Former Arsenal target Manolas agrees €22.5m deal to join Inter

The Greek centre-back will leave Roma at the end of the season and has accepted a five-year contract offer from the San Siro giants

EXCLUSIVE

star Kostas Manolas has agreed personal terms with ahead of a potential summer move, Goal can reveal.

The 25-year-old, who is regarded as one of Europe’s best centre-backs, has agreed in principle to a five-year contract that will see him earn around €4.5 million a season at San Siro.

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Inter are yet to negotiate a transfer fee with Roma, who have slapped a €44m price tag on the defender’s head, a figure that is unlikely to deter the Nerazzurri’s new Chinese owners, who have plans for a big summer of spending.

Roma have been attempting to extend Manolas’ €1.8m a year contract for several months now but have grown increasingly frustrated at their lack of progress.

The Giallorossi are virtually resigned to losing their defensive lynchpin and – with his contract expiring in 2019 - will be forced to sell this summer in order to prevent Manolas’ price tag plummeting next year.

Inter face competition for the Greek’s signature from , who attempted to sign him two years ago. Goal understands that PSG are not prepared to pay the €44m Roma are demanding for the player, but that he remains one of their summer transfer window targets.

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, and Arsenal all enquired about Manolas towards the end of the 2016 summer transfer window but haven’t showed any subsequent interest.

As revealed by Goal, Arsenal used Manolas as a pawn in their negotiations to sign Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia in August.

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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is a big fan of Manolas and put him on his shortlist of potential centre-backs to sign last summer before the club eventually captured David Luiz from PSG.

Manchester United are searching for a new centre-back ahead of next season, but Manolas is currently not in Jose Mourinho’s thinking.

Manolas joined Roma from for €15m in 2014 and has since made over 100 appearances for the Stadio Olimpico side.