Arsenal join Manchester United and Chelsea in race for Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan
Luis Enrique is favourite to succeed Arsenal Wenger and wants £45million Belgian star for his Emirates revolution
ARSENAL have joined Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for Radja Nainggolan.
The Roma midfielder has long been a Premier League target and has excelled again this season in the Italians’ unlikely run to the Champions League semi-finals.
But the Italians could still be forced to sell to balance the books in the summer and Nainggolan, 29, remains one of their most valuable assets.
Arsenal are now likely to be at the front of the queue as they look to rebuild in life after Arsene Wenger.
Nainggolan - who turns 30 next month - would represent an instant diversion from Wenger’s age policy.
But Luis Enrique, bookies’ favourite to take over at the Emirates, is a keen admirer and would see the Belgian as central to his Gunners revolution.
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The former Barcelona boss will face stiff competition and will likely have to splash upwards of £45million to land his man.
But Nainggolan could be tempted to choose under-achieving Arsenal after admitting he never wants to join a “winning team”.
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Earlier this month, he admitted: “I’ve never won anything, but I think that for those who know me, I’ve always played to win.
“Sometimes I prefer to take the hardest path. It would be too easy to go to a winning team and win.
“For me, it’s better to be a leading light for a less-favoured team and win with them.
“I chose Roma for that reason too. It’s an important club, and a club like Roma deserve to win something important.”