Chelsea have been rocked by the news that skipper John Terry is likely to be out until the middle of next month - and that could hasten a move for Inter Milan's Brazilian defender Maicon Douglas, reports the Daily Mail.

The need to reinforce a defence that wobbled alarmingly against Newcastle has been intensified with the latest fitness bulletins to emerge about Terry and his three broken metatarsals.

He is now virtually certain to miss England's first game under Fabio Capello against Switzerland on February 6.

Terry has not even been able to carry out basic gym work as part of his rehabilitation.

The Chelsea captain is unable to put any weight on the foot or undergo any exercise regime and he is facing up to another month on the sidelines. Inter are prepared to sell Douglas, 26 - but are demanding a fee of £20m.