Man Utd Miss Out As Chelsea Close On £12m Defender Following 5-Year Contract Offer

With the January transfer window entering it’s final stages clubs are working hard to try and strengthen their squad for the second half of the season, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Chelsea close on a Man Utd target.

Manchester United fear they have missed out on the signing of Kurt Zouma as they believe the defender is heading to Premier League rivals Chelsea, according to the Daily Mail.

The 19-year-old centre-back is highly-rated in France and has been linked with a switch to England in recent months with Chelsea and Man Utd among the clubs understood to be interested.

The Blues installed themselves as favourites to land the imposing defender after Zouma confirmed earlier this month that he had already spoken with Jose Mourinho directly about a potential move to Stamford Bridge.

“There was advanced contact last month,”

“At the start I thought it was a joke but afterwards I quickly took his call seriously.

“When a great man like Jose Mourinho calls a little player like Kurt Zouma, it’s nice. It doesn’t happen every day and it’s a big sign of respect and confidence.” Zouma is quoted as saying by ESPN

The Mail are reporting that United recently enquired about Zouma’s availability only to learn that he’s set for a move to west London after Chelsea offered him a five-year contract on the basis that the £12m deal would be completed in the summer.

David Moyes is likely to be on the look-out for a long-term replacement for Rio Ferdinand and Zouma would have been an excellent future prospect at Old Trafford, but it appears they’ll have to look elsewhere now that he’s due to join Mourinho at the Bridge.

Newspapers claimed last week that Chelsea were on the verge of completing a deal as well so it certainly looks like this is in the pipeline and the Blues may decide to bring forward the move to ensure they beat United to his signature.

Should Zouma complete his proposed switch then he’s more than likely going to be the long-term replacement for John Terry with the veteran’s contract expiring at the end of the season. Even if the skipper does renew, he’s now 33 so is in the twilight of his career and will have to hang up his boots soon anyway, and Zouma could be the man to fill his sizeable boots.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE –> Chelsea transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

Do Chelsea fans think Zouma can replace Terry? Will Man Utd fans be disappointed to miss out? Share your views below.