Chelsea have agreed a deal to
bring Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan to Stamford Bridge this summer, Goal understands.
The Blues will pay £28 million
for the Belgium international, with the player set to sign a five-year deal
with the Premier League champions.
He will become Antonio Conte's
first signing after the Italy boss agreed a deal to replace Guus Hiddink after
Euro 2016.
Chelsea's deal for the box-to-box
midfielder has been thrashed out over the last 48 hours with Roma and the
player's representatives.
Roma's director
of sport Walter Sabatini was spotted outside Stamford Bridge on the
7th April and set up a meeting with Chelsea's transfer bosses and it was
understood that the Belgian midfielder was Conte's number one target to
strengthen his midfield.
Conte is an expert in the Serie A
transfer market and knows that Roma often sell one of their best players
every year to ensure they balance their books as they struggle to compete with
Juventus on a financial and spoting level.
The 46-year-old has been linked
with further business with Roma and his old club Juventus and is thought to be
targetting Kostas Manolas and Leonardo Bonucci to strengthen his defense.
The signing of Nainggolan is a
statement of intent as Chelsea look to get their business done as early as
possible.
Roma director Sabiatini was
resigned to losing his star midfielder and admitted yesterday
that "Nainggolan is a universal midfielder, so strong in every area
of the game that he is wanted by many clubs."
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