AC Milan plan late swoop to hijack Roma’s deal to sign Evan Ndicka | OneFootball

AC Milan are planning to thwart AS Roma’s move for Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka with an audacious late bid, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

The highly rated 23-year-old is expected to leave Frankfurt when his contract runs out this summer, and Roma are in pole position to snap him up on a free transfer.

However, Milan are plotting a late move to foil Roma’s transfer plans, with the Rosonerri keen to reinforce their backline ahead of next season.

Ndicka has been touted as one of the finest defenders in the Bundesliga since joining from AJ Auxerre in 2018, so it is unsurprising he is not short on potential suitors.

Having declined offers to extend his stay at Deutsche Bank Park beyond this summer, Ndicka will part ways with Frankfurt after five years at the club.

Ndicka was part of Oliver Glasner’s Frankfurt side that won the Europa League last season and also helped Die Adler reach the DFB Pokal final this term, but they lost to defending champions RB Leipzig.

Barcelona and Arsenal have been monitoring the defender’s development at Frankfurt, but Roma have fended off the competition and are one step away from luring him to Stadio Olimpico.

Milan are hoping they can thwart that move with a late entry into the transfer race, but the Giallorossi are reportedly calm, having agreed a five-year deal with Ndicka’s entourage.

With an agreement already in place, Roma are now preparing the paperwork to finalise their move for the impressive centre-back.

Ndicka could be the second player to join Roma ahead of the transfer window, with the club already finalising a move for Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Houssem Aouar on a free transfer.

The Giallorosi are looking to exploit the free transfer market, having failed to secure Champions League qualification after finishing sixth in the Serie A rankings.

They also lost the Europa League final to Sevilla, which put the final nail in their ambitions to feature in Europe’s premier club tournament next season.