Stamford Bridge side linked with multiple Bernabeu raids.
With Jose Mourinho believed to be set for a return to Stamford Bridge to fill Chelsea’s vacant managerial post it seems from a number of reports that the Portuguese boss will look to take a player or two from the Bernabeu with him.
One would imagine that following Mourinho’s departure Iker Casillas will be reinstated as Real Madrid’s number one custodian, which could leave January signing Diego Lopez wondering what the future holds for him at the club.
Goal.com claim that Mourinho will look to bring the 31 year old to West London, perhaps with a view to the Spanish international acting as a back-up option to Petr Cech, which in turn would leave Chelsea able to loan out Thibaut Courtois for a third season at Atletico Madrid.
It’s a move that may well interest Lopez and clearly the addition of such an accomplished performer would be a significant improvement on current understudy’s Hilario and Ross Turnbull.
French source Le10sport claim that Jose Mourinho will look to raid Real Madrid for wing-back Fabio Coentrao as he sets about putting together a list of summer transfer targets ahead of his inevitable return to Chelsea.
Having battled Marcelo for a left-back berth the former Benfica man has made the most of an extended run in the first team brought on by the Brazilian’s recent run of injuries and average form and is now a first team regular.
Jose Mourinho may see the 25 year old as an alternative to Ashley Cole, has recently signed a one year contract extension though is clearly at 32 years of age in the latter stages of his career.
The Daily Express believe that Mourinho will look to lure French youngster Raphael Varane this summer, a move that could well prove very tricky given the impact the youngster has made this term.
The 20-year-old has made his breakthrough in the Real Madrid first team this season, and is widely considered to be one of the best young defenders in the world.
The Spanish giants signed Varane from Lens for around £8.5million when he was just a teenager, and he has become an important member of the team under the guidance of Mourinho, who is known to rate him highly.
The Sun believe Mourinho could look to persuade Luka Modric into a Premier League return this summer.
The 27-year-old moved to the Bernebeu from White Hart Lane last summer for £33million, but was voted the worst La Liga signing of the season in a fans’ poll.
However, his fine reputation in the Premier League remains, and Chelsea were said to be interested in signing him in the summer of 2011, though he remained at Spurs for another year.
Modric has won over some of his doubters with a series of quality displays but a new boss at Real Madrid may well have other ideas about the Croatian’s future at the club and the midfield schemer is perhaps a realistic summer signing that Chelsea could pull off.
Defensive midfielder Sami Khedira has been a key performer for Real Madrid since joining the club from Stuttgart in 2010, and if Jose Mourinho takes over at Chelsea he is keen to bring the 26-year-old with him to Stamford Bridge from the Bernebeu according to the Evening Standard.
Mourinho may see Khedira as an improvement on the current defensive midfield options at Chelsea.
Khedira is said to have a close relationship with Mourinho with the battling midfielder being one of his first signings when he took over at the Bernabeu.
The German international has two years left on his contract and Mourinho hopes to capitalise on the situation by tempting him to reunite with him at Chelsea.