Juventus set to move for Chelsea's Makelele
Juventus are closing in on the Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele who has been told by his club that he can leave this summer as long as they find a replacement for him before the transfer window closes.
Makelele, 34, has just one year left on his current deal with Chelsea and, after playing a crucial role in their two Premiership titles, lost his place to John Obi Mikel at the end of last season. While Jose Mourinho believes that it will be either Mikel or Michael Essien who will be favourites for the holding midfield role this season, he would not allow Makelele to leave unless he could sign a replacement before the end of August.
The Juventus manager, Claudio Ranieri, signed Makelele from Real Madrid four years ago when he was in charge at Stamford Bridge and has targeted the France international again this summer. Chelsea have fears over the short-term fitness of Michael Ballack, who has had minor secondary surgery on his ankle, which has meant that Mourinho is short of central midfielders for the new season and is reluctant to sell without a replacement.
Makelele has asked Chelsea for a two-year extension to his deal which expires in July 2008 and earlier this year they made him an offer of a one-year extension which the he is understood to have turned down. Bought from Real Madrid for £16.6m, it has not helped Makelele's cause that he has continued to play for France in the current Euro 2008 qualification campaign.
Independent