What The Papers Say - 26 March

The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.

Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy reckons Everton are firmly in the chase of Napoli’s towering Senegal international centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.

Koulibaly, 28, is in his sixth season at the Stadio San Paolo where he was managed by Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti for 18 months until December last year.

Formerly with Metz and Genk, Koulibaly is one of the most highly-regarded defenders in the game and as such said to have a host of illustrious suitors.

Koulibaly isn’t the only Napoli star being touted for a potential reunion with Ancelotti in the Italian press.

The Serie A club’s midfielder Allan is apparently in Ancelotti’s crosshairs, with the Blues “preparing an official offer” for the Brazil international, according to reports.

The Independent claims Everton have been “left in limbo” over the Club’s move for Lille centre-half Gabriel Magalhaes, who will “bide his time” before making a decision on his future following the postponement of football across Europe.

Brazilian Magalhaes was on the cusp of agreeing a transfer to Goodison Park, according to the paper, until the coronavirus pandemic shrouded the football calendar in uncertainty.

A defender currently on Everton’s books in Matthew Pennington would be “open” to completing a permanent transfer to Hull City this summer, according to the Hull Daily Mail.

Pennington, 25, joined the Championship side on a season-long loan last summer and has played 11 times for Grant McCann’s team.

The Liverpool Echo mentions a tweet posed yesterday by former Everton striker Gary Lineker.

Match of the Day presenter Lineker went on social media to praise the “wonderful” Howard’s Way film, which tells the story of Everton’s rise to the pinnacle of domestic and, in the eyes of many respected pundits, European football in the mid-1980s.

“Such a bunch of brilliant and fantastic people and characters, superbly managed by Howard Kendall,” wrote Lineker.

“So glad I played with most of them. So glad I played for Everton, even if it was just a season. Best team I ever played for.”

The Echo also looks at proposed designs for Everton’s new Bramley-Moore Dock home.

Changing rooms in the stadium, says the paper, will be “inspired by those at Wembley”.

It is also claimed the Club intends to incorporate additional changing facilities to enable them “to bid to host multi-team friendly games or competitions in the future, which will act as another revenue stream to come from the £500m new ground”.

Back in Gazzetta dello Sport it is suggested Everton will aim to recruit Davide Frattesi, the Italy Under-21 international midfielder on loan at Empoli from Sassuolo.

Frattesi is also interesting home city club Roma and champions Juventus, says the paper.