Struggling Chelsea defender in talks over January France exit

Papy Djilobodji has made one fleeting appearance for Chelsea

 

MARSEILLE are in talks over a January move for Chelsea defender Papy Djilobodji.

 

The 27-year-old signed from Nantes in the summer as Jose Mourinho sought a replacement for the ageing John Terry.

The Chelsea boss had hoped to tempt Everton star John Stones to Stamford Bridge, but when that bid was rejected, Mourinho made a move for Nantes defender Djilobodji.

The Senegalese international signed on a four-year deal for a fee of around £3million, but has since made just one appearance, as an injury-time substitute in the Capital One Cup third round win over Walsall.

 

Having fallen behind Terry, Kurt Zouma, Gary Cahill, and Baba Rahman in the pecking order at centre-back, Djilobodji is now looking for a quick way out of Stamford Bridge.

According to Fichajes, Marseille have been keeping an eye on the defender since his time in Ligue 1, and are interested in signing him in the January transfer window to aid their bid to move up the table from their current ninth position.

 

Chelsea are set to renew their pursuit of Stones in the January window, with Mourinho surprised by the speed of the decline of his captain Terry.

If the Portuguese is still in charge, he will be submitting a £40million bid for the Everton centre-back, potentially dropping Djilobodji even further down the squad list, and closer to departure.