John Terry is due to have a meeting with Carlo Ancelotti at the Chelsea training ground today, but a possible move for the centre back to Manchester City is likely to be referred to only in passing.

With Terry and the rest of those on international duty with England and Portugal not previously due back for pre-season training, today offers the first opportunity for captain and manager to sit down and talk. If Terry has anything to say about City’s interest, it is likely to be to thank Ancelotti for his declaration on Monday that his role as Chelsea captain is secure for the duration of his career. Terry is understood to have communicated his satisfaction with the manager’s stance.

Consolidation is the order of the day. Contract negotiations with Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Joe Cole are believed to be progressing, while the rumoured departures of Deco and Ricardo Carvalho to Inter Milan are not said to be imminent.

Chelsea remain committed to breaking even by next year, subject to the availability of what Bruce Buck, the chairman, calls “a marquee name”. However, that will not mean an increase in the club’s valuation of Franck Ribéry, the Bayern Munich and France winger.

More in line with the club’s new economic thinking is the signing of Ross Turnbull, who was presented yesterday after allowing his contract with Middlesbrough to expire.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper conceded five times when Chelsea visited the Riverside Stadium last season, but his new club saw something and had a closer look when Middlesbrough visited Stamford Bridge. “When we played down here, Christophe [Lollichon], the goalkeeping coach, videoed the warm-up, looked at my technique and was impressed,” Turnbull said. “It was obviously a good warm-up.”