Two Chinese clubs offer John Terry 'a new start' in 2012

A NEW YEAR and a new start for Chelsea defender John Terry? According to the Daily Express, the Blues' beleaguered skipper "is a target for China's top two clubs" who are keen to give him the chance to flee England and the racism row in which Terry finds himself embroiled. Shanghai Shenhua and Guangzhou Evergrande are both vying for the services of the 31-year-old, with the Express claiming that it would be a loan deal from now until the end of the season.

With Terry's former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka having already signed on at Shanghai for £175,000 a week, the Chinese league certainly has the funds to lure some of Europe's biggest stars and apparently it isn't a concern that Terry must appear in court next month to answer charges of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

The Express quotes Ted Buxton – who has worked with both the Chinese and England squads in recent years – as saying a move to the Far East could be beneficial for Terry. "The Chinese would look after Terry in every sense," said Buxton. "They are very loyal to those who do a good job."

Arsenal may have resigned Thierry Henry on a two-month loan deal but that doesn't seem to have impressed winger Theo Walcott who appears unsettled at the Emirates. The Daily Star says that the 22-year-old England star is demanding a new £85,000-a-week deal from manager Arsene Wenger – this despite the fact Walcott missed an absolute sitter against QPR on Saturday.

Walcott was woeful in the Gunners' 1-0 defeat of Rangers but that hasn't stopped him allegedly holding Arsenal to ransom, and the Star says that Chelsea, Juventus and Paris Saint Germain are all monitoring the situation.

Still with Arsenal and the Mirror says that though Henry is rekindling his love affair with the Gunners, it's German striker Lukas Podolski that Wenger has his sights set on in the long term. The Mirror claims that the 26-year-old Podolski has had a tiff with Cologne's director of sport, Volker Finke, and that could hasten his move to the Emirates, though apparently the Bundesliga outfit still want £12.5m in return for the player who has scored 14 times this season.

In other news, the father and agent of Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuaín has made an ambiguous statement concerning the Argentine hitman. In an interview with Spanish rag La Stampa Jorge Higuain was asked whether he was aware of rumours linking both Chelsea and Juventus to his son. "At Real Madrid nobody has been talking about wanting to sell Gonzalo and he also does not have any intention of leaving," replied Higuaín, who reminded the paper that Gonzalo was contracted to Real until 2016.

However, Higuain senior then described Chelsea and Juventus as "two great clubs... two huge opportunities" and said: "If someone told us that we are no longer welcome [at Madrid], I am sure that the offers would not be bad."

Rumours over the Christmas period suggested Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas might be given a £150m war chest with which to strengthen the Blues squad after their disastrous recent run that included a humiliating 3-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Metro reports that Liverpool are poised to turn to Darren Bent to solve their goal-scoring problems. The Reds have scored only 24 times in 19 league outings this season and apparently boss Kenny Dalglish believes the Aston Villa striker could provide the spark his frontline needs. It will cost Liverpool £24m to prise Bent from Villa Park but an offer is said to be pending as the Reds look to finish in the top four and secure a spot in next season's Champions League.

Finally, the Sun says that Manchester City are looking to reinvigorate their season with the signing of Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi. The Sky Blues have taken just one point from their last two league matches and that's apparently prompted manager Roberto Mancini to target the 28-year-old Italian international. The Sun quotes Mancini as saying: "De Rossi is a champion and would be the perfect man for City." ·