Friday 8 April 2016 07:16, UK
With Chelsea having held talks with Roma about signing centre-back Konstantinos Manolas this summer, we profile the potential new arrival at Stamford Bridge.
Sky in Italy believe the Greece international is wanted by Chelsea's new head coach Antonio Conte, who recently signed a three-year contract to take over at the club once his spell as Italy boss comes to an end following Euro 2016.
Captain John Terry looks set to leave the Blues when his current deal expires on June 30, with the central defender having been told he will not be offered a new contract by the Premier League champions.
Terry's departure would see Chelsea lose an influential figure in defence and Conte appears to have earmarked Manolas as his replacement.
But who exactly is Manolas? We take a closer look...
Factfile
Name: Konstantinos Manolas
Age: 24
Place of birth: Naxos, Greece
Position: Central defender
Club: AS Roma
Background
Manolas began his career with Thrasyvoulos, making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2009. The centre-back then joined AEK Athens that summer after being scouted by the club's technical director and his uncle Stelios Manolas.
During his three years in the Greek capital, Manolas became a firm favourite with the club's fans, and even once carried on playing in a game against rivals Olympiacos after breaking his cheekbone.
Despite forming a strong partnership at the back with experienced Greece international Traianos Dellas and helping AEK win the Greek Cup in 2011, the defender moved to Olympiacos on a free transfer in July 2012.
Manolas won the league and cup double in his debut season in Piraeus, with the club retaining their title the following campaign. However, after signing a one-year contract extension in March 2014, the player signed for Roma for £10.3m after shining for his country at that summer's World Cup in Brazil.
He was given the daunting task of replacing Medhi Benatia, who had completed a move to Bayern Munich, at the Stadio Olimpico. But in his 18 months with Roma, the 24-year-old has caught the eye with a number of impressive displays.
Kostas is a Roma player, and anyone who wants him will have to ask the club. All I can say is the lad has a contract until 2019
Style of play
Manolas is a strong, powerful, all-round defender with pace to burn, qualities that should serve him well in the fast-paced nature of the Premier League.
In essence, Manolas is a good old-fashioned centre-back with a fondness for tackling. This season, the player has averaged 1.7 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1.4 fouls, 4.5 clearances and 0.8 blocks per game in Serie A, according to Whoscored.com.
What now?
Manolas, who has been capped 23 times by his country, signed a five-year contract when joining Roma in August 2014.
However, the Serie A club have been willing to offload key defenders in recent seasons for the right price, including Benatia and Marquinhos, who moved to Paris Saint-Germain for €31.4 (£25.4m) in the summer of 2013.
However, Chelsea may face competition for Manolas' signature from Arsenal, Everton and Sunderland, who have also all scouted him, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Did you know?
Manolas' uncle is renowned former AEK defender Stelios Manolas, who won 71 Greek caps between 1982 and 1995.
What he said
"I had offers from several big clubs, including Juventus. But it was my decision to come here to Roma," Manolas revealed after joining Roma.
What they said
"Kostas is a Roma player, and anyone who wants him will have to ask the club. All I can say is the lad has a contract until 2019," the player's agent, Ioannis Evangelopoulos, told Tuttomercatoweb in April 2015.
"Roma paid a lot for him, and that means they have a lot of expectations for him."
