AS Roma have reportedly rebuffed Arsenal FC’s interest in signing Greek defender Kostas Manolas.
The 24-year-old has been on Arsenal’s radar long before he signed for Roma last summer. Manolas signed for the Italian club at the start of last season after two impressive years with Olympiacos Piraeus. Recent reports have however linked him with a move to the Emirates in this transfer window.
La Gazzetta dello Sport published a report last week, which stated that Arsenal are ready to battle Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of Manolas from Roma. Earlier his agent Loannis Evangelopoulos has also hinted at interest from a lot of clubs across Europe. English media Daily Mirror, who quoted Tom Hopkinson of Sunday People, are however now claiming thatAS Roma have dismissed Arsenal’s interest in him as they are not prepared to sell Manolas, just one season after his arrival.
“Arsenal’s interest in Roma defender Kostas Manolas has been rebuffed by the Italian club, writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People.
“The Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger was willing to offer up to £5.5million with add-ons for the 24-year-old Greece centre-half.” – The article on Daily Mirror stated.
The Greek international made 40 appearances for Roma last season and once again showed a lot of maturity and composure at the back. Manolas has become a key member of this Roma side and with all their Serie A rivals strengthening massively this summer, the Italian club won’t sell their best players now.
The Gunners are in the market for a new center back and have been linked with Juventusyoungster Daniele Rugani as well. Wenger is reportedly willing to shell out £15.4 million on the highly rated Italian, Juventus are unlikely to entertain any offer for him currently. They have already sold Angelo Ogbonna to West Ham United, while Andrea Barzagli is 34-year-old now – Rugani has a long-term future in Turin.
Manolas also seems like another improbable target with Roma signing him for £11 million just last summer. The £5.5million with add-ons price quoted by the Daily Mirror is absurd, even if Arsenal’s interest in him were true. The Italian club have lost two of their most talented center backs in the past two seasons, with Marquinhos joining PSG and Mehdi Benatia signing forBayern Munich. They are unlikely to let go of Manolas that easily this time around.
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