On Sunday we covered a report from Gazzette dello Sport, who claimed that Manchester United are ‘ready to pay’ what it takes to sign Kostas Manolas from AS Roma, with rumours being batted between the Italian and English media.
The centre-back has a buyout clause of €36m in his contract and Roma are trying to either increase or remove the release clause by handing him a new deal, which will also see him earn higher wages.
Italian website Calciomercato claim the Red Devils ‘have no doubts’ and ‘want to pay’ his release clause to ‘snatch’ the player from the Giallorossi. The club’s owners, the Glazer, are said to have given the go-ahead.
It’s further stated the aforementioned clause in the Greece international’s current deal will only be applicable from July 1st.
This means the 20-time English champions will have to negotiate a fee with Eusebio Di Francesco’s side if they have to secure the 27-year-old’s services in the winter market.
Manolas’ desire was to continue in the Italian capital, but his association with super-agent Mino Raiola and Roma’s decision to sell players like Alisson, Kevin Strootman and Radja Nainggolan has created more doubt in the player’s mind.
This is why the is the idea of playing in the Premier League or La Liga is fascinating for him.
If Manchester United cannot agree a fee for Manolas in January and Roma fail to agree a new deal with the defender, then the Old Trafford club will be free to take him for €36m in the summer.
The defender has been endlessly linked with a move to England, with United the latest club pushed strongly. On previous occasions the story has slipped away without much trace.
