Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Kostas Manolas, Laurent Koscielny Rumours

AS Roma are reportedly fighting hard to keep hold of centre-back and Arsenal transfer target Kostas Manolas, setting a price of close to £38 million on his head. Meanwhile, fresh rumours claim Bayern Munich are eyeing Laurent Koscielny as a depth option.

According to Goal's Chris Wheatley, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are each keeping an eye on Manolas, whose future in the Italian capital is in doubt after his agent confirmed he turned down a contract extension, per LaRoma24.it (h/t Football Italia).

Despite the setback, the Giallorossi are desperate to keep hold of the Greece international and will hold out for a fee of €45 million. So far, no club has launched an offer for the 25-year-old.

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Per Wheatley, Roma don't want to sell Manolas due to the injury suffered by Antonio Rudiger, his usual partner in defence. The Germany international will take some time to return to the bench, and with limited depth options available, selling Manolas now would be a huge risk.

On top of that, Wheatley reports former club Olympiacos owns 50 percent of Manolas' sell-on fee, so it will require a big offer to tempt Roma into cashing in. Per the report, the clause is negotiable, and the Greek side may be forced to accept a smaller cut of the deal.

Here's a look at some of Manolas' top highlights:

Manolas is a strong, athletic centre-back who loves to throw his body around and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He's a solid option in the passing game but mainly stands out for his defensive contributions. In many ways, he's a throwback option in an age where most defenders seem to focus on the buildup game.

His strong form last season may have attracted the attention of Premier League teams, but the Italian media seem adamant he won't be leaving his current club. Sky Sports' Fabrizio Romano and David Amoyal of GianlucaDiMarzio.com both poured cold water on the rumours:

His decision not to renew with the Giallorossi means the door won't completely close, however. A summer move may be unlikely, but when Rudiger returns to health and Roma find more defensive depth, their stance will likely soften.

Elsewhere, Neil Fissler of the Daily Express reports Koscielny's current contract situation has attracted the attention of Bundesliga giants Bayern, who would love to add the France international as a depth option.

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Koscielny only has one year left on his current deal, and according to the report, talks over a new contract have stalled. The 30-year-old's value is at an all-time high after an impressive showing at UEFA Euro 2016, and Fissler doubts whether he would be content with a backup role at the Allianz Arena, where Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels are expected to start.

As shared by WhoScored.com, the Gunners have every reason not to sell their top defensive option:

The report Bayern are looking at Koscielny will surely raise some eyebrows―the Bavarians have two world-class starters and plenty of depth at the position. And after investing in Hummels earlier this summer, they're unlikely to splash the cash on yet another defender.

Sport Witness took a look at claims Arsenal are looking to offload Koscielny to raise cash for Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain, a theory floated by Radio Kiss Kiss (via Area Napoli and ItsaSportPress), but they mostly found reports suggesting any deal is far from complete.

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Either way, a move to Munich makes little sense for any of the parties involved. Arsenal could move for Higuain, but the loss of Koscielny would create a massive hole in their defence that would be difficult to fill, even if the aforementioned Manolas moved to the Emirates Stadium.

Bayern have no real use for Koscielny, who would be a luxury option on their bench, and the Frenchman is too good to be a backup and has yet to give any indication he's unhappy in north London.

A contract extension seems far more likely, but until the new deal is signed, rumours will continue to swirl.