Report: Chelsea To Sanction Move For £35m Rated Star – Conte Wants Him In His Starting XI

With January transfer looming ahead, Chelsea are said to have highlighted top quality defenders as target. The Blues are in hunt of top quality defender that could serve as back up to struggling Gary Cahill.

According to report from the Mirror, Chelsea will have to mass out a huge sum of about £35m if they are lure their defensive target Ben Gibson away from Middlesbrough, although the club have no intention of selling him in the winter transfer.

Chelsea have been on a fine run of form of late, having won eight league games on a row conceding just two goal. It is however though that Italian tactician Antonio Conte is still not satisfied with his defensive options.

Chelsea defensive duo of John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic have struggled for game time in recent times. Both players contract with the Blues expires at the end of the season and Conte is reportedly not willing to offer the aging defenders new contracts.

Gibson who is just 23-years of age have been a key player for the Boro this season, he has helped his team to stay off the relegation zone.

Report also has it that a renewed bid for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly could take place in January, after the Serie A team rejected the Blues previous bids during the summer.