After being linked with a host of clubs last summer, Kostas Manolas looks to be in the list of hot transfer prospects yet again this winter after reports emerged concerning an unsuccessful between the player and the club recently. Various reports suggest that Chelsea, who have been keeping tabs on the Greek centre-back for a while, could make a move in January.
The 25-year old Greek defender was one of the several defenders linked with Chelsea last summer, but Manolas was unwilling to move out at that moment. Now with a rift in the current club in terms of his contract, there might be a chance for Antonio Conte to swoop in for the highly-rated defender. Manolas is believed to want a pay-rise to stay at Roma but the club are unwilling to meet his demands. Chelsea sure won’t be having problems paying his wages.
Chelsea have to fend off competition from arch rivals Arsenal who have also been an old admirer of the centre-back. Manolas’ game reading is exceptional and way more mature than his age. He is very composed on the ball, aerially superb and tactically and technically sound.
His passing accuracy this season is 89% which is excellent for a central defender while he has won 2.5 aerial duels every game this season which proves that he is a force in the air. The Roma stopper has averaged 12 defensive actions every game this season, a figure that any manager in the world would love.
He could be a perfectly fit for Antonio Conte who loves intelligent defending and has changed the face of Chelsea with his brilliant 3 at the back policy for the Blues this season. They have kept five straight clean sheets in the Premier League, climbing to second on the table.
This tactical reconciliation has not only worked seamlessly helping Chelsea not to lose a Premier League game since the change, but the deployment of wing backs has also made them a more potent outfit going forward as well, scoring 16 goals since then.
But this formation has seen the exclusion of two old defenders Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry from the back line, and Conte is eyeing at several other alternatives for a backup. While Manolas would be an excellent option at the back, he won’t be agreeing to remain as a backup at the club. But with Cahill, Azpilicueta and Luiz pretty much near to perfect at the moment, it will be interesting to see where he fits.
