Arsenal Plotting Move For Serie A Star But Face Fight With Chelsea

The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal are linked with Kostas Manolas…

Arsenal are plotting a move for Roma centre-back Kostas Manolas this summer but will face stiff competition for his signature from Premier League rivals Chelsea, according to Goal.

Despite growing tension among the clubs fanbase, Arsene Wenger insists he will see out the final year of his contract at the Emirates and it looks like the Frenchman is already planning his summer transfer activity.

Goal claim today that Wenger is ready to renew his interest in Kostas Manolas after narrowly missing out on his signature when he left Olympiakos two years ago, with Roma making a late swoop to hijack the Gunners’ proposed deal.

The report states that Arsenal scouts have continued to watch the Greek international this season and Wenger is now ready to make his move with the 24-year-old heading-up a short-list of defensive targets at the Emirates.

Arsenal have seen their season implode in recent months with familiar issues at the back costing the North Londoners dear but it looks like Wenger is finally ready to delve in to the transfer market to strengthen his options at the back this summer.

Manolas has forged a reputation as one of the best central defenders in Italian football with a string of excellent displays for Roma over the past two years so he’d be an excellent addition if Arsenal could win the race for his signature.

However, that won’t be easy as Goal also claim that in-coming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has earmarked Manolas as one of his prime transfer targets as he looks to overhaul the Blues squad following a disastrous campaign.

With John Terry set to leave when his contract expires in June, a new central defender is certainly needed at Stamford Bridge and Manolas would be a superb successor to the long-serving Chelsea skipper.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news

We’ll have to wait and see whether Roma will be prepared to do business but as Manolas has three years left to run on his contract, I suspect it may take big money to persuade the Italians to cash-in this summer.