Manchester United and Chelsea set for another transfer tussle as Jose Mourinho targets Radja Nainggolan

  • Manchester United and Chelsea are keen on Roma's Radja Nainggolan
  • The two teams have already battled over Romelu Lukaku this summer
  • United could turn to Nainggolan as an alternative to Tottenham's Eric Dier
  • Chelsea are close to signing Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko

Manchester United will turn their focus to Roma’s £40m midfielder Radja Nainggolan as Tottenham continue to resist interest in Eric Dier.

Nainggolan, 29, is a powerful midfield player and seasoned Belgian international. He has previously been a target for Chelsea and Antonio Conte registered an interest in the midfielder last summer. 

Chelsea are close to signing Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko but Conte may still move for Nainggolan as he beefs up his midfield options. 

Manchester United are looking at Roma midfielder and Chelsea target Radja Nianggolan

Manchester United are looking at Roma midfielder and Chelsea target Radja Nianggolan

Tottenham have underlined their stance Eric Dier will not be sold for any price this summer

Tottenham have underlined their stance Eric Dier will not be sold for any price this summer

Chelsea are closing in on  Tiemoue Bakayoko but could still also make a move for Nainggolan

Chelsea are closing in on Tiemoue Bakayoko but could still also make a move for Nainggolan

Mourinho may again go head-to-head with his former club after landing Romelu Lukaku

Mourinho may again go head-to-head with his former club after landing Romelu Lukaku

It offers the tantalising prospect of United and Chelsea going head-to-head once more for a major European talent after Mourinho beat Conte to the signing of Romelu Lukaku.


The Belgian midfielder Nainggolan would be open to leaving Roma this summer and despite publicly assuring fans the player will stay, the Italian club’s new sporting director Monchi may consider a sale to fund a major rebuilding of the squad.

Nainggolan has significant interest from Inter Milan but Roma do not want to provoke anger from their own supporters by transferring the midfielder to a rival Italian club. Roma are therefore set to make discreet approaches to United as they set about securing a deal.

Jose Mourinho is understood to be a firm admirer of Nainggolan and is determined to recruit midfield reinforcements. United have monitored his performances for the last six months and remain interested.

The Belgium international could be sold as Roma sporting director begins a rebuilding job

The Belgium international could be sold as Roma sporting director begins a rebuilding job

United maintain an interest in Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic and hope to tie up a deal

United maintain an interest in Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic and hope to tie up a deal

Mourinho continues to pursue Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic and United have not given up hope that a deal could happen once the initial tension around Romelu Lukaku’s transfer cools down.

Eric Dier remains a target but Tottenham insist he will not be sold.

Anderlecht’s Leander Dendoncker, 22, is also being monitored after impressing both home and away when the Belgian team faced United in the Champions League. 

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