Ten young players Chelsea will have their eye on this summer.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been quoted as saying he is enjoying the new challenges of working under UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations, hinting that this could lead to a change in approach in his transfer policy.
The Portuguese coach has been known for spending big money on star names throughout his career at Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, but has suggested now that he will be more long-term in his thinking, and look to bring through more young players at Stamford Bridge. We look at ten exciting young players who could be on Mourinho’s radar in this summer’s transfer window.
10. Adem Ljajic (Fiorentina)
With 11 goals and 8 assists for Fiorentina in Serie A this year, it is not surprising that Serbian starlet Adem Ljajic is attracting a lot of attention from many of Europe’s top clubs, reportedly including Chelsea. Still only 21, the talented attacking midfielder is making a real name for himself as one of the best young players in the Italian league at the moment, and could prove quite expensive even if he is a sound long-term investment.
Manchester United nearly signed him a few years ago from his former club Partizan Belgrade, but opted out of a deal at the time. However, his rapid rise since then has reignited their interest, and this battle between two title-chasing Premier League clubs could spark a big bidding war. Ljajic is yet to comment on his future, though he may rightly feel he would have more opportunities at Old Trafford rather than at Stamford Bridge, where he will have the likes of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Oscar and new signing Andre Schurrle to compete with in his preferred position behind the main striker.
Nevertheless, Ljajic is a top talent and could even force his way past such big names and establish himself as a regular for the Blues, though they may prioritise the strengthening of other positions first.
9. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Saint Etienne)
Young Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is almost certain to leave Saint Etienne this summer after an impressive few years in Ligue 1. The striker, who started his career at AC Milan, is a pacey, skillful forward with great finishing ability, scoring 39 goals in the last two seasons, and can also play out wide.
Although he does not look like the typical Chelsea in many ways, the club have been scouting him, and will be keen to bring in someone to replace the struggling pair of Fernando Torres and Demba Ba upfront. However, they will likely have a long list of clubs to compete with to land the 24-year-old. Big-spenders such as Monaco and Russian side Anzhi Makhachakala have been linked with him this summer, as have the Blues’ Premier League rivals such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle. He has also admitted that his dream is to play for Real Madrid, though it is uncertain whether or not the feeling is mutual.
Aubameyang is an excellent emerging talent, and will surely bring success to wherever he does, and Chelsea would do well to fight off competition from their rivals to sign a top class goal-scorer.
8. Marquinhos (Roma)
Brazilian youngster Marquinhos only moved to European football last summer when he joined Roma from Brazilian side Corinthians. After just one season he is regarded as a top young talent, having established himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A, and is already being closely watched by Chelsea and Manchester City.
The 19-year-old is a far more natural defender than his compatriot David Luiz, whom Mourinho is supposedly not keen on due to his tendancy to forgo his defensive duties and bomb forward to join the attack. Marquinhos looks much more like Mourinho’s kind of player, and has impressed this season with his maturity and discipline.
He is not the tallest for a centre-back, but he looks to have the physical and mental strength to handle the challenge of the Premier League, and would be a great long-term option for Chelsea. As already mentioned, the Blues are known to be monitoring his situation, and may move for him this summer depending on what happens with Luiz and with their other potential targets.
7. Marco van Ginkel (Vitesse Arnhem)
One of the most highly-rated young talents coming out of Holland at the moment is Marco van Ginkel. The skillful midfield playmaker is rumoured to be a top target for Chelsea this summer as Mourinho looks to continue the club’s current trend of signing small and technically gifted attackers to play behind the main striker, though van Ginkel can also play in a deeper midfield role, which is presumably where he would fit in at Chelsea due to the vast competition for places further up the pitch.
Manchester United are also chasing the Dutchman, who won his first senior cap for the Netherlands last year at the age of just 19, and there’s no doubt that the Blues will have to act fast for this in-demand prospect.
6. Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)
Despite being strongly linked with both Arsenal and Juventus for much of the summer, Chelsea may now be favourites to sign Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic. He and his team-mate Adem Ljajic have formed an excellent partnership for the Serie A side, and are both being targeted by several clubs this summer.
Although Jovetic has been around for a while, he is still only 23 and would be an excellent long-term signing for Chelsea and Mourinho as they search for a quality striker to replace the legendary Didier Drogba. Jovetic’s skill and strength would make him an ideal target man for the Stamford Bridge side, and though he doesn’t have the most prolific record to date, that would surely improve with time and particularly with the vast improvement in service he’d be getting from the likes of Mata, Hazard and Schurrle at Chelsea.
