Chelsea Transfer News: Conte Plotting Swoop For £30m-Rated Defender

Managers are now making moves to try and strengthen their squads during the January transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea are linked with Ben Gibson…

Chelsea are plotting a move for Middlesbrough’s £30m-rated centre-back Ben Gibson as Antonio Conte plans for life without skipper John Terry, according to the Mirror.

Terry has struggled to force his way in to Conte’s starting eleven on a consistent basis and the 36-year-old is expected to call time on his illustrious career in west London when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The former England captain has been linked with loan moves to other Premier League clubs this month but he’ll see-out the remainder of his contract with Chelsea before looking for a new challenge this summer.

Terry will certainly leave a huge void to fill in the Blues squad but it looks like Conte is already planning for the future with the Mirror claiming that the Italian coach has identified Gibson as his No.1 target.

The newspaper says that Chelsea have already had an initial approach knocked back and it will take an offer of around £30m to persuade Middlesbrough to cash-in on the 23-year-old this summer.

Gibson has developed in to one of the most promising young defenders in British football since breaking in to the ‘Boro first team having come through their youth ranks and he’s tipped to become a full England international after being a regular at U21 level.

Terry obviously has some huge boots to fill but Gibson has all the attributes to become a top class centre-back and I’m sure he’d find it difficult to turn down the opportunity to move to Stamford Bridge if a deal could be agreed.

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We’ll have to wait and see how things develop but I expect the speculation to intensify over the coming months and wouldn’t be surprised if Gibson ends up moving to Chelsea at the start of the summer.