Italian Serie A club AS Roma are reportedly set to keep hold of Arsenal and Chelsea target Kostas Manolas, despite rumours linking the centre half with a transfer move away from the Serie A club.
According to reports, the central defender has reportedly asked the Serie A club AS Roma for a new and improved contract to convince him to remain at the club, but the Italian club side are not ready to offer the defender an improved terms on his running €1.9m annual salary. Meanwhile, a transfer to the English Premier League interests the 25-year-old defender, even if the player is set to be forced to stay put at Roma.
According to Arsenal Goal correspondent Chris Wheatley, who is also the owner of Goonertalk.com, it would take a huge bid of not less than €45m to tempt AS Roma to sell the defender. Arsenal under Wenger certainly won’t be paying such a large amount of money, but Chelsea are never afraid to spend especially when they have a potential deal in place. Therefore, it won’t surprise me if the player ends up at Stamford Bridge rather than at the Emirates. Reports this week already claim the player would like to work under new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
Arsenal have already been linked with the signing of several centre backs in the last few weeks and it is not a surprise considering how poor Arsenal were defensively last season.
Arsenal need defensive reinforcements, especially as Per Mertesacker’s legs are getting tired due to old age. However, if the report by Chris Wheatley is true, then Rob Holding, who the Sun claim Arsenal are on the verge of signing, could be the only centre back signing for the Gunners this summer.
