Roma will hold on to their defender, Konstantinos Manolas, unless Arsenal (or another club) cough up €40m or more for him according to a report in Italy.

That would seem to be an end to that, then.

With the transfer window barrelling towards us, it seems clear that Arsene Wenger has a lot of shopping to do. Per Mertesacker spent some time this season out of favour while it is now the turn of Gabriel to think about his actions on the bench of shame.

ROME, ITALY - APRIL 20: Kostas Manolas (C) with his teammates Antonio Rudiger and Diego Perotti of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Torino FC at Stadio Olimpico on April 20, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – APRIL 20: Kostas Manolas (C) with his teammates Antonio Rudiger and Diego Perotti of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Torino FC at Stadio Olimpico on April 20, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

It is clearly not beyond the scope to think that a centreback will come in during the window, but for €40m? I wouldn’t think so.

I know the transfer window is a bit nuts but I can’t see Arsene Wenger spending that sort sum on anyone other than a marquee player.

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As good as Manolas is, he’s simply not that player.

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