Chelsea are closing in on long-time transfer target Radja Nainggolan from AS Roma, as the relationship between the Belgium international and his club reaches breaking point.
That’s according to reports in both the Italian and British press today, with the 29-year-old midfielder said to be determined to force through an exit from the struggling Serie A side.
Nainggolan was dropped by Roma earlier this week and fined €100,000 after sharing footage of some over-exuberant New Year’s Eve celebrations on social media, in which the star was purportedly captured being drunk, smoking and using numerous profanities.
According to Transfer Market Web, Chelsea are now looking to exploit the player’s strained relationship with manager Eusebio Di Francesco to land a player they reportedly came close to signing back in 2016 and have had on their radar even longer.
Roma fire sale?
Roma have endured a torrid time as of late, picking up just one point from their last three league games and slumping to fifth in the Serie A table, with rumours of unrest behind the scenes rife. As a result, the club are being tipped to sell off up to seven of their current first-team squad during the January transfer window.
It will take a monumental investment to land Nainggolan, however, as the publication also claims the Giallorossi will only entertain selling their 29-times-capped Belgium international for offers in the region of €50 million after the club tied him to a new contract last summer.
There is sure to be no shortage of offers for the midfielder; he has long been linked with Arsenal as well, while Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande are claimed to have made a €40 million approach for the Roma number 4. However, the allure of playing with fellow countrymen Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Michy Batshuayi at Stamford Bridge could prove enough to convince the 29-year-old to head to West London.
Header image: “DSC_0762_nainggolan” (CC BY 2.0) by romazone
