Ten special players the special one should make his own if he returns to Chelsea.
Sami Khedira – Real Madrid
If reports are to be believed, Mourinho has already spelled out his desire to bring the German international with him to Stamford Bridge this summer should everything else go according to plan.
The 26-year-old has figured consistently in the manager’s plans since making the switch from Stuttgart after the World Cup in 2010. Many scratched their heads at the time, fearing that limited game time could mean that he wouldn’t make the most out of his potential.
However, three years later and he’s made 121 appearances for Los Blancos.
Khedira would add a touch of class to the Chelsea midfield, not that they lack any, but he would provide that calm assuredness that only a world class German centre midfielder could give you.
His vision and range of passing could be crucial in adding a few more onto the ‘goals scored’ tally and any new striker would surely relish latching onto the end of his passes.
Sergio Ramos – Real Madrid
The 27-year-old had thought to be a shock target for rivals Barcelona as speculation surrounding his future continues to grow and like his teammate, Sami Khedira, there are rumours that the 101 cap Spanish international could join Mourinho make the move back to West London.
Ramos was already established as one of the most accomplished right backs in the world by the time Mourinho landed in Madrid, but a good working relationship could prompt him to follow ‘The Special One’ to London.
Chelsea have limited options at right back, and need someone that can match the energy and longevity that Ashley Cold has displayed on the other side. Ramos is strong and in peak fitness as well as adding a genuine goal threat from a position where goals are hard to come by.
Reports in Europe also suggest that Ramos has hired an English teacher to help him learn the language, further fuelling speculation that his future may lie on these shores.
Andre Schurrle – Bayer Leverkusen
The 22-year-old German international has been tipped to become a future star. He has displayed a high level of tactical nous and at a better rate of consistency. A deal to bring him to Stamford Bridge is reportedly already in the pipeline, though, if it isn’t, Mourinho should make sure one is.
The forward’s contract ends next year and is thought to have a release clause of £15 million. Chelsea are also willing to throw talented Belgian youngster, Kevin De Bruyne into the deal to twist Leverkusen’s arm. However, there will be doubts about him not playing like Chelsea’s other young German, Marko Marin, but being of a slightly higher pedigree those fears should be allayed faily early on.
There’s no doubt that Schurrle deserves a bigger stage than the German club can offer. He has already been capped 22 times by the German national side and many see him as the leader of the pack in relation to the glut of exciting young players coming out of the country at the moment.
Comfortable on either wing and through the middle, his dribbling and pinpoint passing will be a huge asset in the club’s assault on the league.
Marouane Fellaini – Everton
Fellaini almost joined Chelsea in January but David Moyes has managed to hold on to his star midfielder for just a little longer.
A key figure in the Toffees midfield ever since he joined back in 2008, he’s payed his dues long enough to deserve Champions League football, or at least a move to a club that can offer him that.
Unplayable at times, he has become a mainstay in the Belgian national team that have seen their stock rise considerably with the influx of their stars into the Premier League, he really deserves to be in a world class side.
A solid and dependable all rounder, he is now so comfortable in the Premier League that he manages to grow into a better player with every season that passes.
He has the ability to score, create, tackle, spot key passes as well as being virtually unbeatable in the air. A move to Stamford Bridge would also see him link up with international colleague, Edin Hazard. The pair have made waves for Belgium this past year and the prospect of them linking up is mouth watering.
It may not be Mourinho’s deal if it does go ahead, but he’d be wise to see it though.
Radamel Falcao – Atletico Madrid
Atletico knew they couldn’t hold on to Falcao forever, he’s just too good to not be at one of Europe’s elite, but one positive was that they were never in doubt of losing him to cross city rivals Real.
However, with Mourinho on the brink of a move back to London he may finally get his chance to work with the 27-year-old.
There aren’t many who could afford him either, but Chelsea are due one big summer signing every year and have made it clear that the Colombian is their man.
Quite possibly the best out and out striker in the world right now, the thought of him teaming up with return loanee, Romelu Lukaku, would give Chelsea a menacing front line that would strike fear into the hearts of any defense.
He will make Chelsea one of the most dangerous sides in the league again as many have feared the club has gone stale as well as offering the troubled Fernando Torres an escape route back to Madrid.
Luke Shaw: Southampton to Chelsea
Young talent is snapped up quickly these days, and Luke Shaw will be no different.
