Manchester United are ready to lock horns with Chelsea in the transfer window for the third time this summer as they turn their attentions to £40m-rated Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, reports The Daily Mail.
Jose Mourinho left his former side fuming after United hi-jacked Chelsea’s pursuit of Everton striker Romelu Lukaku before the Premier League champions eventually got their revenge by beating the Red Devils to the signature of Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.
However, the Premier League giants are on course for another battle in the transfer window as United look to step up their interest in Chelsea target Nainggolan.
The 29-year-old turned down the chance to join Chelsea last summer and his future remains uncertain, although Roma will reportedly make a fresh attempt to convince the Belgium international to pledge his long-term future to the club with a new contract.
Mourinho has earmarked the signature of a new central midfielder as one of four priority signings this summer and United are going to try their luck with the dynamic midfielder as they struggle to convince Tottenham to part ways with Eric Dier.
Radja Nainggolan: Has made more key passes from open play (41) than any other player in Serie A in 2017 pic.twitter.com/0porA3QK2c
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 13, 2017
Roma have already made two major sales in the form of Mohamed Salah and Antonio Rudiger, who joined Chelsea last week, and there is a feeling that Monchi, the club’s sporting director, would consider Nainggolan’s departure to help further a significant squad overhaul this summer.
Nainggolan enjoyed a thoroughly prolific campaign last season, scoring as many league goals (11) as he managed in his first two Roma seasons combined. Not only that, but the Belgian has registered more key passes from open play in 2017 than any other Serie A player (41).
For more stats on Radja Nainggolan, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
