Roma defender Kostas Manolas is reportedly in talks over a new deal with a rather reasonable release clause.

Manolas’s new contract with Roma will reportedly contain a £26m release clause.

Arsenal and Chelsea have both been heavily linked with Manolas.

Last summer, the Gunners were allegedly very interested but ended up signing Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia for £35m instead. The same amount they were supposedly set to spend on Manolas.

The BBC’s David Ornstein even claimed that this was why Jack Wilshere never completed his loan move to Roma and instead went to Bournemouth last season.

According to one Reddit user (so pinch of salt blah blah), Arsenal had been put under the impression that a deal for Manolas was good to go ahead and then the club rejected their offer. The Gunners felt messed about by the Italians so hiked up Wilshere’s loan fee so high that the Serie A club couldn’t meet. They obviously lowered it for the Cherries.

The 26-year-old has under two years left on his current deal with Roma, which is why the Serie A club are looking to offer him a contract extension. However, a £26m release clause is likely to entice his admirers.

The Gunners are said to have renewed their interest in the centre-back this summer after being linked with him since 2014 when Manolas was at Olympiakos, so perhaps they may return again in January.

The Greece international has already made five appearances for Roma this season after featuring 45 times last term.

Zenit have also been linked.