Paper Round: Chelsea to move for Paris Saint-Germain's Blaise Matuidi
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes he has found his midfield solution - by looking to the club's European rivals in Paris. That and more in Wednesday's papers.
Chelsea target PSG midfielder Matuidi - Jose Mourinho wants Paris St-Germain star Blaise Matuidi as John Obi Mikel's replacement at Chelsea, according to a report in the Daily Star. The Blues boss is reportedly ready to axe the Nigeria international, and the French midfielder is earmarked to fill the void. The Parisians are unlikely to be willing to sell the France international, but may be tempted by a mega-money offer from Chelsea.
Paper Round’s view: Matuidi is a key man in Laurent Blanc's midfield alongside Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti and is contracted until 2018 in Paris. He would likely command a fee of upwards of £30 million so Mourinho will need to spend big if he is to acquire the midfielder’s services. Manchester United and Chelsea have both been linked to Matuidi in the past but neither has made a convincing move for the player, who moved to the French champions in 2011 from St-Etienne. He could be just the man Mourinho needs to shore up his midfield.
Terry won't give up on Chelsea career - John Terry has been sent to Chelsea's second team and his contract at Stamford Bridge expires after the season, but The Mail believe he's not ready to quit on the club. The defender believes he can still turn things around and with some better play, earn back Jose Mourinho's trust. If that happens, and Terry plays enough, he thinks that the club will offer him a new contract.
Paper Round's view - Terry's form early in the season has been abysmal, but it's not as if the rest of the team has been sparkling or Chelsea have a slew of other defenders. Terry has been written off before and he came back to earn his spot in the team back. He's 34 years old now so it wouldn't be a surprise if he never got his top level form back and left Chelsea in the summer -- it's likely, in fact -- but it's a little early to rule it out entirely so Terry might as well keep believing it.
Chelsea captain John Terry - PA Sport
Jones to make surprise return - Phil Jones will be back in the Manchester United team for tonight's League Cup clash with Ipswich Town, according to The Express. Jones's return is a surprise, but necessary after Marcos Rojo's injury. "He is not fit. Maybe he can play 30 minutes," Louis van Gaal said as the defender eyes his first appearance of the season after suffering a blood clot just before the campaign started.
Paper Round's view - Rojo's injury has United in trouble, but it's not like they've been in good shape at the back anyway. Starting Daley Blind in the centre of defence is hardly ideal and getting Jones back will allow them to go to a more preferable back line. Of course, it would be nice if he could be eased back and get his legs under him, but injuries may not allow that to happen.
Manchester United's Phil Jones - Reuters
Rojo will not leave United - Rojo's relationship with Van Gaal is not ideal right now, but his agent made it clear that the defender would not quit the club. Rojo first upset Van Gaal when he didn't go on the team's pre-season tour of the USA and spent much of the early part of the season on the bench, but Luke Shaw's injury gives him an opening and he's ready to stay. “The player is happy at United and has no intention of leaving the club,” Rojo's agent said.
Paper Round's view - Rojo is getting paid handsomely, as all Manchester United players do. He also has a chance for some playing time thanks to Shaw's injury and, really, there is always an opportunity for a defender to force their way into the first team considering the club's struggles at the back. With all that, Rojo has no reason to quit now and should try to make it work at Old Trafford.
Marcos Rojo - Imago
QPR eyeing Morrison - Queens Park Rangers are ready to make a run at Ravel Morrison, according to the Evening Standard. Morrison joined Lazio in February, but has only played twice and there are rumours that he's never quite settled in there. QPR tried to sign the 22-year-old on August and now that Morrison's status at Lazio hasn't improved, they're ready to try again.
Paper Round's view - Not only is Morrison not playing, but Lazio manager Stefano Pioli hasn't been shy about expressing the problems that the Englishman has had. It's tough to imagine him ever cracking the team at Lazio and the Italian club would almost assuredly be open to selling him. If QPR are serious about signing him, they can probably nab him.
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