Chelsea ready to make last-minute bid for 26-year-old Serie A defender – report
Chelsea are ready to make a late effort to sign AS Roma defender Kostas Manolas ahead of Zenit St Petersburg, according to Emanuele Giulianelli
Chelsea are ready to hijack Zenit St Peterburg’s attempts to sign AS Roma defender Kostas Manolas, according to Emanuele Giulianelli.
The Serie A expert is reporting that the Premier League champions are ready to submit a last-minute offer to sign the 26-year-old defender.
The Greece international appeared to be set to move the Russian side in a €30m deal in the 2017 summer transfer window.
However, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is a big admirer of the Greek defender and the Italian coach wants the centre-half at Stamford Bridge.
According to Giulianelli, the Blues will trump Zenit’s offer as Conte looks to finally land his first signing of the summer transfer window.
“As you surely know, Kostas Manolas, the Greece centre-back from AS Roma, is negotiating with Zenit St Petersburg, in Russia. But (as I reported – being the first one!) Conte wants him at Chelsea,” Giulianelli told Tribal Football.
“Manolas and Zenit are negotiating over the final details, but Chelsea are ready to make a last-minute bid in order to overtake the Russians.
“Today, Chelsea are expected to submit to Roma a last call, a last bid of €40 million – while Zenit’s offer is about €30 million – in order to take the player. The problem is that Zenit are offering a better contract to the player.
“Let’s see what happens.”
Chelsea have been left frustrated in their pursuit of a defender in the 2017 summer transfer window so far.
The Blues have been heavily linked with a move to sign Italy and Juventus centre-half Leonardo Bonucci.
The west London outfit are also thought to be interested in signing Southampton star Virgil van Dijk, but the Dutch star’s price tag is £70m.
