Chelsea midfielder's refusal to sign a new deal as he gives Chelsea two days to sort out move to Manchester United.

According to various reports this morning, Nemanja Matic has demanded that Chelsea sanction a £40m move to Manchester United within the next 48 hours. 

Being honest, I couldn't understand why on earth Antonio Conte would be willing to let Nemanja Matic leave Chelsea after his performances last season. A commanding midfielder who is also good with the ball at his feet, Matic formed an impressive partnership with N'Golo Kante within the heart of our midfield as we won the Premier League title for the fifth time and our second in three seasons.

However, it has come to light that Conte and Chelsea were more than willing to tie the Serbian midfielder down to a new long-term contract which was REJECTED by the player as he wants to re-sign for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

Nemanja Matic is now training alone at Cobham and has been left out of our pre-season tour of the Far East with a move away from Chelsea looking certain within a matter of days but, it's unclear if he will get his wish to sign for Jose Mourinho once again.

With the club signing Tiemoue Bakayoko as a direct replacement, Antonio Conte has sanctioned the sale of Matic with both Arsenal and Juventus keen to sign him in addition to United. Both Arsenal and Juventus are prepared to offer the 28-year-old a three year contract at a reported £120,000 per week with Manchester United offering a four-year deal at £150,000 per week.

Chelsea have slapped a price tag of £40m on Matic and will not sell him for anything less and this has annoyed Mourinho as he believed he could sign him for around £32m. Reports have stated that Matic himself has personally seen the directors of the club and has demanded that the club lowers it's asking price to get the deal sorted out as quickly as possible.

Having beaten Chelsea to the signing of Romelu Lukaku leaving Antonio Conte fuming with Manchester United and the player himself , I cannot see him or Chelsea entertaining the idea of lowering the asking price so it's now down to Manchester United.

One way or the other, Nemanja Matic will not be a Chelsea player by the beginning of the Premier League season. I just wonder if he can force a move to United or if Arsenal or Juventus will have their say now?

As I said, I really, really rate Matic in our midfield and the job he has done for us in the last three seasons. However, if he has rejected a contract and refused to commit to Chelsea under Antonio Conte then there is only one way forward for him and that's out the door.

Expect a deal to be completed ASAP.