Chelsea have made a check on Kostas Manolas as the Roma defender stalls on a move to Zenit St Petersburg.

Manolas had been due to join Zenit for £26million on Wednesday, but a dispute over his wages has alerted Chelsea, who are preparing to sell Nathan Ake to Bournemouth.

The Blues are yet to contact Roma directly, but could launch a bid to hijack the Zenit deal if Manolas turns his back on a move to Russia.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has made Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci his top central defensive targets, but knows both men will be hard to land.

Ake, who is currently understudy to Gary Cahill for the left-sided spot, is due to join Bournemouth for £20million.