Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Radja Nainggolan and Geoffrey Kondogbia

Radja Nainggolan's contract situation could see Chelsea revive their interest in the AS Roma man, while the Blues are reportedly set to rival Liverpool for the services of Geoffrey Kondogbia.

According to Belgian daily Het Nieuwsblad (h/t Calciomercato's Edo Dalmonte), Roma still haven't offered Nainggolan the contract extension he wants, and Chelsea have taken note.

The Belgium international turned down a move to London last summer, opting to stay in the Italian capital. Nainggolan has played most of his professional football in Italy, and it was no surprise to see him choose not to move his family to a new country.

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A new, lucrative contract extension was part of the deal to keep him in Rome, however, and the Giallorossi have yet to deliver. Coupled with some disappointing results and a lack of UEFA Champions League football, the 28-year-old is now said to be unhappy with his club.

The report also states manager Antonio Conte would be willing to sell Nemanja Matic to Manchester United in order to facilitate the move, but Het Nieuwsblad's Vince Van Genechten thinks Roma won't sign off on the deal:

Nainggolan remains one of the top central midfielders in Serie A, a combative wrecking ball who surprises with solid passing range and vision. Defensively, he's a top contributor who does a superb job winning back the ball and breaking up attacks, but he can assist and score as well.

It's no surprise Belgium's national team started living up to its lofty expectations when he finally got his chance to join the Red Devils, although he has missed their last couple of matches while returning from injury.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Conte has brought the best out of Matic this season, but there's little doubt Nainggolan would be an upgrade for the Blues. His personal situation has barely changed, however—he's still married to an Italian woman and more likely to stay on the peninsula than move to a different country.

The lack of a contract extension is reason for optimism, but Roma battled so hard to keep their star during the summer, they won't give up just a few months later. If Nainggolan is really that unhappy, expect him to be rewarded with a new deal soon.

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Meanwhile, Neil Fissler of the Sunday Express (h/t Daily Star's Alex Harris) reports Conte will rival Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for Kondogbia, a former Reds transfer target who hasn't found much success in Serie A since moving to Inter Milan.

Premier League fans may know the Frenchman best from his starring performance for AS Monaco against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League back in the 2014-15 campaign, where he put together a stunning showing to become one of the most wanted midfielders on the transfer market.

He opted to move to Inter, where he's been one of the biggest victims of the club's dreadful management. The 23-year-old was never used the right way by former head coach Frank de Boer, although he did flash his talent on occasion. Here are some examples:

He's been in far better form under new boss Stefano Pioli and put together a solid showing in the derby against Milan, but his future in the Italian fashion capital still seems unclear. Per France Football (h/t Goal's Alex Fisher), his agent has already hinted at a move, although the player told reporters to listen to him, not his representative.

Kondogbia has tremendous talent, and Conte has a tendency of getting the most out of players who have previously underperformed―the emergence of Victor Moses is a great example.

The Inter man has shown little to suggest he's ready to make good on his potential, however. He's often stood out for the wrong reasons on the pitch, including in that derby against Milan, as shared by this fan:

Inter are unlikely to sell in January, with their new ownership more focused on improving the quality of the squad. Kondogbia could be worth a punt for the right value, but it's unlikely the Nerazzurri will accept a lower fee.