Stamford Bridge side chase St Mary’s duo.
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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has sent scouts to monitor Southampton pair Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw ahead of a summer move for the in-form duo.
CaughtOffside understands that representatives of the Stamford Bridge side were in the stands at White Hart Lane running the rule over the Saints duo, who both performed well despite the south-coast side losing to Tottenham in a five goal thriller.
Mourinho is keen to bring in more ‘homegrown’ players to as to better adhere to Premier League regulations and will also look to trim his expansive squad ahead of making significant signings this summer.
The Blues boss has been tracking 18 year old left-back Shaw for some months and will look to bring in the talented youngster as a long term replacement for veteran Ashley Cole, who’s contract with the West London club expires this summer.
Though Mourinho has used Cesar Azpilicueta in a makeshift role on the left, and been impressed with his efforts, the Portuguese manager wants Shaw to fill the role in the long run.
Mourinho sees Lallana as a replacement for another veteran performer, in this instance 35 year old England international Frank Lampard.
Though the Chelsea legend may be handed a one year contract extension it’s clear he is playing a far more limited role in first team matters than he is used to and Mourinho believes 25 year old St Mary’s star Lallana may be the man to replace the club’s record goal-scorer.
Lallana has been in outstanding form this term, scoring ten goals and providing five assists, and has been the lynch-pin of Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield.
The performances of a number of Pochettino’s first team squad may well lead to a mass exodus from Southampton this summer and the Argentine will do well to retain the services of a number of players identified as targets by ‘bigger’ Premier League sides.
Chelsea are ready to offer as much as £50m for the England intenational duo, a fee that Southampton owner Katharina Liebherr may struggle to ignore.
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