Chelsea have had an offer of £23m plus add-ons for midfielder Radja Nainggolan turned down by Serie A side Roma.
Antonio Conte, who will take charge of the Blues when Italy’s Euro 2016 campaign ends, is believed to have made the Belgian international his prime target this summer as he looks to strengthen Chelsea’s faltering side.
Roma president, James Pallotta, told Gazzetta dello Sport at the weekend that the club will not sell Nainggolan or teammate Miralem Pjanic, who has also been linked with Chelsea in recent days. “I would like to see them continue playing for Roma,” he said.
But every player has a price and, according to the Guardian, Roma remain steadfast in that they want £32m to part with the versatile Nainggolan.
Chelsea’s title defence this season is statistically the worst in Premier League history. The highest they can finish is ninth in the table and the Blues will miss out on Champions League football for the first time since Roman Abramovich bought the club back in 2003.
Conte has a big job on his hands to reshape Chelsea’s squad this summer to ensure the Blues are, at a minimum, back among the top four next season. Crucial to that is improving the side’s midfield.
Nemanja Matic has been a pale imitation of the colossus he was last season and is being linked with a move away. Cesc Fabregas’ defensive qualities are largely non-existent and he is much more effective as a number ten. John Obi Mikel is functional but limited. Oscar’s form has been patchy over the past two years. And Ruben Loftus-Cheek remains largely untested despite the Blues having little to play for since being eliminated from the Champions League.
Conte will also have to construct a defence which is unlikely to include John Terry. The Blues captain is set to move on this summer after the club decided not to renew his contract. It appears he played his final game for Chelsea on Saturday against Sunderland with the defender set to miss the next two matches are being sent off at the Stadium of Light.
Chelsea have been linked with moves for Roma centre-back Kostas Manolas, who was close to joining the Blues last summer, and 29-year-old Juventus stalwart Leonardo Bonucci, who Conte has worked closely with during his time in charge of Italy his tenure in Turin.
