Chelsea transfer target Kostas Manolas’ fee set at £38 million

Chelsea FC’s pursuit of Serie A defenders may be more trouble than its worth. The Blues’ latest transfer target just got more expensive, as AS Roma is purportedly demanding £38 million for defender Kostas Manolas.

In a situation far too reminiscent of the Radja Nainggolan saga, Chelsea is locked in a passive-aggressive transfer triangle with Kostas Manolas and AS Roma. Last week, Manolas’ agent sent the transfer world atwitter by saying that his client would not be in Rome next season.

"[Manolas] has not agreed a contract renewal with Roma and I doubt we will. I can confirm we have not agreed a contract renewal with Roma. Could he reach it over the next few weeks? I doubt we will. – Football Italia"

At the time, Manolas’ estimated transfer fee was £25 million. A week of transfer rumors from deep-pocketed clubs later, and that figure is now up to £38 million. On the upside, this amount almost certainly precludes Arsenal from making Manolas their second signing of the summer.

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Two other factors contributed to the increase in AS Roma’s asking price. Goal reports that Manolas’ transfer from Olympiakos to AS Roma included a clause entitling Olympiakos to up to 50% of Manolas’ follow-on transfer fee. While that percentage is negotiable and will almost certainly come down, it forces Roma to over-price Manolas in order to pocket their value for him.

The second factor is the injury to Manolas’ partner on defense, Antonio Rudiger. With Rudiger out for the first portion of the 2016/17, AS Roma cannot afford another gap in their backline.  Manolas led the team in clearances and blocks last season, and had the second-most tackles for Roma behind Nainggolan.

AS Roma’s president bizarrely scoffed at the idea of Manolas leaving, apparently thinking that the arrival of two defenders – Juan Jesus and Nacho – would encourage Manolas to stay.

"Why on earth should Manolas leave? Juan Jesus and Nacho are two experienced defenders who are going to help us. The team is working very hard for the Champions League play off stage. – Evening Standard"

A strong, mobile defender is Chelsea’s last true need in the transfer market as Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante address Chelsea’s deficiencies in strikers and a box-to-box midfielder, respectively. Chelsea’s other top transfer prospect among defenders is Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. Estimates for Koulibaly’s transfer fee range from £34-50 million.

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Serie A clubs are notoriously stubborn and frustrating negotiating partners. Italian football business is much like Italian football: the process and overwrought drama is as important (maybe more so) than the actual result.

Neither Napoli nor AS Roma will explicitly state whether they will legitimately entertain transfer bids for Koulibaly or Manolas. The agents are playing their role in this little dance, gainsaying the clubs while still leaving the door open just a sliver. All that is left is for the players themselves to talk about the opportunities that lay ahead in other leagues, before kissing the badge of their current team.

Some of this is the timeless art of seduction. Some of it is using the pliable, over-eager media as a negotiating tool (self-awareness check). All in all, though, it is just needless posturing – a predictable, time-worn routine that ends with either or both sides throwing up their hands in disgust and moving on. Chelsea went through this with Radja Nainggolan, and will probably repeat the pattern with Koulibaly and Manolas.

Chelsea has the motivation and the money to make a deal for either Kalidou Koulibaly or Kostas Manolas. Either player would have an immediate impact for Chelsea and would benefit from being part of an Antonio Conte team. Either AS Roma or Napoli could make good use of Roman Abramovich’s money to buy a replacement or two.

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Either transfer would be a win-win-win scenario for the clubs and the player involved. That’s the surest sign it’s not going to happen.