Chelsea Transfer News: Andreas Christensen Talks Planned Amid Latest Rumours

Chelsea are reportedly planning to begin talks with centre-back Andreas Christensen over a new long-term contract in the new year.

According to Simon Johnson in the Evening Standard, the Blues are keen to get him signed to new terms that extend beyond his current deal to 2020 before he goes away to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Christensen's impressive performances this season have seen him displace David Luiz in Antonio Conte's first team.

At just 21 years old he is already showing phenomenal composure in Chelsea's back line, and he has impressed BT Sport pundits Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole:

The Denmark international has inevitably been linked with a number of other top clubs after starring in the Premier League.

Calciomercato (via TalkSport) reported earlier this month that Inter Milan were keeping tabs on him, while former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin recently told Newstalk (via James Walters of the Daily Star) that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was eyeing him.

Chelsea will be eager to make sure they get him to commit to new terms as he has shown signs of potentially being one of the world's best defenders in years to come.

Christensen has not only impressed in 2017-18. He spent 2015-16 and 2016-17 on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach and starred in the Bundesliga and in Europe, per Goal's Nizaar Kinsella:

His emergence as Conte's preferred centre-back to play alongside Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta has led to talk that David Luiz could be set for the exit door at Stamford Bridge, per Steve Bates of the Mirror.

The Brazilian had a fine season in 2016-17 as Chelsea won the league but looked out of form earlier this term, and Christensen has taken up the opportunity to replace him with relish and now looks set to be rewarded with a new contract.