Chelsea have seen their first approach for Kostas Manolas being turned down by AS Roma, who are intent on keeping hold of the Greek defender.
According to TransferMarketWeb, Chelsea have made advances towards the prospect of bringing Kostas Manolas over to Stamford Bridge. The report suggests that the Blues had submitted an approach to AS Roma for the Greek defender, an offer which has been swiftly knocked back by the Italian outfit.
Kostas Manolas has become one of the most sought-after defenders in world football after securing a move to AS Roma in the summer of 2014. The Italian club’s rise to being one of the contenders for the Serie A title has been embodied by their defensive astuteness, something which Manolas has immensely contributed towards.
After a highly-successful UEFA Champions League campaign in 2017-18 and with 171 senior appearances for AS Roma under his name, Manolas is finally looking to take the next step in his career. The 26-year-old has often been linked with Premier League and La Liga teams. Chelsea though, have been the club to be the most proactive in seeking a transfer for the Greek defender.
At Chelsea, Andreas Christensen has emerged as a potent name to fill the void that was created by the departure of club legend John Terry. Gary Cahill and David Luiz are both on the wrong side of 30 and are prone to being phased out of the starting eleven.
This leaves Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen as the two choices for the manager, be it Antonio Conte or anyone else, keeping in mind the air of uncertainty covering the Bridge. In such a situation, central defensive reinforcements are needed for Chelsea, who seem to have shortlisted Manolas as a priority.
There are reports that Maurizio Sarri is set to be named the new Chelsea manager and the manager, having plied his trade at Napoli in Serie A, will already be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of Manolas.
The 26-year-old’s aerial prowess along with his technical guile will be a perfect match for the kind of football Sarri loves his team to play, a tactical style where the attacks can start from and be finished by any player on the field.
Chelsea though, have seen their approach being knocked back by AS Roma. However, the Blues will not be disheartened by the developments and are likely to try their hand at convincing the Italian giants to part with Manolas.
Should it not happen though, the report iterates that Chelsea might revert to Kalidou Koulibaly, who would be an apt fit in the Sarri system, having played under the manager at Napoli for a while now.
Still, Manolas is likely to cost less than Koulibaly, which could be a factor that Chelsea are considering while prioritising their pursuit of the Greek defender. Chelsea face a long road in agreeing a fee with AS Roma, but are likely to not give it more than one additional try before looking at other prospects closer to home like Jamaal Lascelles.
