Chelsea try again, bid again, fail again in pursuit of Roma midfielder — report

Last night we heard that Chelsea were supposedly switching targets from Radja Nainggolan to his international teammate Axel Witsel as far as midfield reinforcements go.  Here then is perhaps what caused that change in strategy.

Newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Chelsea had submitted a €37 million transfer bid to Roma for Nainggolan; other sources such as journalists Gianluca Di Marzio and Fabrizio Romano claim the club offered upwards of €40 million.  Regardless of that discrepancy, they all agree that Roma refused this bid, just as they had the two previous ones.

As far as Nainggolan himself, he seems quite content to stay, get a pay raise, and continue to make memories in the Eternal City.

"Right now I'm concentrated here [at the Euros], but I'm very happy where I am. I'm not someone who changes team often. For now my focus is here, then we'll see what happens."

-Radja Nainggolan; Source: Sky via Football Italia

Roma have not once given any hints of allowing Nainggolan to go, so maybe Chelsea finally got the hint.