Blues boss Antonio Conte may have to alter his transfer plans after reported number one transfer target Leonardo Bonucci picked up a knee injury which Gazetta dello Sport claim will keep him out for at least two months.
The 29-year-old is also a target for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but Conte is determined to reunite with the man he coached previously at Juventus and with Italy, and who also knows his system well. The injury may delay matters and mean that the club waits until the summer before making a move.
However, the club will be busy as reports in the Sun suggest that Thibaut Courtois is prepared to run his contract down until its expiry in 2018 to force a move to Real Madrid after the London club offered him a two year extension to his current deal, with no wage rise, before discussing terms on a new and improved contract.
The Belgian 24-year-old has been at the heart of a host of rumours regarding a potential return to Spain where he was previously on loan at Atletico Madrid, and it would be disastrous if the club were to lose him on a free transfer.
Club captain John Terry may also depart at the end of his current deal at the end of this season, as he told SFR Sport:
“I still want to play for a couple more years, whether that is here at Chelsea or somewhere abroad, I don’t know. It’s an option. I am contracted to Chelsea for this season and then will see after that. I’m doing my coaching badges. I don’t know if I want to be a coach but I want to do my badges and pass.”
Terry is a massive fans favourite but has struggled and failed to regain his place in the first team after an ankle injury unfortunately coincided with a turn around in form for Antonio Conte’s team.
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