TRANSFER NEWS: Chelsea Set For January Tussle For £11m Dutch Star

Chelsea face stiff competition to land long-term target Gregory van der Wiel with Inter Milan and Juventus preparing a January bid for the Ajax star.

The Blues have been long term admirers of the promising full-back, but Ajax have previously refuted advances for the Holland international. Talksport reports that Ajax are finally resigned to losing der Wiel in the not so distant future and are prepared to sell the defender to the highest bidder in January.

Both Inter and Juventus have made van der Wiel their top priority when the transfer window re-opens and are willing to start the bidding at around £11m. The interest from the Italian clubs could prompt Andre Villas-Boas to move for the youngster, who could be set to replace aging right backs Paulo Ferreira and Jose Bosingwa.

The former Porto chief has already started to inject much need youth into his ageing squad, with summer arrivals at the Bridge including midfielder Oriol Romeu, 19, from Barcelona; striker Romelu Lukaku, 18, from Anderlecht; and playmaker Juan Mata, 23, from Valencia.