Gossip: Ivanovic, Terry, Ozil, Byram…

Matt Stead

Chelsea have begun their quest to find a replacement for Branislav Ivanovic, Fenerbahce want John Terry and Mesut Ozil, Swansea are targeting Leeds defender Sam Byram…

 

CHELSEA BEGIN RIGHT BACK SEARCH
Branislav Ivanovic has been great for Chelsea since signing in 2008. Branislav Ivanovic is no longer very good. Chelsea want someone to replace Branislav Ivanovic.

That’s the gist of what the Daily Mail are saying on this fine Friday morning. The Serbia international has been one of the main culprits when it comes to Chelsea’s poor start to the season, and it looks like Jose Mourinho has lost patience.

Ivanovic was conspicuous by his absence on Wednesday as the Blues opened their Champions League campaign with Baba Rahman’s debut at left back facilitating Cesar Azpilicueta’s switch over to the right.

Whether that is a long-term solution is debatable however, and Mourinho has asked his scouts to find him a replacement for the future.

The Daily Mirror get in on the act, too. They claim that both Ivanovic and captain John Terry are “unsure of their Chelsea futures”.

Both are out of contract in the summer and are free to talk to other clubs in January, and the Mirror’s John Cross claims Turkish club Fenerbahce are interested in signing the defensive duo.

 

OZIL: SHOULD HE STAY OR SHOULD HE GO?
Ivanovic and Terry aren’t the only Premier League stars who are attracting interest from Fenerbahce, of course. Mesut Ozil’s agent was busy fluttering his eyelashes in their direction on Thursday.

However, it seems those quotes aren’t exactly as they seem. “Fenerbahçe are serious but it all depends on what answer Arsenal give. It will all become clear at the end of the season,” was Erkut Sogut’s statement as deciphered by the British press. However, it appears the quotes weren’t quite so blatant…

According to new translations, what Sogut actually said was: “If he were to leave, Fenerbahce would be an option. After all, they are one of Turkey’s biggest clubs. I don’t know what Arsenal would give as an answer right now, let’s look at it again at the end of the season.”

So there we go.

 

SWANSEA TARGET LEEDS DEFENDER
Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool and Southampton have previously been credited with an interest, but it seems that Swansea have joined the chase for Leeds right-back Sam Byram.

The Mirror claims that contract talks between Byram and his club have broken down, and the 22-year-old, who can also operate on the wing, is now firmly on Garry Monk’s radar at Swansea.

Bill Cooper reckons it could take an £8million offer come January for Byram to depart for south Wales.

 

AND THE REST…
Chelsea are following Red Star Belgrade’s talented midfielder Marko Grujic. Jose Mourinho wants his scouts to find defensive midfield options after being left disappointed by his squad’s start this term…Arsene Wenger will carry on rotating his squad – even after Arsenal’s Champions League disaster in Zagreb…Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been told to deliver a Champions League quarter-final place to help the club reach their financial targets…Striker James Wilson is set to stay at Manchester United, according to Wolves boss Kenny Jackett…Diego Costa has rubbished suggestions that he could leave Chelsea…Barcelona are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan after Rafinha suffered a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg.