Chelsea Transfer News: Victor Lindelof Release Clause Revealed, Latest Rumours

Chelsea have reportedly been told they'll need to pay the full value of Victor Lindelof's release clause if they're to beat Juventus to the Benfica defender's signature. Meanwhile, Mikel John Obi could leave Stamford Bridge in January. 

Both the Blues and the Bianconeri have been associated as two of the Sweden international's biggest admirers, although his €30 million (£25.8 million) release clause could put the latter off a deal, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.

Premier League giants Chelsea would undoubtedly be the better-equipped outfit to splash such a sum in the winter transfer window, although Portuguese newspaper A Bola (h/t Calciomercato) reported Inter and AC Milan are also interested.

The Guardian's Alan Smith reported Lindelof joined Benfica from Vasteras in January 2012 for just €60,000, although Metro's Primeira Liga expert Jan Hagen confirmed the Swedish club won't be due any sell-on percentage:

The fact Lindelof's 2015 contract extension prevents his former employers from collecting any future fees works in Chelsea's favour due to the fact Benfica are more likely to be content with his sale price as a result.

The west Londoners look likely to be facing big competition for his signature, however, as ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson cited French newspaper L'Equipe, which said Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain are also in the hunt:

Chelsea centre-back John Terry looks likely to move on to pastures new at the end of this season, and mobile defenders such as Lindelof may be the kind manager Antonio Conte is seeking as part of his new three-man back line.

David Luiz is already flourishing under Conte's tutelage, and Lindelof, who can also play in defensive midfield, could be another who would come to thrive as part of the 3-4-3 formation favoured by the Chelsea chief. There is a spanner in the works for the Blues, however, as recently noted by Johnson:

Elsewhere, there is the possibility Mikel—out of contract at the end of this season—could leave the west Londoners during the winter transfer window after failing to feature under Conte so far this season.

Alongside Terry, the Nigeria international is one of the longest-serving members of the current Chelsea squad, having arrived in 2006, and he told ESPN FC (h/t MailOnline's Ben Grounds) he may be forced to leave:

"

We will wait and see what happens in January. For the first time in my career, this is happening to me and I have to stand up and deal with it.

It is what it is but I'm training hard every day and I always wish the team the best and I am happy we are doing well.

I've been at Chelsea a long time. Managers come and go, players come and go. I've been at Chelsea a long time and these things happen in football. So we will have to make that decision when January comes.

"

N'Golo Kante's arrival from Leicester City is a large factor in why Mikel has fallen out of Chelsea's first-team plans, while Nemanja Matic has also enjoyed a resurgence in midfield under the new Stamford Bridge chief.

Mikel would be free to sign a pre-contract agreement in January ahead of a free transfer away from Chelsea next summer, although some suitors may see enough value in the 29-year-old to pursue a January transfer offer for his services.