Chelsea agree deal with defender

BRANISLAV IVANOVIC has agreed a contract extension with Chelsea, according to reports.

 

Ivanovic endured a dire start to the season at Chelsea

 

Having been named in the 2014-15 PFA Team of the Year, a sharp drop-off in form this season has seen the defender's future at Stamford Bridge questioned.

The 31-year-old's current deal expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a number of major European clubs including Inter Milan and Fiorentina.

However, Ivanovic has reportedly always wanted to stay with the Premier League champions.

 

And The Times claim the Serbian will sign a new contract next month to extend his Chelsea stay for at least another year, with a further year an option if he plays a certain number of games.

The deal is a standard contract at the London club who have a policy of offering only one-year deals to players over 30.

 

Ivanovic is the third longest-serving member of the Chelsea squad, having joined in 2008 from Lokomotiv Moscow.

In his six-year spell at the club, the defender has amassed 337 appearances across all competitions and won eight major trophies with Chelsea.