With now exactly six weeks to go until the winter transfer window opens again for business, we take a look at 10 targets that the west London club are most likely to be pursuing come the new year …
Eliaquim Mangala (FC Porto)
The in-demand France international must be the most sought-after central defender on the Continent at present, with not only Chelsea, but also Premier League rivals such as Manchester United and Manchester City known to be interested in signing the 22-year-old come the turn of the year.
However, if the Blues are to be successful in their long-running pursuit of Mangala, then they will first need to meet the Portuguese champions’ whopping £35 million buyout clause in the defender’s contract, which even for the west Londoners represents quite a hefty fee indeed.
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Returning Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho has already made his intentions clear by dropping England international Ashley Cole to the substitutes’ bench of late after a string of poor displays by the left back, and now reports are beginning to emerge in the press that the self-styled ‘Special One’ is lining up a January swoop for the young Saint.
Shaw, 18, only just put pen to paper on a new long-term deal at St Mary’s last summer that will keep the England Under-21 international on the south coast until June 2018, meaning ‘Mou’ may need to break the bank in January in order to persuade high-flying Southampton to part company with their defensive starlet.
Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Similar to with Matuidi’s compatriot Mangala, Chelsea look like they will need to beat off stiff competition in the France international from big-spending Premier League rivals Manchester City if they want to be able to land the holding midfield player come the turn of the year.
However, with it well known that manager Jose Mourinho is desperate to sign a new defensive midfield player in January, having lost all faith in current incumbent John Obi Mikel, the west Londoners are likely to fight the north-west outfit all the way for the highly rated 26-year-old’s signature.
Radamel Falcao (AS Monaco)
Another name that has been heavily mentioned in the same breath as the Uefa Europa League winners in recent days, especially after Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was spotted in the crowd on Friday night watching the prolific Colombia international in action in a friendly international against Belgium.
And if reports this weekend are to be believed, then the Portuguese is hoping to be able to lure the 27-year-old to Stamford Bridge in January by using misfiring Blues centre-forward Fernando Torres in part exchange for Falcao in a deal worth an estimated £52m.
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid)
The experienced Spain international worked under Mourinho for three years with great success at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the holding midfield player his manager’s on-field lieutenant, and by the time of the ‘Special One’s’ controversial departure from the Spanish capital, also his only real true ally left at the Liga giants.
As a result, it is believed that ‘Mou’ is keen to once again be reunited with Alonso and with the player’s contract at los Blancos only running now until June 30 2014, the 31-year-old could be available to purchase in a cut-price deal in January after making it clear to his employers that he will not be extending his stay at the White House beyond next summer.
Nemanja Matic (Benfica)
The Serbian attacking midfielder used to play for the west London club of course, albeit briefly between 2009 and 2011, before then being sold to the Portuguese giants as part of the deal that also saw defender David Luiz move in the opposite direction to Stamford Bridge.
However, it is fair to say that the 25-year-old has stepped up a level since leaving the Blues in January 2011, so much so that now Matic is one of the most coveted midfield players plying their trade in Europe, with Chelsea hoping to be the club Matic decides to join when the winter window reopens in January.
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
With Chelsea in urgent need of more firepower in attack in the capital in the second half of this campaign, the Blues have been linked with a whole host of big-name strikers from across the Continent of late, following the collective failures of Spain international Fernando Torres and Senegalese attacker Demba Ba to hit the target with any great regularity this season.
Consequently, Mourinho is expected to now make a move for the highly rated Madrid striker in the new year after being impressed with the Frenchman’s abilities up front during their time working together in La Liga previously, although the Blues will need to first meet Real’s £35m asking price for the 25-year-old if they want to be able to lure the player to the Bridge.
Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)
The red-hot Uruguay international may have only moved to the Parc des Princes last summer from Serie A outfit Napoli in a big-money deal worth a staggering 64m euros, however, rumours are already beginning to circulate regarding the 26-year-old’s future with the Ligue 1 champions.
And that is why Chelsea are waiting in the wings ready to pounce come the new year should the Parisians decide to offload the forward.
Giannelli Imbula (Olympique de Marseille)
It seems certain that the one position which Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will definitely need cover for in January is the holding midfield role in front of the back four, as doubts continue to grow over the long-term future of Nigeria international John Obi Mikel at the Bridge.
And one of the names that has been suggested as a possible new recruit in recent days is that of Marseille’s France U21 international, a player with a reputation for being a tough-tackling defensive midfielder, while also being valued at £25m by the Ligue 1 giants.
Jackson Martinez (FC Porto)
Currently one of the Continent’s deadliest marksman, as well as consequently also one of the most highly valued too, although the Colombia international has recently dropped a strong hint that he may be about to quit the Portuguese champions.
However, with a contract at the Dragao that runs until June 30 2016, the Blues know that they will need to splash the cash come the turn of the year if they do wish to be able to lure the in-form forward to the capital.