Chelsea are reportedly considering throwing Branislav Ivanovic into a swap deal for Radja Nainggolan.
GetWestLondon yesterday revealed the Blues and Roma are struggling to settle on a valuation for the midfield destroyer.
The Blues are thought to be €10million short of the Serie A club’s €45m asking price for the Belgian star and negotiations are at a delicate stage.
However, Nainggolan remains very much on Antonio Conte’s shopping list and is a player the supremo previously attempted to sign while in charge of Juventus.
Incoming boss Conte is also still keen to tempt his former Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci to Stamford Bridge and this could see Ivanovic’s future called into question.
The 32-year-old signed a new one-year contract with the Blues in January as the west Londoners closed the door on a potential free transfer for the Serbian this summer.
But The Mirror reports that Ivanovic could still leave the capital when the transfer window re-opens and Chelsea are considering using him as bait for Nainggolan.
Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini was spotted at the Bridge on Friday, adding fuel to the fire as Chelsea prepare for a major rebuilding project in west London.
The Italian club denied suggestions Sabatini was in England to discuss Nainggolan and claim he was instead holding a meeting over the future of Mohamed Salah.
Roma director Mauro Baldissoni said: “Just because someone takes a photo while you’re at Chelsea , people assumed all sorts of things.
“They don’t know he could’ve visited Arsenal, Tottenham and other clubs to find out who is on the market and who isn’t.
Antonio Conte's rumoured summer shopping list in pictures:
“Besides, he was there accompanied by Mohamed Salah’s agent and that is a player we will be buying outright this summer.
“The media have been saying for four years that we have to sell big stars. There’s nothing indispensable.
“A player could be sold to bring in fresh funds and sign different figures, but it would in any case be a choice.
“We will make choices within the club with the perspective of Coach and players to see how we can reinforce and improve Roma.
“It is very reductive for the media to claim we are forced to sell players every transfer window.”
Salah has spent the season on loan at Roma and Sabatini is looking to seal a permanent £15million deal for the Egyptian.
