A collection of potential targets who could greatly aid the Stamford Bridge side’s push for a Premier League title.
5. Isco (Malaga)
Spanish midfielder Isco was a strong target for Chelsea in the January transfer window, but he opted instead to sign a new contract with Malaga. In reality though, what that exercise was all about was getting the release clause in the young playmaker’s contract increase to maximise his value.
Isco is likely to leave Malaga in the summer and Chelsea should be targeting beating Barcelona and Real Madrid to his signature with both Spanish giants having expressed interest in one of the most talented youngsters in La Liga.
All he is perhaps similar in some respects to Oscar, or would at least place in a similar role, he would undoubtedly add something to the midfield ranks at Stamford Bridge.
His new contract means that the transfer fee to activate his release clause now stands at £31million, but for that price you would be getting one of Europe’s most impressive midfield talents and one who has unlimited potential too.
4. Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United)
Chelsea have been crying out for a holding midfielder since Claude Makalele left the club and, as far as the Premier League goes, there are few better than Chieck Tiote.
The enforcer could well be sold in the summer as part of Newcastle United’s policy to sell on players at the peak of their career and therefore at their highest value. The arrival of a number of new faces at St James’ Park means that Alan Pardew does not have to be so reliant on the Ivory Coast international next season.
Tiote is the ideal man to sit in front of the back four at Stamford Bridge and perform that Makalele role in the future, providing a tough tackling edge that perhaps that Chelsea have been missing for some time.
John Obi Mikel has never really made that position his own despite years of trying since Makalele left the club, and central defender David Luiz looks an unnatural in the role after being trialled in the holding role under Rafael Benitez.
3. Edinson Cavani (Napoli)
All the talk has been about Manchester City when it comes to possible destinations for Edinson Cavani, who is expected to leave Serie A side Napoli at the end of the season.
Paris Saint-Germain have entered the fray to sign the Uruguayan international forward, but Chelsea would be mad not to consider making a move for him given their current problems and lack of options in attack.
With Fernando Torres continually misfiring and looking a shadow of the player we once saw tear the Premier League up and Demba Ba the only other option having only recently joined from Newcastle, Cavani could provide some much needed goalscoring prowess.
The release clause in Cavani’s Napoli stands at £54million but with the player himself giving off signs that he is ready to head to pastures new this summer, an offer in the region of £40million could well land him.
2. Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid)
Chelsea have long been linked with a swoop for Atletico Madrid’s Colombian star Radamel Falcao and if they can beat off competition from Paris Saint-Germain he would be an exceptional addition to the squad at Stamford Bridge.
Falcao is the natural goalscorer that Chelsea are missing with Fernando Torres’ miserable run of form continuing and recent signing Demba Ba still naturally bedding in to life at Stamford Bridge following his move from Newcastle United.
Falcao will be costly, as you might expect of a man in demand with PSG, Manchester City and potentially Barcelona on his trail, but Chelsea could crucially use a makeweight in the deal by offering Torres a route back Spain to rejoin the club where it all began.
Such a deal would be a great bit of business – swapping an out of sorts forward for one the world’s most in-form marksmen – and it would be a much needed transfer too.
1. Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Chelsea should make signing Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini their biggest priority in the summer because he will be the perfect replacement for Frank Lampard, who looks destined to leave the club.
Lampard looks destined to be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season when his contract expires and Fellaini will provide the goals that the current Chelsea midfielder has come up with so often.
On top of that, Fellaini will add an extra bit of physicality to a Chelsea team that isn’t always filled with strength in the middle of the park. Better still, his prowess in the air only adds to the quality he can bring.
At £22million, which is the release clause in his Everton contract, the Belgian international wouldn’t cost the earth and would undoubtedly provide value for money in the long run. Chelsea would just need to beat Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United to his signature.