Jovetic has been a top talent since he was a teenager, and has played at the highest level for many years now, meaning that, despite his age, he would cost close to £25million to bring in this summer. Expensive, but probably worth it for whoever manages to land him.
5. Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Talented 24-year-old Marco Reus is another of many rising stars in German football at the moment, having a superb first season at Borussia Dortmund since his summer switch from Borussia Monchengladbach. He will be a difficult target to pursue as he has only been with the club for one season, but Chelsea are supposedly willing to pay as much as £35million for him.
Despite mainly playing as an attacking midfielder, Reus’ prolific ability in front of goal means he is equally adept at playing upfront, and with Chelsea’s current shortage of top strikers, that could be where Reus is used if Mourinho maintains his interest in the German international. Then again, given his big asking price, some players will surely have to be sold first if Mourinho’s words on Financial Fair Play are anything to go by.
Manchester City are also said to be tracking a player who looks like he has a great future in the game.
4. Isco (Malaga)
Although it seems increasingly likely now that highly-coveted Malaga starlet Isco will follow Manuel Pellegrini in moving to Manchester City this summer, Jose Mourinho has been keen to make him one of his new signings since re-joining Chelsea.
The Spaniard has just shone at the European Under-21 Championships, enhancing his reputation even further ahead of his big move that will surely come this summer, and is arguably the best young player in the world at the moment, alongside the likes of Neymar and Mario Goetze.
The talented attacking midfielder would perhaps have been an ideal long-term replacement for Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge, though with the veteran England international set to stay for at least one more year, Isco is arguably less of a priority for Mourinho now anyway, though he would have liked to beat his rivals to such a world class talent, especially as he is said to be available for around £21million due to a release clause in his contract.
3. Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Southampton youngster Luke Shaw has had a superb first season as a first-team regular with the Saints, making the left-back position his own for the newly-promoted Premier League side, and showing great ability in both defence and attack.
Still only 17, he is certainly one of the finest young English players coming through at the moment, and his fine form has seen him linked with the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United, as well as Chelsea. Southampton have a great record of producing young talent in their academy, and Shaw has been compared by some to a young Gareth Bale, who started his career as an attack-minded left-back before slowly advancing further up the field to his current role as a ‘false 9′ for Tottenham.
While it would be unfair to put that kind of weight of expectation on Shaw, he has the potential to be a great long-term replacement for Ashley Cole at Chelsea, and Mourinho will have that in mind as Cole approaches the age of 33, despite his undisputed current status as a key starter for the Stamford Bridge club.
Shaw himself has admitted to being a Chelsea fan, and that could swing things in the Blues’ favour as they compete with their rivals for this exceptional young talent.
2. Eliaquim Mangala (Porto)
Another great piece of business for Chelsea could be Porto centre-back Eliaquim Mangala, who is fast becoming recognised as one of the best young defenders in Europe.
The Frenchman has just won his first cap at the age of 22 after a fantastic season in Portugal, winning the title with Porto. He has insisted he is not currently thinking about his future, but a big move seems inevitable for him sooner rather than later, as he already looks made to play at the very highest level.
Mourinho rarely gets it wrong with defenders, and if he is as keen on Mangala as the rumours suggest, with offers close to £30million being mooted, then Chelsea will have themselves a very promising player on their hands next season. With the likes of David Luiz, John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic possibly leaving, Mangala could be an essential signing as a new long-term option at the back for Mourinho’s side.
1. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
It was Jose Mourinho that handed Raphael Varane his debut for Spanish giants Real Madrid, and he looks as though he’s uncovered a real gem, as Varane has shown himself to be another very exciting young defender. Still only 20, he has produced man of the match displays against Barcelona and Lionel Messi this season, looking rock solid for Real at the back.
It has been suggested that Mounrinho will now attempt to bring this key player with him to his new club, and Varane would also likely be keen to follow his mentor and continue his development under the expert guidance of the Portuguese tactician. There’s no doubt Varane will soon be seen as one of the best centre-backs in the world, and would assure Chelsea of having a quality defence for many years to come.
Real Madrid will be keen to keep hold of their star youngster, but Chelsea should certainly consider requesting him in return as the Spanish giants are rumoured to be targeting David Luiz, or even put in a big-money offer for him anyway, as he would likely be an upgrade on many of the Blues’ current options at the back.