Chelsea have been told that any deal taking Kostas Manolas to Stamford Bridge would require the London club to activate the Greek's release clause, according to Corriere Dello Sport.

What's the story, then?

The report by CDS says that Roma could end up selling the defender after a busy start to their transfer window.

They say incoming manager Maurizio Sarri has identified Manolas as a key target to bolster his defence, and Roma will be in a tough position to prevent the defender leaving should his release clause be triggered.

The release clause is set at €36million (£31.62million) and such a reasonable fee will be an attractive prospect for Roman Abramovich.

£31.62m is great business for Chelsea

Manolas has formed a formidable partnership with Federico Fazio over the last three seasons. He was a key performer in Roma's journey to the Champions League semi-final last term, scoring a key goal in the dying moments of the club's tie against Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

Manolas possesses terrific pace for a centre-back and has terrific aerial presence. His positioning has improved since his arrival from Olympiacos in 2014, and at 26 will only continue to improve under Sarri's watch.

Whilst he has no Premier League experience, he has turned into an imposing and challenging defender in Serie A, and the Greek international should have no issues adapting to the pace of the Premier League alongside his former teammate, Antonio Rüdiger.

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He would be a smart addition to Chelsea, especially with the rumours linking David Luiz with a move to rivals Arsenal, the Brazilian failing to hold down a place in Antonio Conte's side last season.

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