Not Nainggolan – Chelsea ready to splurge £32m for AS Roma stalwart

Chelsea are looking to bring in AS Roma defender Kostas Manolas, according to reports in Italy, and will provide the Greek with a bumper pay-rise.

Corriere dello Sport (h/t The Express) claims that the 27-year-old has been identified as the defender to be the bed-stone of our back-four and we are willing to stump up £32m to meet his release clause.

While Roma will be playing in the Champions League next season, the same cannot be said about us as we would only be taking part in the Europa League.

Possibly due to this reason, we are reportedly willing to offer £4.4m for Manolas to join us while he earns £2.6m in Italy with the Roma. The 27-year-old played 40 games in all competitions for the Serie A club and even helped them to a semi-final spot in the Champions League.

His experience of playing in Italy would have certainly helped him pick up a lot of the defensive nuances that are present in the game.

This could also turn out to be a signing that Maurizio Sarri would know more about since he has managed a lot in the Italian league and it would make sense to move for the 27-year-old given that he is not having a crazy release clause either.

We have to start signing players as the season is fast approaching and hopefully, Manolas will be the first of many to come under Sarri as we usher in a new era at the bridge.