These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Blues linked with young centre-back

According to a report in Le 10 Sport, Chelsea have been linked with 20-year-old Mohamed Simakan from Strasbourg.

'The defender has played every minute of this season’s Ligue 1 campaign and could leave the club in January, with the Blues reportedly in the chase for his signature,' states the report.

'Simakan is said to be valued at around £13.5m, while AC Milan and Nice are also reportedly interested in acquiring the 20-year-old’s services.'

According to the report, Simakan could be viewed as one for the future at Stamford Bridge, with Kurt Zouma and Thiago Silva forming a strong partnership at the back this season.

Simakan has made 17 appearances, scoring one goal and adding one assist.

Van Ginkel ready for return

Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel is ready to return to first-team action, after being out for over two years through injury issues.

The Dutch midfielder is currently on loan at PSV and has opened up about how ready he is to get back on the pitch.

Speaking to ESPN, Van Ginkel gave an update on his progress since the serious knee injury that has sidelined him for so long.

‘The knee is doing well, we are doing well,’ the midfielder said. ‘For the last two weeks, I have been doing everything with the group again.

‘Now that I’m so close again, it’s starting to itch again. In the past two weeks. I have taken steps and now I have to take a step towards the games.’

The Dutchman will be looking forward to finally getting minutes for the first time since 2018 and credits the desire that has kept him pushing.

‘Eventually, you find out that football is really your thing,’ he said. ‘That fire has always kept burning and it will do so for the time being.

‘When you are that close, you know you have not done everything for nothing.’

Thompson reveals Terry’s 'close' Liverpool transfer

Phil Thompson claims John Terry came close to signing for Liverpool in 2003.

Speaking on Paddy Power’s From The Horse’s Mouth podcast, Thompson revealed how Gerard Houllier tried to sign the former England international and has outlined how he remembers the conversation going with our former captain.

‘One of the strangest transfers that nearly happened was John Terry coming to Liverpool,’ Thompson claimed on the podcast. ‘In the final game of the 2002/03 season, it was like a play-off game to get in the Champions League when we played Chelsea away.’

According to the former Liverpool assistant coach, himself and Reds manager at the time Houllier believed the centre-back was not being offered a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

‘As the Chelsea players were walking around the pitch for the tradition lap of honour, Houllier went to shake Terry’s hand and asked him, “how would you like to play for Liverpool?”

‘After, we sent one of our coaches into the players’ lounge to ask for his agent’s phone number.

‘A couple of weeks later, Abramovich took over, and his first dealings were signing Terry and Lampard to big contracts – so we were that far away from getting him.’

The deal never happened and Roman Abramovich took over that summer. The former centre-back went on to become Chelsea’s most decorated player of all-time winning five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League.