GettyIt’s fair to say the transfer market is becoming more expensive each year.
Graziano Pelle is on more money than Cristiano Ronaldo in China, Gonzalo Higuain has turned down £800,000 per week, and Raheem Sterling is worth £50m. Mental.
Wages are going up, and if you’re Kostas Manolas, you can start shopping at the better end of town, as Chelsea and Arsenal are both willing to double the Greek defender’s wages to bring him to the Premier League.
The 25-year-old Roma centre back is currently on ‘just’ under £25,000 a week, but the London clubs are willing to raise that to almost £60,000 to lure him to England.
Manolas has rejected a new contract in the Italian capital, and is seeking a new challenge – with the Premier League the number one destination.
Arsenal are keen to bring in another centre back, as Per Mertesacker has been linked with a return to Germany (and is a slug), and Laurent Koscielny is in need of a rest after his Euro 2016 efforts.
GettyChelsea meanwhile are also looking for defenders, with Gary Cahill and John Terry proving as much use as a chocolate teapot last season, and Kurt Zouma missing with a bad knee injury.
Manolas has been at Roma since 2014, becoming a mainstay in their defence and impressing throughout his time in Italy.
He turned down Juventus, who were managed by Antonio Conte at the time, before signing for Roma, and Arsenal came calling last summer, but the Greek international decided to stay in Serie A.
GettyBut now, the Premier League is calling and Manolas could be rewarded with a big contract by one of his long-time admirers.
And when you think that Cahill pulls in around £80k, everything makes sense.
