The rumour mill is grinding at full tempo, and the latest name to be spat out is a genuine colossus. Evan Ndicka, the Ivory Coast international who ha...
The rumour mill is grinding at full tempo, and the latest name to be spat out is a genuine colossus. Evan Ndicka, the Ivory Coast international who has been the bedrock of Daniele De Rossi's Roma project, is now a wanted man. GoalZaza can confirm that a Premier League trio is shaping up, with Newcastle United entering the fray alongside Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan in what is fast becoming the most intriguing defensive arms race of the upcoming window.But let's not kid ourselves. This isn't just about a contract and a medical. This is about tactical evolution. Ndicka is not your typical lumbering centre half who simply clears his lines and parks the bus. He is a modern interpreter of the role, a left sided defender who reads the game like a chess grandmaster. His ability to step out of a low block and carry the ball into midfield is precisely the sort of profile that Eddie Howe craves on Tyneside. The Magpies have been crying out for a left footer who can offer balance alongside Sven Botman, particularly when the Dutchman is on the treatment table. You can almost see the logic.For Spurs, the calculus is different. Ange Postecoglou needs a defender who can survive the frantic transitional play of his high defensive line. Ndicka's recovery pace and his comfort in one versus one duels are not just handy; they are essential for a back four that lives on the halfway line. And then there is Inter. Simone Inzaghi, the master of the three man backline, sees Ndicka as the natural successor to Alessandro Bastoni's throne, or at the very least a robust deputy. The Serie A giants have a habit of turning good defenders into world beaters. Could the San Siro be his spiritual homeThe real question, the one that keeps sporting directors awake at night, is simple. Where does Ndicka see his own footballing identity Does he want the guaranteed sun of Milan, the project of a rising Newcastle, or the chaos and potential glory of life under Big Ange in north London Roma are bracing themselves. When the vultures circle this tightly, someone is bound to drop their dinner. GoalZaza will keep a very close eye on this one. The summer chess match has begun. And Evan Ndicka is the king piece.
