Rumours: Chelsea FC To Sign Roma Midfielder
Should Antonio Conte be appointed as the next Chelsea FC boss, he will reportedly look to make Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan his first signing.
Since Jose Mourinho’s dismissal as Chelsea manager, several names have been linked with the Stamford Bridge hotseat. Yesterday, it was reported that Italy coach Antonio Conte has verbally agreed to take over from Guus Hiddink at the end of the season and now he is already lining up his summer signings.
The Daily Telegraph claims that Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan is being considered as a top priority for the apparently incoming Conte.
"Conte is already believed to have identified Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan as a potential signing if he is appointed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich."
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Although not widely paraded, Nainggolan has been quietly building up a credible reputation with Roma in just over two years. He moved to the Stadio Olimpico in January 2014 for a negligible fee but was immediately parachuted into the first team. An ever-present in the starting line-up, the Belgian has made 24 appearances in Serie A, with only two coming off the bench.
Nainggolan is a defensive midfielder of the tenacious type. Harrying and hurrying opponents, the 27-year-old provides luxurious protection for the defence that sits behind him. With eight points between Roma and the top of the league, he will be integral to a late title-push from Luciano Spalletti’s men.
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Chelsea’s midfield is in dire need of a rebuild. Nemanja Matic has fallen off a cliff in terms of his playing ability, leaving John Obi Mikel as the only valid defensive midfield option. Ruben Loftus-Cheek was once viewed as future star in the role, but this campaign has seen him excel on the attacking side of affairs.
While the purchase of Nainggolan will undoubtedly be beneficial in the short run, his current age of 27 will cause many to question the wisdom of splashing out on a player with a limited number of years left in him. Fans may feel that this rebuild should be characterised by bleeding and bringing in exciting young talents, as opposed to signing proven players.
If Chelsea were considering a push for the Champions League next season, such a move would have made much more sense.
Having said that, experienced players are required to form a team around. John Terry is currently set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign, meaning that there are very few credible stalwarts who can lead the next Blues generation.
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Nainggolan may not have reached veteran status as of yet, but the position he plays and the attitude that he displays leaves him as a prime candidate to take up the mantle.