Potential movements in and out of Stamford Bridge before the end of the summer transfer window.
It has been a surprisingly quiet summer for Chelsea and Jose Mourinho so far, but there is still time for some major changes at the club. Mourinho will be keen to put his own stamp on this squad, and there are some obvious names that aren’t currently looking good enough for the Blues, as well as some high-profile players out there that could add that something extra to make them champions again.
Out: John Obi Mikel
After seven solid if unspectacular years at Chelsea, it has looked at points this summer like John Obi Mikel could be on his way out of the club. Although good at his job of protecting the back four in the style of former Chelsea great Claude Makelele, it has been questioned whether he is a good enough all-round player to take the Blues to the next level.
He was reportedly close to joining Galatasaray earlier in the summer, and more recently big-spending French giants Monaco have also been said to be showing a strong interest in the Nigerian. Chelsea have also been linked with a few defensive midfield targets, suggesting they are looking at alternatives to Mikel, but so far they have failed to land any, which could mean the position remains his.
Out: Victor Moses
Victor Moses seemed a slightly strange signing by Chelsea last summer, joining after only a short spell of good form for his former side Wigan, whom he helped avoid relegation in 2011/12. He hasn’t truly looked capable of making the step up for a top Premier League side, and after failing to become a regular in his first season, he will surely only find it harder now with the high-profile arrival of talented winger Andre Schurrle from Bayer Leverkusen, as well as the return of attacking duo Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku from loan.
His former manager at Wigan, Roberto Martinez, is now at Everton, and reportedly keen on a reunion with Moses at Goodison Park, while Swansea have also been mentioned as potential suitors, possibly on loan.
Out: Fernando Torres
One of the most surprising things about this summer for Chelsea is that Fernando Torres is still at the club. The Spaniard, once one of the best strikers in the world, is surely not going to rediscover his best form after a disappointing few years at Chelsea since his £50million move from Liverpool. The 29-year-old did well in the Europea League last season, helping the Blues to victory with a goal against Benfica in the final, but he still only managed 8 goals in 36 Premier League games. Earlier in the summer, it looked as though Torres would be used in swap deals to help Chelsea bring in one of Radamel Falcao, Edinson Cavani or Stevan Jovetic, though this opportunity has now passed them by, as these players have all ended up moving elsewhere, and Atletico Madrid and Napoli have moved quickly to bring in replacements in David Villa and Gonzalo Higuain, respectively.
More recently, a similar move was mooted involving AC Milan starlet Stephan El Shaarawy, though once again it amounted to nothing.
Many are now saying that Torres will be given a chance under Mourinho, as the Portuguese coach will be confident in his ability to get the former Liverpool star back to his best, though this could still hinge on who the club manage to bring in, as their pursuit of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been well documented.
In: Wayne Rooney
Manchester United manager David Moyes has remained firm that Wayne Rooney would not be sold this summer, despite admitting that the England star is not happy at Old Trafford. Rooney has tried to leave the club before, and has become frustrated once again after a season of playing a mainly bit-part role in the team, making way for Robin van Persie upfront and spending a lot of time either playing out of position in midfield, or simply sitting on the bench.
This has led to a great deal of interest from around Europe, as the 27-year-old is clearly still rated as a world class talent by many big clubs. The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and PSG were all said to be interested at some point, though it is now Chelsea that are particularly keen to sign him. As already mentioned, Mourinho will understandably be keen to find an alternative to the misfiring Fernando Torres, and seems to have made Rooney his top target.
Rooney is also keen on a move to Stamford Bridge, and despite his recent struggles, this looks like a good move for all concerned. United could bring in a lot of money from his sale, and spend it on more motivated players, while Chelsea could help reignite the career of a top player, and solve their current striking crisis.
In: Samuel Eto’o
It is being suggested that Chelsea could also turn to former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o if they fail to land Rooney. The Cameroon international, now of Anzhi Makhachkala, could be available for as little as £5million as the Russian club have been forced into putting their whole squad for sale due to sudden financial problems.
Even at 32, Eto’o still looks like a top player, and he would be a great short term option for the Blues after a frustrating summer of missing out on other big-name strikers. Eto’o has also played under Mourinho before, as part of the Inter Milan side that won the treble in 2010.
In: Eliaquim Mangala
Reports earlier in the summer suggested that Chelsea may have been priced out of a move for talented Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala. The young Frenchman looks like becoming one of the best defenders in the world, and was a top target for Mourinho with the futures of John Terry and David Luiz looking uncertain. The Portuguese boss looks to have kept faith in Terry, but Luiz could still be on the move, as Barcelona ready another big-money offer for the Brazilian. If he goes, Mangala certainly seems like the logical and likely replacement.