Jose Mourinho became Chelsea manager for the second time earlier this month and the Portuguese coach looks set to change the clubs squad considerably this summer, with Chelsea intend on bringing in many new faces that will push the club towards the top of the Premier League table. Here are the top ten targets that Chelsea could sign this summer.
10- Angel Di Maria- Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho made Di Maria a priority signing when he became Real Madrid coach three years ago and the player joined that same summer. The winger flourished under Mourinho at the Bernabeu, becoming a regular fixture in Madrid’s starting line-up. However, Di Maria’s future at Madrid is not so certain now that Mourinho has left the Bernabeu. Madrid are desperate to sign Spurs winger Gareth Bale and if Los Blancos are successful, there maybe no place in the clubs line-up for Di Maria.
This has led to speculation that the Argentine international may seek to move away from the Spanish capital in order to play first team football and if the winger does become available, Chelsea will surely be interested. Mourinho likes to have pacy, skilful wingers so that they can provide crosses for a centre forward and since Di Maria became a favourite of Mourinho’s during their time at Real Madrid, the Portuguese coach may take the opportunity to bring Di Maria to Stamford Bridge. At the moment Di Maria has said that he is happy at Madrid but if Gareth Bale does make the move to Los Blancos, Di Maria may well consider his options.
9- Wesley Sneijder- Galatasaray
The Dutch international formed a good relationship with Mourinho during the pair’s time together at Inter Milan and the Dutch star almost certainly enjoy the best period of his career under the Portuguese manager. Sneijder hasn’t been the same since Mourinho left Inter for Real Madrid and had a massive falling out with Inter, leading to the player leaving the club in January for Turkish club Galatasaray. While the play-maker has enjoyed his time with the Turkish giants, reports are beginning to mount that Mourinho may well want to bring Sneijder to Stamford Bridge and is said to favour the Dutchman over Chelsea’s current midfield play-maker Juan Mata.
Sneijder is sure to be interested in a move to Chelsea following the relationship that he had with Mourinho at Inter but at the moment the player has said that does not want to let Galatasaray down, although if Chelsea were to make a bid, the Dutchman might be persuaded to make a move. If a transfer doesn’t happen in the summer, Sneijder has indicated that he maybe interest in the January transfer window.
8- Daniele De Rossi- AS Roma
De Rossi is considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and has been coveted by many clubs even though he has stayed at Roma for all of his career. He was close to leaving the Italian club last season when Manchester City were interested but he decided to stay in the Italian capital. Things might be different now however, after the player suffered a difficult season at the club, falling out with the manager and suffering from poor form.
This has led to speculation that De Rossi may leave the club this summer and many see his most likely destination as Chelsea. Mourinho is known to be an admired of De Rossi and is looking for a central midfield enforcer that he can build his new-look team around. De Rossi has also indicated his admiration for the Premier League and would consider a move to England. However, Roma will not want to let their club captain go and new manager Rudi Garcia has already stated that he wants to keep De Rossi at the club.
7- Marouane Fellaini- Everton
The central midfielder has been one of Everton’s major stars ever since he signed from Standard Liege for £15 million and has become one of the Premier League’s best and most wanted midfielders. Fellaini has the ability to play in a wide variety of positions, from a deep defensive midfielder to an attacking midfielder playing just off the striker. He is also a towering presence from set pieces and has scored many goals from free-kicks and corners. Chelsea have been interested in Fellaini for awhile now and that has continued now that Jose Mourinho has come back to Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese coach is in the market for a strong central midfielder and Fellaini would certainly fit that bill. The problem for Chelsea however, is that many of their Premier League rivals are interested in Fellaini as well.
Arsenal are thought to have already triggered the midfielders £22 million buy-out clause, meaning they can discuss personal terms with the Belgian. Manchester United are also thought to be interested with new manager David Moyes having signed Fellaini for Everton when he was in charge at Goodison Park. Mourinho may well have to move fast if he is going to bring the Belgian midfielder to Stamford Bridge and will have to convince Fellaini to join Chelsea instead of their rivals.
6- Marco Van Ginkel- Vitesse Arnhem
Van Ginkel is one of the most highly-rated young attacking midfielders in Europe at the moment and has played a key role in the Dutch under 21’s run to the semi finals of the European Championships. His performances in Israel and for his club Vitesse Arnhem have led to speculation that the midfielder could be on his way to one of Europe’s bigger clubs, with Chelsea thought to be leading the race. Mourinho is looking to sign young players who he can blood into his side in the future and Van Ginkel will be a player that Mourinho will not want to let go.