Following in similar footsteps as Wayne Bridge and Glen Johnson, the 17-year-old has been consistently linked with a possible move to the Premier League giants.
Already eyeing a replacement for the ageing Ashley Cole, the West Londoners will still have a few years yet for the England man to pass on his wisdom to the youngster, or they may decide to send him back on loan to the Saints for another year.
Chelsea don’t always have the best record when it comes to youth development, with many of their academy graduates moving on to further their careers overseas. However, Mourinho could be the man to change that this time around and if a player is good enough then he will play.
A boyhood Chelsea fan, Shaw will most likely see his dream come true despite the club still unsure over who their next manager will be, but they have kept the England youth international a top priority.
Neymar – Santos
Like the rest of his fellow Brazilians, the 21-year-old has realised that a move across the Atlantic is inevitable and there is an impressive list of clubs lined up to take a closer look.
Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid are the bookies favourites, and if the London club can manage to persuade him to join then they would not only have one of the worlds most highly regarded players, but a powerful marketing tool too.
In Mourinho he would have the best possible guide for a precocious talent like this as his disciplined yet informal approach always manages to get the best out of his players.
Neymar is heavily involved in the fashion world and would attract attention from all over the world with his choice in hairstyles and the clothes he wears, lending another marketing tool to the Chelsea machine. His status as one of the world’s most recognisable players would make his acquisition worth it for merchandise sales alone.
He may be untested, but he has an uncanny ability to read the game and take the chances that come to him. He’s comfortable drifting anywhere along the front line meaning that a free role would suit him perfectly to exploit slow and unsure defenses.
Isco – Malaga
The 20-year-old has won admirers all over Europe this year as Malaga continue to be the surprise package of the Champions League.
Arsenal, again, have already been linked with a summer move for the 20-year-old, but Chelsea could swoop in there as they’re in a better position to offer him a higher platform to showcase his skills in Europe.
Operating largely in the hole or on the left, he is a quick thinking dribbler with an eye for a pass and a European ban on the Spanish side next season could see many of their stars head for the exit.
Furthermore, he’d be in good company as Chelsea have already brought in former Spanish league regulars like Juan Mata and Oriel Romeu, making his transition a slightly easier one to bear, and the understanding between him and Mata would certainly be one to fear.
He may have signed a new deal with the Spaniards recently, but that is believed to drive up the player’s value in the face of the mass exodus they face in the coming months.
Ezequiel Garay – Benfica
Although Chelsea aren’t short of defensive options, they would do well to add the classy Argentine to their ranks for an added boost. With David Luiz often moved into a defensive midfield role, the 26-year-old would be more than capable of filling any gaps that may appear.
Largely thought to be joining Manchester United this summer, Chelsea could again swoop in to steal him from under the champion’s noses.
Once of Real Madrid, Garay was widely earmarked as the next defensive superstar who would take the world by storm. However, a tough time at the Bernabeau saw him return to former club Racing Santander on loan and he has since been shipped out to Benfica.
Garay is quick, clever and comfortable with the ball at his feet bringing it out from defense. He is a key man for pressing whenever the side lose the ball, and is adept at making the right tackle at the right time.
At 26 years of age, the timing for a move to the Premier is perfect. He has been under the radar of a number of clubs for some time now and Chelsea will want to pounce before United sort out their own defensive problems and build up enough steam to make a move.
Frank Lampard
Perhaps the most crucial player on this list for Mourinho acquire for Chelsea is their talismanic midfield maestro.
Lampard will be 35 in June and the higher ups at the club believe that the England man in finally past it despite his continued output this season.
His old legs have showed no signs of slowing down as he’s managed 14 goals in 44 games this season.
However, rumours of a move to MLS side LA Galaxy have refused to go away and he has even been said to have pushed back his wedding to television present Christine Bleakly in June to negotiate his future.
Both Lampard and Mourinho enjoyed a fruitful relationship together during the manager’s spell at the club and it would mean to world to the fans to have Lampard in a blue shirt for another year at least.
Lampard missed out on Chelsea’s FA Cup semi final defeat to Manchester City as he failed to come off the bench and it has perhaps been a little naïve of the club’s decision makers to dismiss his ability due to his age. Both Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have proved that they still have what it takes to compete at the top level despite their respective ages.
Mourinho’s return to Chelsea would be enough of a cause for celebration on its own, but if he managed to secure Lampard’s future for another year, it’d be a major coup.