British media speculate that Greek defender Kostas Manolas is close to signing a transfer deal with the English Premier League Champions Chelsea.
The 26-year-old is believed to have been offered a four-year contract by the Russian club Zenit, but the deal has collapsed.
Reports suggested the Greece international demanded his wages be paid in Euros rather than Russian Rubles which caused the deal to stall.
However, Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claim the final nail in the coffin for the deal was a phone call from Chelsea.
The Daily Mail says that Manolas possesses power, energy and a direct approach to the game.
He has been polishing his technique and honing his craft in Italian Serie A and has become renowned as one of the best man-for-man markers in European football as a result.
Manolas established himself as one of the strongest performing players for Greece at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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