The midfielder has already stated his desire to play in the Premier League but other clubs are also rumoured to be interested, with Manchester United recently joining the race for the Dutch star. Ajax were also admirers for a long time but gave up on signing Van Ginkel because they can’t compete with the money that the Premier League clubs spend. It looks as though it is between Chelsea and Manchester United and it could come down to which club offers Van Ginkel more first team football. The midfielder wants to be a part of Holland’s squad for next summers World Cup and Dutch national coach Louis Van Gaal has warned Van Ginkel that he will only be picked if he is playing regularly
5- Paulinho- Corinthians
The Brazilian star is currently lighting up the Confederations Cup with Brazil along with his team mates and the midfielder is one of the most promising players playing in Brazil at the moment. The 24 year old has long been linked with a move to Europe, where most of Brazil’s stars ply their trade. Inter Milan have long been interested in Paulinho and were reportedly close to signing him last season but the deal fell through. It seems certain that the midfielder will end up in Europe this summer and while Inter Milan are interested in him again, Tottenham appear to be front runners.
However, the North London club haven’t completed a £17 million deal for the Brazilian yet and many at Spurs are worried by the news that Chelsea are now interested in Paulinho. Last summer, the Blues signed Oscar from right under the noses of QPR and many at White Hart Lane think that Chelsea could do the same with Paulinho this summer.
4- Wayne Rooney- Manchester United
The Manchester United striker has been a key figure at Old Trafford ever since he joined the club from Everton and has flourished into a proven goalscorer. However, the England international didn’t have a particularly successful season at Old Trafford, despite the club winning the Premier League title back. Rooney struggled with poor form and often found himself on the bench for some of United’s biggest games. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that Rooney wanted to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, with the striker wanting a fresh start.
Since then speculation has increased about Rooney’s future at Old Trafford and Chelsea have been one of the many clubs that have been linked with the England striker. A player of Rooney’s quality would certainly interest Mourinho but if the player were to leave, it is unlikely that United would sell him to Chelsea, with the Blues being seen as one of United’s main rivals. The England striker would also prefer to stay at Old Trafford as his young family are settled in the North West and the player himself believes that moving to one of United’s Premier League rivals would be a step down.
3- Edin Dzeko- Manchester City
Despite scoring many crucial goals during his time at Manchester City, Edin Dzeko has struggled to hold down a regular spot in City’s starting eleven, often making his appearances from the bench. He has become a highly successful super-sub for City and scored the equaliser in the clubs 3-2 victory over QPR on the last day of the 2011-2012 season, helping the club to clinch the Premier League title. Despite his goal scoring success, starts at the club elude Dzeko and the striker is thought to be ready to move away from the Etihad in order to get some first team opportunities.
Chelsea are rumoured to be interested in the tall striker, with Jose Mourinho wanting to sign a strong, physical striker in the mould of Didier Drogba. The Portuguese coach has identified Dzeko as a striker who could fulfil that role in Chelsea’s side and Mourinho would give Dzeko more starting opportunities than he would get at City. Whether the Sky Blues will do business with a Premier League rival is unknown but Chelsea may have to put in a rather large bid for City to consider accepting it.
2- Hulk- Zenit St Petersburg
The Brazilian striker has been one of Europe’s most wanted strikers for many seasons now, right back to his days playing at Porto. Hulk made a £35 million move to Zenit only last summer, however, reports have suggested that the striker is considering his place in Russia. The striker has struggled to adapt to life in Russia and it is believed that he wants to move to one of Europe’s bigger clubs and Chelsea have been rumoured to be a possible destination.
Hulk himself has already suggested that there have been talks between himself and Chelsea and the striker has said that he will decide his future after the Confederations Cup in Brazil. Mourinho is on the look out for a strong, physical striker and Hulk certainly fits the bill, with his power and pace able to scare opposition defenders. One possible problem for Chelsea could be that Zenit will demand a huge transfer fee for a player they only signed a year ago. The Russian club are thought to be demanding £50 million for Hulk and want to at least make a profit on the striker. Chelsea are unlikely to pay that and the Blues will need to get Zenit down to a more reasonable asking price.
1- Edinson Cavani- Napoli
Cavani is understood to be Chelsea’s top target this summer with Mourinho looking to add the prolific striker to his new squad. The Uruguay international is one of the most highly rated strikers in the world and will bring plenty of goals with him to whatever club he moves to.
However, Chelsea aren’t the only team that are interested in Cavani, with Manchester United and Real Madrid also wanting to sign the striker. Real Madrid are understood to be the strikers preferred destination, with the players father stating that his son dreams of playing for Los Blancos, while Manchester United only recently joined the race for the Uruguayan and will meet Cavani’s agents in London to discuss a move. Chelsea will also meet the strikers agents but a possible problem for all interested clubs is that Cavani is set to demand a £300,000 a week contract. Napoli are also demanding £53 million for the striker and that coupled with the players wage demands means that Cavani is likely to be to expensive for all three clubs. The striker may have to lower his wage demands in order to force through a move away from Napoli.