Would this Roma centre-back be better suited to Chelsea or Arsenal?

Add as preferred source on Google

With London rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea, both in the market to strengthen their squads over the summer, a defender is a priority signing for both teams, as they shipped 36 and 53 goals respectively in the Premier League last season.

To bolster their defensive options, both clubs are understood to have singled out AS Roma ‘s Greek centre-half Kostas Manolas as a target, with both clubs prepared to double his wages to tempt the Greece international to the Premier League.

The Italian club has already held talks with the 25-year old over remaining in Rome beyond the current transfer window, but his future remains very much up in the air, with Roma according to the Daily Express unable to meet the Greek’s wage demands. With far more money available in the lucrative Premier League, the centre-half may well have his head turned if either club were to make an approach.

Manolas’ current contract with the Stadio Olimpico club runs until 2019, but the player’s agent has confirmed that the player has turned down the offer of a contract extension, suggesting his future may lie elsewhere, with the London clubs likely destinations. Roma value the player at roughly £30m, but which club would the defender be better tailored to if either were to swoop in?

In the case of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger is under pressure to add to his defence in what could be his last season at the club, and he currently has only three centre-backs at his disposal in Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel. The Greek is known for being a pacey defender in spite of his size, and able to deal with quicker attacking players, whilst also possessing the necessary strength to deal with more physical forwards. Pace is a quality that the Arsenal rearguard lacks, with the ageing Mertesacker often caught out by quicker forwards.

Embed from Getty Images

Manolas is also able to effectively play the sweeper role, and a player capable of playing out of defence is such a manner is complimentary of the Arsenal style of fluid, passing football. His combination of old-fashioned defensive attributes with the qualities required in a modern day centre back would render the Greek an ideal recruit to bring in at the Emirates.

Chelsea in comparison are in equal need of defensive additions, with John Terry, set to play a more peripheral role, and Kurt Zouma unlikely to win the race against time to be fit for the new season following a knee injury, and Manolas may provide just the tonic for their defensive woes.

Manolas may prove particularly effective if new boss at the Bridge Antonio Conte opts to play his favoured 3-5-2 system and start with three centre-halves. Manolas’ pace and capacity to play out of defence would compliment the system well, with defenders often expected to make forward runs before playing the ball forward, and with a compact back three, a sweeper type of player will be critical if opposition wingers are able to get beyond the wing backs.

Conte’s system may also give Manolas more freedom. In a three-man defence, the Greek may have more license to use his abilities to play out in order to pull the team forward, picking passes from the back in a manner similar to that of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci with Conte’s Italy at Euro 2016. A role which Manolas may not be required to fill in the typical back four system utilised by Wenger at Arsenal.

Embed from Getty Images

Tactically, it seems apparent that Kostas Manolas may be better suited to Chelsea providing Conte introduces his favoured system. In the case that this does not occur, the Greek may bed in well at Arsenal and accommodate for the lack of pace in the Gunners defence. Indeed he could be expected to suit either club, though Conte’s setup looks to be a better fit.

Where the Greek will end up is a different matter, and with Roma ‘ s hands looking tied, a bidding war for the defender may well be in the pipeline.

Featured Image – All Rights Reserved by AC ChievoVerona.