Report: Everton ready to offer £22.5 million for Serie A star

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Everton are reportedly preparing to offer €25 million (£22.5 million) to Torino for defender Armando Izzo.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Izzo is one of the Toffees’ top defensive targets this summer.

The 27-year-old impressed after a solid season in 2018/19 – his first with the club since transferring from Genoa last year.

His great form for Torino saw him called up to the Italian national side for the first time in March, which resulted in his debut against Liechtenstein.

Torino president Urbano Cairo has told Izzo’s agent Paolo Palermo that the star won’t be sold this summer, but the club’s resolve could be seriously tested with Arsenal also apparently interested.

Izzo has great belief and confidence, and recently suggested he is the best Serie A defender bar Giorgio Chiellini (Gazzetta dello Sport, via The Sun).

TBR’s view

With uncertainty over the future of Kurt Zouma, Izzo would be a great signing for Everton.

The Italian is nowhere near as physically imposing as the French star, but is extremely composed and an excellent reader of the game.

Izzo won’t dominate aerially like Zouma, but he is difficult to beat in a one-on-one situation.

Having spent just one year with Torino so far, Everton will likely be rebuffed with their £22.5 million bid but with Marcel Brands at the helm, a deal should not be totally ruled out.