Roma beat Arsenal in race for 23-year-old defender as Mourinho adds West Ham flop to wish list

Arsenal-linked defender Evan Ndicka has agreed to join AS Roma, who are also targeting West Ham’s Gianluca Scamacca, according to reports.

Ndicka has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months with Liverpool and Tottenham also believed to be interested.

The 23-year-old’s Eintracht Frankfurt contract is set to expire at the end of June and it has been clear for some time that he will not extend his deal.

This has opened the door for one of the best free transfer signings of the summer, though Arsenal’s reported interest has died down following the signing of Jakub Kiwior, who is also a left-footed central defender.

Multiple reports say Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal will miss out on Ndicka with a move to Roma in the works.

Fabrizio Romano reported earlier this month that Jose Mourinho’s side have offered the Frenchman a five-year contract after agreeing the same deal with Houssem Aouar, who has now officially left Lyon for the Italian club on a free transfer.

On Tuesday morning, Romano added that Roma are ‘set to sign Ndicka’ and are ‘confident’ they will complete the signing this week.

There was some reported interest from AC Milan, but it appears that the defender has chosen Roma.

Another player the Giallorossi are interested in signing is West Ham striker Scamacca, Romano adds.

Roma are in the market for a new No. 9 after Tammy Abraham tore his ACL and the Italian journalist claims the club’s director Tiago Pinto will be in London later this week to advance negotiations with the Hammers.

Mourinho is keen to sign Scamacca on loan for the season and it appears that David Moyes is open to the move.

Scamacca was previously at Sassuolo before joining the Hammers for around €36million last summer.

He disappointed in his debut season at the London Stadium, scoring three goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

Italian journalist Gianluca di Marzio has claimed the Italian international is willing to join Roma for 2023/24.

Di Marzio adds that Ndicka’s move should be confirmed in the next 48 hours with a five-year contract ‘ready for him’.

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