39m (£33.5m) asking price, with Roma valuing the former Atalanta star at €10-15m (£8.5-13m) more than they paid the Gewiss Stadium natives in September.

A huge blow for Everton?

Roma allegedly declaring that Mancini is unavailable for a move in the off-season will come as a huge blow for Everton, as the four-cap centre-back has been performing at a higher standard in the Serie A this season than Napoli’s Koulibaly.

Reports have suggested that Koulibaly is Carlo Ancelotti’s top defensive target for the next transfer window and that Blues owner Farhad Moshiri is prepared to back a pursuit of the Senegalese star.

That chase is likely to come at around €50m (£43m) with Napoli lowering their asking price, but paying more to sign Koulibaly may actually see Everton acquire a lesser option than Mancini.

While Mancini has opened all 25 of his Italian top-flight appearances this season, Koulibaly has started 19 of his 20 and registered lesser numbers for his defensive contributions to date.

Per WhoScored data, Mancini eclipses Koulibaly for average number of successful tackles made per Serie A game this term with 1.6 to 1.2, as well as for interceptions (2.1 to 1), opponents caught offside (1 to 0.7) and clearances (2 to 1.9).

The pair are evenly matched for times dribbled past per game at 0.5, and when on the ball with both registering an 89% pass success rate, with Koulibaly’s only distinct advantage being in fouls committed with one per game to Mancini’s two.

Mancini, though, is working on improving his discipline as he looks to round off the edges to his game that are not yet polished. Also, with age on his side, the Roma star may have been the better option for Everton to target.

“I have to improve on so many areas, such as not getting so many yellow cards and reading the game better. I do feel that I have become a better defender over the last year, also because I am accumulating experience,” he told Sky Sport Italia earlier this month, via quotes by Football-Italia.

AND in other news, Farhad Moshiri is set to back Everton as Carlo Ancelotti eyes a 29-y/o he described as “the best” in the world…

Crystal Palace could well be concerned with summer approaching and a large number of current players set to depart the club.

As many as 16 first-team stars could find themselves released at the end of the campaign with their contracts continuing to come to an end.

One player who the Eagles will certainly not care for departing is striker Connor Wickham.

Only 27 years of age, the former Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland striker has endured a woeful time at Selhurst Park since his arrival for a reported fee of £9m in 2015.

There was hope that he could have replicated his Black Cats form, but no such displays have materialised with Wickham having netted just eight Premier League goals for the club in 41 appearances in the competition.

It all means that each goal has cost Steve Parish and the Eagles over £1m.

Even a temporary loan spell at former employers Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship could not reignite his goalscoring touch, netting just twice in 13 appearances.

In fairness to Wickham, he has simply not been unable to find any form at all due to a number of persistent injury problems. Throughout his Palace career, he has missed a shocking 150 matches that he would otherwise have been eligible for due to a long list of problems.

That misfortune has really hampered his Palace career, and he seems highly unlikely to rectify that.

Initially left out of the Eagles’ Premier League squad at the beginning of the campaign, he has only just started making his return to the bench. Now with only a limited handful of games left for him to make an impression, he surely has to turn in some brilliant performances if he is to earn another deal.

However, considering the huge outlay for his signature and his poor return, as well as the fact that the club are still paying him approximately £60k per week, Parish will not include Wickham on the list of players he is desperate to keep at Selhurst Park and will instead look forward to the end of the now £900k-rated striker’s contract.

AND in more news, take a look at which Palace star can feel the benefit of Christian Benteke’s departure…

Turkish giants Fenerbahce have reportedly held positive talks with Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke.

That’s according to Turkish outlet Takvim, which, as to be expected, has had plenty of Eagles fans talking on social media.

Benteke, who is 11 appearances shy of reaching 150 for Palace, is out of contract at the end of the season.

The 30-year-old has featured regularly for Roy Hodgson during the current campaign, though, making 26 appearances in all competitions.

The Belgian is thought to be on a whopping £120,000-a-week in London, and it seems as if he could be making the move to Turkey in the summer on a free transfer.

Benteke has also been linked with Galatasaray, but it seems as if Fenerbahce are looking to pip their rivals to a deal.

Palace fans react

@cpfc_xtra shared Takvim’s report on Twitter on Tuesday evening, with the post receiving plenty of interaction from supporters.

These Palace fans were all desperate for Benteke to remain at the club…

“No no no”

Credit: @s_cpfc

“No I want him to stay”

Credit: @Jamseyandrew

“Please don’t go”

Credit: @Callum_CPFC_

“Stay away from him”

Credit: @BMCPFC

“NOO”

Credit: @AaronCu36671808

“Stop it”

Credit: @RoccoSeipel

In other news: Many CPFC fans react as managerial news emerges, find out more here. 

Several Crystal Palace supporters have been reacting to an injury update regarding Nathan Ferguson on social media.

Palace signed the defender last summer on a free transfer from West Brom, but the 20-year-old is yet to feature for the Eagles under Roy Hodgson. He has been absent through knee and thigh issues, and it appears as if he has suffered a fresh injury during the recent international break.

