Players who should be on the Stamford Bridge radar.
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The Blues have already recruited Bayern Leverkusen forward Andre Schurrle, Dutch attacking midfielder Marco van Ginkel and veteran keeper Mark Schwarzer as new Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho prepares for life back in the Premier League.
Mourinho has previously stated that Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is the club’s last remaining target this summer and the club have seen two bids reportedly rejected for the 27-year-old as the former Real Madrid boss tries to establish a new focal point in his attack. However the Red Devils appear very reluctant to sell to their Premier League title rivals and this could prevent Mourinho landing his prime summer target, leaving him possibly devising other options.
Yesterday, news emerged that Barcelona had submitted a new improved bid for Chelsea defender David Luiz according to The Guardian. The Catalan side saw a bid around £35m knocked back by the Blues but the Nou Camp outfit are expected to return with another offer before the transfer window shuts.
Even though the Brazilian came through as a key member of the Blues squad last season, Mourinho could still cash-in on the defender they paid £21m for two years ago especially given his reservations about the 26-year-old defensive capabilities . This might leave the Blues short at the back and a replacement will be a summer requisite.
While central midfield also remains an issue for the Blues despite the reappearance of Michael Essien from Real Madrid and a number of names have been linked to fill the void in Mourinho’s new side.
Here, we look at five different transfer options for Mourinho and Chelsea to consider:
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Mourinho is reportedly planning a reunion with the Real Madrid defensive starlet at Stamford Bridge as he seeks a contingency plan if Luiz departs this summer.
The outstanding Los Blancos centre-back has grown with authority at the Bernabeu since making his debut for the first team in 2011 and he made 30 appearances for the La Liga runners-up last season.
The Portuguese manager is a strong admirer of the 20-year-old and handed him his senior breakthrough at the Spanish club last season. That could see the talented defender, who won his first senior cap for France in March, joining up again with Jose at Stamford Bridge.
Varane even revealed recently that the former Real Madrid had helped him to become a better player and the former Lens defender has now become of the hottest properties in Europe, dispatching the experienced Pepe from the Madrid side.
The French defender said about Mourinho: “I have to thank him – my coach – for the confidence he has given to me and his help in improving me as a player,”
His impressive height lets him dominate matches while his speed, sense of anticipation, dribbling ability and maturity beyond his years have turned him into one of the hottest properties in Europe.
Given Varane’s positive relationship with Mourinho, the acquisition of the young French international could prove to be an option for the Stamford Bridge club and he would certainly be the ilk of player that would help form the basis of another Premier League winning defence under the Portuguese manager.