The changes needed in this current Chelsea squad.
Out – Ryan Bertrand
24-year-old left-back Ryan Bertrand can no longer really be considered an exciting young player for the future at Chelsea, and seems unlikely to have the necessary quality to replace Ashley Cole when he eventually departs Stamford Bridge. With Leighton Baines’ future under some doubt at Everton, the Toffees had reportedly considered Bertrand as a possibility to replace the Manchester United target, and Chelsea should definitely cash in if an offer does come along for the two-time England international.
Of course Bertrand has been somewhat unfortunate in being behind one of the best left-backs this country has produced in his time at Chelsea, but while he could go on and make a strong career elsewhere in the Premier League he just doesn’t quite look Chelsea material and is an obvious candidate to make way if Jose Mourinho shakes his squad up in January.
Out – John Obi Mikel
John Obi Mikel celebrated his first Premier League goal for Chelsea in last weekend’s victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge, which after eight years at the club perhaps tells you everything you need to know about the Nigerian midfielder. Although the 26-year-old is a solid and reliable shield for Chelsea’s back four, he is terribly limited in what he can do going forward, which just doesn’t feel like enough for a club of Chelsea’s size.
Galatasaray showed a strong interest in Mikel during the summer, and it is thought that the Blues would have sold him had they managed to bring in one of their main midfield targets. It seems likely that this saga may raise its head again in the January transfer window, as Mikel is another player who shouldn’t really be relied upon for a club with Chelsea’s ambitions.
Out – Michael Essien
Once a great player for Chelsea, without a doubt, but injuries have severely held Michael Essien back over the last few years and he no longer looks like the tireless and combative midfielder he used to be. Although it would be a great boost for the Blues if the Ghanian could find his best form again as it would save them entering the market for a new player in that position, but along with Mikel it seems likely that Mourinho will look to clear out this midfield pairing and start afresh in that department.
It is unclear if there are any clubs tracking Essien at the moment, though the 30-year-old did spend last season on loan with Real Madrid, also under the management of Mourinho. Although he impressed his boss enough to keep himself in his squad at Chelsea this season, he probably won’t be making a permanent move to the Bernabeu.
Out – Demba Ba
Demba Ba looked like one of the most clinical finishers in the Premier League when Chelsea signed him from Newcastle in January, but he has not managed to live up to this reputation in his disappointing time so far at Stamford Bridge. The Senegalese international has managed just two Premier League goals for the Blues in fifteen appearances and now looks firmly out of Mourinho’s plans for this season, despite the Portuguese coach pulling the plug on a deal to loan Ba to Arsenal in the closing hours of the summer transfer window for fear that his addition to the Gunners would make them more serious title rivals.
Ba’s old club Newcastle were also interested in signing the 29-year-old during the summer, and Serie A leaders Roma were also known to be keen on him, so it will be interesting to see if Mourinho is happy to let these clubs have him when the transfer window re-opens.
Out – Fernando Torres
Although there have been some signs recently that Fernando Torres has rediscovered a bit of form, the Spaniard is still nowhere near the player he used to be, and he continues to fail to deliver the goals required in the big games in the Premier League. It was a big surprise that the former Liverpool man wasn’t sold by the Blues in the summer, but surely he will make way in January if Chelsea can find a suitable replacement?
With Torres, Ba and new signing Eto’o all looking so unconvincing at the moment, one bigger surprise still is that Chelsea allowed Romelu Lukaku to leave on loan to Everton at the end of the summer. Still, Mourinho will see January as an opportunity to put his problems upfront right.
In – Luke Shaw (Southampton)
If Chelsea do sell Ryan Bertrand they could do worse for a direct replacement than outstanding Southampton youngster Luke Shaw. The 18-year-old has been a revelation over the last year for the Saints, making the step up from their youth team to the Premier League seamlessly, and drawing comparisons with a young Gareth Bale for his attacking instincts from the back.
With Ashley Cole not getting any younger, Shaw could be the perfect long-term replacement for the legendary England international, and Chelsea would be beating a host of other top clubs to his signature, such as Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal, who are all big fans of this top young talent. Shaw has revealed, however, that he is a Chelsea fan, so the Blues could hold a big advantage there in the chase for the Southampton starlet. With such great potential, one can only imagine how well he could develop under the expert guidance of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.
In – Ross Barkley (Everton)
Another top English youngster who has recently come on to Chelsea’s radar is Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, who would be an excellent potential replacement for Mikel and Essien in the Blues’ engine room. Compared with a young Michael Ballack, who also represented Chelsea in a glittering career, the versatile Barkley could provide everything Chelsea could hope for in a midfielder, with a great engine and work rate defensively, as well as quality and vision going forward.
Manchester United’s need for a midfielder has also seen them come in for the £20m-rated youngster, so Chelsea may face some difficulty in landing this in-demand talent, with Mourinho himself hinting that he may prove a tad too expensive considering his inexperience at the top level. Still, there’s no question Barkley has the potential to be one of this country’s best midfielders for many years to come, and would be a good investment for the Blues.
In – Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund)
Another recent target of Chelsea’s and many top European sides has been Borussia Dortmund star Ilkay Gundogan. The classy German looks like another of many great prospects coming out of the Bundesliga at the moment, and at 22 years of age he is already vastly experienced with two title winners’ medals with Dortmund as well as a Champions League runners-up medal to his name, in a final in which he scored his side’s equaliser against treble winners Bayern Munich.
Replacing Mikel and Essien with Barkley and Gundogan would undoubtedly be expensive, but it would certainly be superb business by Mourinho if he could pull it off this January, particularly with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Barcelona also chasing Gundogan, who looks like becoming one of the best all-round midfield players in the game in the next few years.
In – Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
A player who is really catching the eye at the moment and one who could certainly aid Chelsea’s crisis upfront is Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa. The talented Brazilian has 7 goals already this season and most recently struck a memorable winner for his side as they defeated arch rivals Real Madrid 1-0 at the Bernabeu. Cool and composed in front of goal, Costa would surely be a considerable upgrade on Torres and Ba for Chelsea, and at 24 years of age a more long-term option than veteran forward Samuel Eto’o.
Liverpool were also in for the Atletico star during the summer, and he will certainly continue to attract attention if he carries on playing like this, though Diego Simeone will be desperate not to lose another star player after selling Radamel Falcao to Monaco during the summer.
In – Jackson Martinez (Porto)
If Chelsea manage to have a great transfer window and clear out both Torres and Ba, they could also renew their interest in prolific Porto striker Jackson Martinez as well as Diego Costa. The Colombian goal machine scored an impressive 34 goals in 43 games in his first season with the Portuguese giants last year, and has three strikes in as many games this season, showing that he’s no one-season-wonder.
A pacey, powerful player, Martinez looks to have all the ingredients to succeed in the Premier League, and although he would no doubt be expensive at around £30m or more, Chelsea would be well advised to move for this talented player before the likes of Monaco, Tottenham and Liverpool all step up their interests in him as they also search for additions upfront.