Hodgson revealed on Friday that Ferguson had suffered the setback while training with the club’s under-23 side. The centre-back is now recovering from the latest knock, with the manager waiting to see when he is given the green light for the youngster to return to training.

Palace fans react

Journalist Sam Smith shared the injury update regarding Ferguson on social media late on Friday evening which, as to be expected, received plenty of attention.

Here is what some Palace fans had to say in reply, with one describing the news as ‘troubling’ for the Eagles.

“I’m getting worried now”

Credit: @Sumo08112

“Seems ludicrous signing him in the first place tbh.”

Credit: @Johnnylev23

“This really bad, sad and troubling news. Feel for NF. Hope we’ve not got another Jack Hunt on our hands.”

Credit: @typicalpalace

“can just tell we’re never going to see him in a Palace shirt”

Credit: @DanHuff23

“Surely not another Wickham!!!”

Credit: @RICHPM14

“Get rid!”

Credit: @MattYoung82

In other news: Many CPFC fans react to Zaha transfer update, find out more here. 

Dean Windass has exclusively told Football FanCast that David De Gea’s days at Manchester United are numbered.

The Spaniard was regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world at one stage in his career, but his form has dipped over the previous few seasons, which has cost him his place on the international stage.

Despite mistakes cropping up, £375,000-a-week man De Gea has continued to remain as United’s first-choice goalkeeper, although his position at Old Trafford is currently under serious threat for the first time in his United career from youngster Dean Henderson.

De Gea has started all-but seven of Manchester United’s Premier League games this season, missing the Palace, City and West Ham games due to personal reasons, but returned to the squad for the wins over Brighton and Manchester United, although former Sheffield United loanee Henderson kept his place.

The experienced-shotstopper has more than two years remaining on his Old Trafford deal, but to couple with reports suggesting that he’s been offered to the likes of Real Madrid this summer, Windass expects him to leave the Red Devils.

“His time is up. It’s been on the lips for ages now. I don’t think De Gea is the answer, I agree with Roy Keane, he makes too many mistakes. He’s been a quality goalkeeper, but sometimes you get rid of the deadwood, and he’s like the deadwood.

“Henderson has done well, course he has, and I think De Gea’s days are over. He’s still linked with Real Madrid, and if De Gea wants to go, then I’d be happy to watch Henderson in goal.”

In recent comments, FIFA agent Massimo Grillo has claimed that the Leeds United manager, Marcelo Bielsa, would be a great fit for Serie A side, Napoli.

Having guided Leeds to the Championship title last season, Bielsa’s side have highly impressed in the Premier League so far this term, with the Whites currently sitting in 10th place in the top-flight standings while playing extremely entertaining football – having scored 49 goals, one less than fifth-placed Chelsea, while also having conceded 49 goals, seven more than 18th-placed Fulham.

As a result of his team’s style of football, Bielsa has received a great amount of praise for the job he has done at Elland Road, with the Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, recently stating his belief that the Argentine’s side are a joy for world football, as well as the 65-year-old continually receiving plaudits from the club’s own fanbase.

However, speaking recently to Per Sempre Napoli (via Sport Witness), Grillo suggested that Bielsa’s style would be a perfect fit for Napoli, who are expected to be looking for a new manager at the end of the season.

He said: “I am a great admirer of Bielsa, currently on the Leeds bench he is a coach who has a very spectacular game system. I would see him really well on the blue bench, I am convinced that he would show captivating football.”

Transfer Tavern Take

With Bielsa’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, and, at present, there being no agreement reached with Leeds regarding an extension, the Argentine leaving Leeds this summer does remain a possibility – something which would devastate his adoring fans at Elland Road.

However, with it being reported that the 65-year-old is close to signing a new two-year deal with the Whites, the possibility of his departure is hopefully, for the sake of Whites fans, extremely slim.

Unfortunately for Grillo, we suspect he may have to wait a little while longer to see Bielsa in Naples.

In other news: £26k-p/w Leeds star attracting significant summer interest; £14.6m fee quoted – find out more here!

Reports by Marca over the weekend claimed that Real Madrid plan to offer Luka Jovic out to potential suitors for a summer sale, and David Moyes should see that West Ham United are in the mix for the Serbian’s signature.

The Irons had shown an interest in Jovic’s availability for the winter market as they lined up possible replacements for Sebastien Haller, with Defensa Central noting in November that he could increase the quality available.

The London Stadium natives were again linked the day after Haller sealed a £20m move to AFC Ajax, with Caught Offside reporting that West Ham had approached Real Madrid to sound out their chances of acquiring Jovic.

West Ham ultimately failed to seal a deal for the 23-year-old Los Blancos spent £52.5m to sign in 2019, and he would instead secure a return to Eintracht Frankfurt to see out the rest of the season under the coach in Adi Hutter he scored 27 goals in 48 games in 2018/19.

Jovic had failed to make the grade in the Spanish capital during his 19-months under Zinedine Zidane with just two goals in 32 games, but has already achieved double that tally in 14 appearances back with Die Adler.

He is now expected to be made available for a permanent move away from the Santiago Bernabeu once the £18m-rated forward returns to Madrid, as Los Blancos make efforts to raise funds for necessary summer reinforcements.

