3. Alvaro Pereira
Chelsea have gone some way to replacing the old guard.
Claude Makelele finally looks like he may have an heir in Oriol Romeu. David Luiz (and possibly Gary Cahill) could succeed John Terry and Alex, presuming Branislav Ivanovic continues on the right flank.
Frank Lampard is being rotated as he ages, much like Ryan Giggs has been at Manchester United in recent years. Chelsea are also looking to bring in more of a possession game to their style of play, and Lampard – while a great Premier League midfield goalscorer – doesn’t necessarily possess the attributes needed to make Chelsea a force in modern continental and international football.
Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka have been replaced by Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge, with varying success.
It is seemingly only full back where Chelsea have not recruited recently – and after buying around eight Portuguese right backs per season in the last few years, it would seem Villas Boas’ focus is now on the other flank.
A move for Porto left back Alvaro Pereira was rejected in the summer, but with Villas Boas’ previous club now eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, they could be tempted to sell – for a hefty price.
Could Pereira join his old manager at Stamford Bridge?