Saturday 23 July 2016 14:00, UK
Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are all interested in signing Roma defender Kostas Manolas, claims the player's agent.
Manolas moved to the Italian capital following the 2014 World Cup, when Roma bought him from Olympiacos to replace Mehdi Benatia and he has impressed in his two seasons in Serie A.
The 25-year-old Greece international centre-back has been in talks with Roma over an improved contract but has yet to agree a deal and his agent Ioannis Evangelopoulos claims three of the Premier League's biggest sides are watching his situation closely.
"The best clubs in Europe want him," Evangelopoulos told Italian newspaper Il Tempo. "There isn't just Manchester City, but also United and Chelsea.
"I haven't spoken with Roma for a while. Will he remain in the capital? No comment."
Sky Sports reported in April that new Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte was interested in potentially bringing Manolas to Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is keen to strengthen his options in central defence ahead of the new season, and the club are understood to be targeting Everton centre-back John Stones.
According to Sky sources, Everton are aware of City's interest and Stones has made it clear to boss Ronald Koeman that he wishes to leave.
City are also interested Juventus centre-back Leonardo Bonucci and failed with a £38m bid earlier this summer.
Manchester United have already bolstered their defensive options with the capture of Eric Bailly from Villarreal.
Bailly is one of three United signings so far this summer, along with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Mourinho has identified four key areas he wants to strengthen before the season, with the final player being a central midfielder and Paul Pogba his number one target.
"I said at the first press conference at Old Trafford, our market has a fundamental part. And that fundamental part is four players: one central defender, one midfielder, one striker, and one creative player," Mourinho said at a press conference on Friday following United's 4-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
"Then, the market will be open until the 31st of August, and sometimes things happen that you are not expecting, and we have to react.
"But our fundamental market is 75 percent done. And when we sign one midfield player that crucial work will be done."
