Ezequiel Garay (Benfica)
If the Blues find it necessary to replace David Luiz this summer they wouldn’t do too wrong by looking again at the Brazilian’s former club, Benfica.
Manchester United were been repeatedly linked with a move for the 26-year-old centre-back under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson but the Argentina international could now emerge as a transfer target for the Stamford Bridge side as the Premier League rivals lock horns.
Fortifying the Blues defence will have been one of Mourinho’s main aims upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge as they prepare for one of the most competitive Premier League campaign for years.
And Garay would bring stability and consistency to the Chelsea defence as he has played 98 games for both club and country over the last two seasons and he could offer a strong central defensive partnership with Blues captain John Terry.
Garay has already played under Jose Mourinho during his ill-fated spell at Real Madrid and it was the Portuguese boss who ultimately decided to sell him to Benfica in 2011. Despite this, the two are reportedly are still on good terms and the defender who featured for Benfica during last season’s Europa League final against Chelsea could now make his way to Stamford Bridge.
The cultured defender is a great reader of the game and he is comfortable on the ball while he also retains the ability to bring the ball forward from defence and would act as a classy replacement for Luiz.
Despite his significant growth as a player in Portugal there would be concerned to address about his failure to make the grade at the Bernabeu but the Argentine international could still prove worth the gamble for Mourinho.