The La Liga giants are refusing to rest on their laurels despite a 35th Spanish top-flight title and 14th Champions League crown still being achievable, and will need to make room for players like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland to arrive.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-west-ham-news%2c-views-and-gossip” title=”Latest West Ham news, views and gossip!”]

Real Madrid are expected to clear space both physically and financially by parting with a number of options in Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Isco, Alvaro Odriozola, Mariano Diaz and Jovic, while Sergio Ramos and Lucas Vazquez are out of contract at the end of the season.

If Jovic does prove to be available for a move away from Spain this summer, Moyes should urge West Ham to revive their interest given his continued need for attacking depth after opting against replacing Haller in the winter market.

Jovic is a widely lauded forward despite his struggles in Madrid and is considered to be “just unbelievable” by Eintracht Frankfurt teammate Filip Kostic, with whom he combined for five of his 17 Bundesliga goals in 2018/19 for the joint-best partnership in the division.

He may not have yet rediscovered the same prolific touch in front of the net that saw him become a Galactico, but Jovic’s instant impact back in Germany with a brace on his second debut against FC Schalke 04 offered the foundations for him to help Frankfurt claim 30 of a possible 42 points – only Bayern Munich (35) have taken more since January 16.

Eintracht Sporting Director Fredi Bobic also acknowledges that Jovic was re-signed when not 100 per cent match fit, but Hutter still believes “he is on the right track” and is satisfied with his overall contributions to the team.

Moyes now playing on Jovic’s uncertain future at Real Madrid to add depth to West Ham’s attack could see the Irons boss add a player who is still young and on the way back to his best, then, and one even likened to Sergio Aguero by AS Monaco boss Niko Kovac for “his technique and instinct”.

AND in other news, a £4.5m-rated West Ham enforcer is being lined up for a summer move out of east London…

In an exclusive interview with The Transfer Tavern, Daniel Pinder, Editor-in-Chief at Get German Football News, has claimed that Southampton will have to pay upwards of £20 million if they want to sign Martin Hinteregger this summer.

Southampton were linked with the centre back last summer and rumours have increased lately with Jannik Vestergaard linked with a move away to Tottenham Hotspur, which could potentially allow the Saints to reignite their interest in Hinteregger.

The 28-year old has been a mainstay in an Eintracht Frankfurt side that are currently in a position to qualify for the Champions League, ahead of teams such as Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Spaking on how much Martin Hinteregger would cost Southampton and why he will likely cost that much, Pinder told The Transfer Tavern:

“Well he’s 28-years old now so he’s just entering his prime, and he’s got a contract until 2024 so I would say you’re looking at a fee upwards of £20 million.”

Frankfurt’s Director of Football, Fredi Bobic, is leaving the club at the end of the season which could cause an exodus of their top players to leave.

If they qualify for the Champions League though, that can convince their top players such as Hinteregger and Andre Silva to stay at the club amidst interest across Europe.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie is convinced Jesse Lingard would choose West Ham over his old side if it were a choice between the two.

This comes after Football Insider reported that Villa are interested in signing the 28-year-old attacking midfielder following his impressive loan spell in east London.

Lingard has been in red-hot form since joining West Ham from Manchester United back in January, already hitting double figures for goal involvements.

It is no wonder that Villa have now seemingly joined the race to sign the England international.

Hendrie, however, is not giving his former club much of a chance given how settled Lingard looks at the London Stadium.

When asked by TT whether the Villans had a shot at signing Lingard, he said:

“I’d be very surprised if he turned his back on them [West Ham] to be honest. Playing for Manchester United, he’s won trophies, he’s been involved in big international games and he’s a big player.

“So I think if he had to choose out of the two, I’d be certain it’d be West Ham just for the season he’s had and the boxes he ticks for them.”

With West Ham also likely to feature in Europe next season, and possibly even in the Champions League, it is easy to see why the Hammers would be in the driving seat to sign Lingard permanently.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee has claimed that there are very few players that can do what Tomas Soucek does for West Ham.

Soucek was initially signed on loan in January 2020 and West Ham had an option to buy the midfielder, which they snapped up as soon as possible because of how much a difference the midfielder had made during their relegation battle.

During his time at West Ham, Soucek has averaged a 7.34 WhoScored rating, with his standout performances leading to teams such as Bayern Munich reportedly being interested in the Czech Republic international.

Speaking on what it is that makes Soucek different from other midfielders and how he does it so well, Lee said exclusively to FFC:

“He does what a lot of midfielders don’t do anymore and that’s getting in the box because he just wants to get goals and there aren’t many midfielders these days that want to do that.

“He’s got a great engine on him, he tackles and he’s a big lad. He’s a goal-scoring midfielder and they’re very difficult to come across these days.”

Soucek has proved a crucial cog in David Moyes’ side this season having featured in every league game, with the only time being spent off the pitch was when he got sent off against Fulham.

West Ham are currently looking into offering Soucek a new contract despite only signing last summer, as a way to fend off potential interest in the £67,308 per week midfielder.