Chelsea transfer news and rumours: £24m bid for Napoli's Faouzi Ghoulam, John Terry set for China

All the latest transfer news and speculation from Stamford Bridge on Thursday 1 December

Faouzi Ghoulam (Getty Images)

With the Chelsea transfer rumour machine churning out plenty of big names, Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam is the latest in the frame for the Stamford Bridge side.

Ghoulam, 25, was a target for Chelsea during the summer, and with good reason. The Algerian is a versatile defender who is equally comfortable playing in a back three or back four – making him ideally suited for Antonio Conte’s table-topping side.

He has already turned down a move to Chelsea in the summer in favour of staying in Naples to try to help his side reach the Champions League this season.

According to reports on Thursday, however, Chelsea could be about to try their luck again with a £24 million move in January. The Sun claims Conte is keen to add to his defensive options and believes Ghoulam could be an alternative to Marcos Alonso.

Whether Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri will be willing to part with one of his key players at such an important stage of the season is another matter.

John Terry, meanwhile, could be about to bring down the curtain on his career in China. With the centre-back unlikely to be offered a new deal once his current one expires at the end of the season, Chinese Super League clubs are queuing up for his signature.

And the London Evening Standard reports the 35-year-old is considering a move to Asia.

With John Mikel Obi being rumoured to be off to Manchester United, the player’s agent has now spoken out. Reports this week claimed the 29-year-old is wanted by Manchester United.


 John Obi Mikel could head to Manchester United

Now his agent, John Shittu, says that deal could indeed be a possibility. “The manager, club and player have been talking,” Shittu said. “I am not in a position to tell about what they have been speaking about. In the next few weeks things should be clearer.”