Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Radja Nainggolan, Paul Pogba Rumours

Chelsea reportedly believe they’re likely to sign AS Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan during the summer transfer window, but Juventus star Paul Pogba will not be leaving the Bianconeri anytime soon.

According to ESPN FC’s Peter O’Rourke, the Blues are growing ever more confident Nainggolan will move to Stamford Bridge, and the club has already opened negotiations with the Giallorossi.

VINCENZO PINTO/Getty Images

Per the report, multiple sources claim the Belgium international is intrigued by the possibility of playing for Chelsea, and incoming manager Antonio Conte is a big fan of the versatile midfielder:

"

Conte is a long-term admirer of Nainggolan having come up against him on several occasions as manager of Juventus and he sees him as adding greater energy to the Chelsea midfield next season.

Nainggolan is regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe after impressing for Roma since his move from Cagliari in 2014, and he is set to feature for Belgium at this summer's Euro 2016 finals.

"

The 27-year-old can play as a defensive midfielder or a box-to-box option and is known for his incredible energy and defensive prowess. He loves to get physical and can run for days, and his distribution has improved dramatically since moving to the Italian capital.

Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

Conte was known as a high-energy midfielder during his playing days with Juventus, and as a manager, he has built his squads around similar players. In Turin, he had Arturo Vidal at his disposal, and the Chilean became the heartbeat of that Juventus side.

Nainggolan brings many of the same traits to the table as Vidal, and while he may not be as well-known as the Chile international was during his time in Turin, that mainly has to do with the fact Roma don’t get as much exposure in Europe.

Per ESPN FC’s David Amoyal, the Belgian international is currently a better option than Vidal was when he was sold to Bayern Munich:

Bleacher Report’s Adam Digby is also a fan:

If the Blues want to land Nainggolan this summer, it will be vital to get a deal done before the start of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament. The midfielder will likely start alongside Zenit St. Petersburg’s Axel Witsel for Belgium, and he’s in line for a breakout tournament that would increase his value dramatically.

O’Rourke believes Roma will hold out for £35 million, which is a fair price in today’s market. If Nainggolan has the kind of impact Vidal had on Conte’s teams in the past, it would end up being a major bargain.

MARCO BERTORELLO/Getty Images

Elsewhere, Italian daily Tuttosport (h/t Daily Star’s Marc Williams)  reports Pogba has decided to stay with Juventus, turning down moves to Chelsea and Manchester City in the process.

The Bianconeri have dropped numerous hints the Frenchman will not be sold in the past few weeks, and manager Massimiliano Allegri became the latest during a recent interview, per James Horncastle of BT Sport:

According to Tuttosport, Pogba has now told the club he wants to stay, as he believes Juventus’ young core, consisting of the likes of Paulo Dybala, Alex Sandro and Alvaro Morata, is capable of great things.

Pogba struggled early in the 2015-16 campaign following the departures of Vidal and Andrea Pirlo, but he soon rediscovered his form and played an instrumental role in Juventus’ rise up the Serie A standings.

The France international added yet another skill to his impressive set of abilities, becoming a top distributor of the ball in the final third, per OptaPaolo:

He’s already one of the most well-rounded players in the world, combining athleticism and incredible technique with vision well beyond his years and a superb shot from long distance. Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

It’s easy to forget Pogba is still just 23 years old, and while he may struggle with consistency from time to time, that’s only to be expected from such a young player. He took massive strides in that department during the 2015-16 campaign, and the sky appears to be the limit for the youngster.

Juventus are expected to fight tooth and nail to keep him in Turin, and with so much young talent distributed evenly through what is already a fantastic squad, it’s easy to see why Pogba would want to stay put.

Follow @ReverschPass