Arsenal and Chelsea on alert after Kostas Manolas rejects new deal at AS Roma

ARSENAL and Chelsea are going head-to-head for AS Roma centre-back Kostas Manolas, according to reports in Italy.

The 25-year-old Greek international has rejected a new deal to stay with the Serie A giants and the Gunners are circling – and so are their west London rivals.

Corriere dello Sport claim the Premier League duo are both interested in the £30million-rated Manolas, who has 23 international caps to his name.

Manolas came close to a move to the Emirates two years ago when he was still at Olympiakos, but a deal reportedly fell through at the last minute.

Now Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is back in for the one time Manchester United target.

Everton were also keen last season when there was talk of John Stones leaving.

In a bid to keep Manolas, Roma are thought to be willing to increase his pay packet from £1.5million a season to £2.3million.

They would also extend his contract an extra year until 2020.

But Manolas’ agent, Iannis Evangelopoulos, isn’t confident a new deal with Roma will be reached.

He said: “It’s true, I can confirm we have not agreed a contract renewal with Roma.

“Could he reach it over the next few weeks? I doubt we will.”