Chelsea to make new attempt to sign Serie A star in January

Kostas Manolas was the focus of Chelsea's attentions on deadline day

CHELSEA will make a renewed effort to sign Kostas Manolas from AS Roma in January, according to reports.

 

Italian publication Tuttomercatoweb suggested that the Blues made a move for the defender on deadline day but were knocked back by Roma who had no intention of selling the 24-year-old.

Jose Mourinho had already seen three attempts to sign Everton's John Stones fall through, along with a host of other defensive disappointments, eventually settling on Papy Djilobodji from Nantes.

However, it's since been revealed that Mourinho had no hand in the signing of the 26-year-old and he instead delegated the transfer to 'somebody he trusts completely'.

 

The Senegal international is yet to make an appearance for Chelsea, despite some slight turmoil at the back this term with John Terry being left out of the starting XI for the first time by Mourinho.

And according to Sussidiario the Blues will make a second attempt to sign the Greek international Manolas in January in a bid to resolve their defensive woes.

When asked last week about joining Chelsea, Manolas replied: "Chelsea? I can say that, I have another five-year contract, I'm happy to be here [Roma] and I want to win something with this shirt."