AS Roma Training Session
Arsenal have held talks over a possible bid to sign Evan Ndicka this summer (Picture: Getty)
Evan Ndicka is set to turn down strong interest from Arsenal to continue his stay at Roma.
Ndicka arrived in Rome on a free transfer two years ago and has gone on to establish himself as a linchpin of the defence in that time.
Such is his importance to the Giallorossi, Ndicka played every single minute of the club’s Serie A campaign this term – becoming the first player to do so since as far back as 2004.
However, there has been some speculation that Ndicka could be set to move on from Roma in the summer transfer window, with Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle and Arsenal all credited with an interest in the 25-year-old centre-back.
Reports earlier this month claimed the Gunners had made initial enquiries to gauge whether a move to the Emirates may be possible for the highly rated Ivory Coast international.
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Mikel Arteta is keen for defensive reinforcements to ease the pressure on William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes next season and Ndicka had been identified as a potential solution for the north Londoners.
But according to Corriere dello Sport, Arsenal will likely be forced to search elsewhere for a new centre-half given Roma deem Ndicka to be one of their eight ‘immovables’.
AS Roma v AC Milan - Serie A Enilive
The Ivorian played every single minute of Roma’s Serie A campaign (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal Training Session
Arsenal are on the hunt for a new centre-back this summer (Picture: Getty)
Mile Svilar, Gianluca Mancini, Manu Kone, Niccolo Pisilli, Angelino, Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule also find themselves on that list and are expected to remain at the Stadio Olimpico beyond the summer.
Ndicka is considered an ‘essential point of reference’ at Roma and one of the ‘two pillars’ of the defence alongside Mancini – regardless of who takes over from Claudio Ranieri as head coach.
The report adds that Ndicka wishes to continue his stay in the Italian capital and has already set his sights on repeating his extraordinary campaign in Serie A next term.
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In an interview with French publication L’Equipe, the Ivorian refused to be drawn on rumours surrounding his future and insisted he remained fully committed to Roma.
‘I’m not pretending that I don’t see the rumours,’ Ndicka said.
‘But I have respect in Rome and I respect them
‘I have three years remaining on my contract, we will see what happens later.’
Ndicka’s current contract with Roma runs through to June 2028.
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