Players who should be on the Stamford Bridge radar.
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.
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid)
The former Liverpool man could be set for a return to the Premier League at Stamford Bridge as Mourinho looks back to his former club in attempt to strengthen the midfield he has inherited according to the Daily Star.
The controversial boss may have fallen out with the majority of the Madrid dressing room last season but he maintained a strong relationship with the Spanish international which could see him following Mourinho to Stamford Bridge.
The pass-master has claimed to have soften relations with Chelsea legendary midfielder Frank Lampard after the pair clashed numerous times when Alonso was at Anfield and that could see a possible switch to London in the pipeline.
He spent five memorable years on Merseyside between August 2004 and August 2009, during which time he helped the Reds to a famous fifth Champions League title and became one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League.
Alonso‘s contract at the Bernaebu expires at the end of next season and although reports suggested recently the club will offer him a new one-year extension, the deep-lying playmaker is yet to signal whether he wants to prolong his stay in the Spanish capital.
Following the La Liga club’s £34m acquisition of Spanish starlet Asier Illarramendi, it seems increasingly likely the former Liverpool man will be on his way out of Madrid as he becomes surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu and a move to Chelsea doesn’t look out of the question.
Ezequiel Garay (Benfica)
If the Blues find it necessary to replace David Luiz this summer they wouldn’t do too wrong by looking again at the Brazilian’s former club, Benfica.
Manchester United were been repeatedly linked with a move for the 26-year-old centre-back under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson but the Argentina international could now emerge as a transfer target for the Stamford Bridge side as the Premier League rivals lock horns.
Fortifying the Blues defence will have been one of Mourinho’s main aims upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge as they prepare for one of the most competitive Premier League campaign for years.
And Garay would bring stability and consistency to the Chelsea defence as he has played 98 games for both club and country over the last two seasons and he could offer a strong central defensive partnership with Blues captain John Terry.
Garay has already played under Jose Mourinho during his ill-fated spell at Real Madrid and it was the Portuguese boss who ultimately decided to sell him to Benfica in 2011. Despite this, the two are reportedly are still on good terms and the defender who featured for Benfica during last season’s Europa League final against Chelsea could now make his way to Stamford Bridge.
The cultured defender is a great reader of the game and he is comfortable on the ball while he also retains the ability to bring the ball forward from defence and would act as a classy replacement for Luiz.
Despite his significant growth as a player in Portugal there would be concerned to address about his failure to make the grade at the Bernabeu but the Argentine international could still prove worth the gamble for Mourinho.
Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Everton’s Belgian international is a wanted man this summer with his reported release clause of £23.5m, if he joins a Champions League outfit, set to expire at the end of the transfer window.
Manchester United manager David Moyes has been strongly tipped to be lining up a possible reunion with his former Toffees midfielder while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is also thought to be intent on landing the 25-year-old midfielder.
But Fellani could still remain on Chelsea’s radar after the Stamford Bridge came very close to signing the former Standard Liege man back in the January transfer window.
Mourinho is known to be on the lookout for a strong midfield anchor after his arrival back in England and the afro-haired midfielder, who was in sensational form for Everton last season as he hit 12 goals, could add a new presence to the former Real Madrid managers’ new team.
The Blues could now hijack Manchester United’s proposed move as new Goodison Park boss Roberto Martinez struggles to hang onto his star midfield as the Belgian seeks Champions League football for the fresh season.
Hulk (Zenit)
It was widely reported earlier this summer that Jose Mourinho made a £35million offer to bring the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge although the offer was rejected by Zenit St Petersburg who want nearer to the almost £50m they paid Porto last year.
Mourinho has now switched his attentions to land Manchester United star Wayne Rooney but a failure to sign his main summer transfer target could leave the Blues looking relatively thin in attack.
One of the most impressive strikers in world football may act as a contingency plan for Mourinho who has always been an admirer of the 27-year-old powerhouse.
Hulk emerged as a world-class talent during his time at Porto and although he has struggled to recreate his best form in Russia he would certainly suit the football Mourinho likes to play and finally replace Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge.
His skill and superb shooting ability would give him chance to replicate the success Drogba had with the Blues while also offering the side another option on the flanks.
Chelsea may face competition from French big-spenders Monaco in any transfer bid but given Mourinho’s admiration of the powerful striker don’t be surprised to see him gracing the Stamford Bridge turf during the new season, if the move for Rooney goes cold.