John Terry picture

FULHAM are believed to have approached West London rivals Chelsea, over the availability of England Under 21 international John Terry.

A bid of around £7 million is set to be made by Jean Tigana, if the Blues give Terry the all clear to move.

The graduate of the Stamford Bridge youth system has seen his chances of first team football improve following the departure of Frank Leboeuf, but he still has Marcel Desailly, William Gallas and Winston Bogarde to challenge for just two spots and therefore it is unlikely he will start the season.

Tigana is getting desperate to bolster his squad and his defence is one area of concern, after he missed out on John Arne Riise and Martin Djetou.

Fulham brought in Alain Goma from Newcastle last season and he will be the first choice for The Cottagers, but with Chris Coleman still sidelined, Tigana has just the ageing duo of Andy Melville and Kit Symons to pick from and they are unlikely to be able to face a full Premiership campaign.

Despite Fulham`s interest Terry is likely to opt to stay with Chelsea, but he has previously stated that if he did not get first team football then he wold not stay for long.

"I have been reading about him (Gallas) in the papers," Terry said earlier this summer. "The fact that he is a central defender and he said he was looking forward to playing alongside Marcel Desailly has given me food for thought.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen next season when I get back. Will the manager play me or the new signing or Marcel? I just don't know. "I'll now have to go back and prove to the manager again that I should be first choice.

"It could be like Matthew Upson at Arsenal. If Arsene Wenger doesn't play Matty, I think he'll go. "It's the same for me. I'm not going to sit on the bench for two or three years just watching people play in my position. That would be a step back for me. "I want to play Premiership football week in, week out. I played 23 games last season in Chelsea's first-team and I need to keep improving."