Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Kostas Manolas and John Obi Mikel
Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press
The agent of AS Roma defender Kostas Manolas has suggested his client is close to rejecting Chelsea's interest in favour of signing a new deal at the Stadio Olimpico. Meanwhile, midfielder John Obi Mikel has said he's ready to "talk to other clubs."
Speaking to ESPN FC's Peter O'Rourke, Manolas' agent, Ioannis Evangelopoulos, confirmed Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City were interested in the centre-back during the summer months. However, a new deal is understood to be on the table in Rome.
He said: "It is possible that Kostas will sign a new deal at Roma, and we will see what they have got to say. There was strong interest in Kostas from top clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United in the summer, and I am sure those clubs are still watching him."
Giuseppe Bellini/Getty ImagesManolas is in line for a new contract with Roma.
Manolas has enjoyed his development since moving to Serie A from Olympiakos as a replacement for Medhi Benatia in 2014, arguably going on to become an even more pivotal player than the man he succeeded.
Chelsea were linked with a string of defenders from the Italian top flight after former Juventus manager Antonio Conte arrived at their helm, ultimately re-signing David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day.
With club stalwart John Terry most likely set to exit Stamford Bridge at the end of this season, Manolas may have remained on Chelsea's wanted list, however. Roma writer Wayne Girard recently praised Manolas as one of the best players in a meeting against Fiorentina:
The Greece international has risen to become one of the best centre-backs in Serie A since joining the Giallorossi two years ago, and it's of little surprise Roma would be keen to extend his stay in the capital.
His club are understood to be pulling out all the stops to ensure he agrees a new contract, too, after Football Italia reported Manolas has a major wage hike in sight:
Meanwhile, Mikel has informed Goal's Nizaar Kinsella he's considering his future at Stamford Bridge after entering the final year of his contract with the west Londoners.
After Terry, Mikel is now the second-longest-serving player at Chelsea, having first arrived from Norwegian club Lyn a decade ago, and he's ready to examine his options in January:
N'Golo Kante's arrival in west London from Leicester City has complicated Mikel's first-team plans, adding to the competitions already provided by the likes of Nemanja Matic, Oscar and Cesc Fabregas.
Mikel said he's relaxed about the future but fully acknowledged this could be his last season at Stamford Bridge, per Kinsella:
I have one year left [on my contract]. When you have a year left as a football player, you have to start planning and start thinking about what's going to happen at the end of the season. Yes, there are going to be rumours, yes, there are going to be conversations between clubs.
When you have a year left, in January, you are allowed to talk to other clubs and sign a pre-contract or have an agreement so, yes, I will talk to other clubs because you never know what is going to happen.
I've been here for a long, long time. I've spent 11 years of my life in this football club, it is my home. This season is the last at the club if my contract ends. I am quite relaxed about it, the future looks good.
The Nigeria international has made a total of 372 appearances for the club since 2006, per Transfermarkt, and shot back to prominence last season under the guidance of former interim manager Guus Hiddink.
That being said, Mikel is yet to feature under Conte this term and has failed to make the bench in the Premier League after five games, suggesting his time with the Blues is coming to a close.
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