Transfer window: Roma turn to €20m Everton midfielder as Xhaka alternative

AS Roma are looking to ‘take advantage of Everton’s difficult season by signing Andre Gomes in the summer, according to reports.

The Serie A side were not shy in their pursuit of Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka last summer.

They failed to bring the Gunners midfielder to the Italian capital, however, after refusing to pay the Premier League side’s €18m asking price.

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Jose Mourinho remains interested in signing the Swiss playmaker and could go back in for him in the summer transfer window.

However, AS Roma Live (via Sport Witness) claims Gomes is being eyed up as an alternative to Xhaka.

The Portuguese midfielder has only played 17 times across all competitions this campaign after suffering a calf injury in September.

Mourinho is reportedly not keen on French midfielder Jordan Veretout and Gomes, or Xhaka, will likely come in to replace him.

Everton are only one point above the drop zone after losing 3-2 to relegation rivals Burnley on Wednesday night.

Roma could ‘take advantage’ of the Toffees’ difficult season and are preparing to find out how much the Merseyside club want to depart with the 28-year-old.

Gomes is seen as a ‘perfect replacement’ for Veretout, with Everton valuing their Portugal international midfielder at ‘around €20m’.

Meanwhile, Gabby Agbonlahor has told Arsenal to avoid signing Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin as he wouldn’t “suit” their style of play.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with him over the past year but a report this week insisted that the Gunners have ‘cooled’ their interest in the Everton striker.

Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT: “Someone asked me last week on the show, should Arsenal go in for him [Calvert-Lewin] – no!

“He can’t create his own goals, he doesn’t make his own goals. He has to lay it off, then get in the box and then the cross to come in perfect for him to get a goal.

“He’s not going to get the ball into his feet, turn and then score. That’s not him. So, for me, he wouldn’t suit Arsenal.”