Stamford Bridge side set for major squad re-shuffle.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is readying moves to conduct wholesale changes within his Stamford Bridge squad, moves that will see five first team players made available to interested parties.
25 year old Spanish playmaker Juan Mata has played something of a bit-part role this season, in marked contrast to the important role he enjoyed in each of the past two seasons.
The former Valencia man has started just five Premier League matches this season with Mourinho preferring to field Oscar in his place and this has led to Mata being fearful for his position in Vicente del Bosque’s 2014 World Cup finals squad.
A number of clubs are said to be interested in the pint sized attacking midfielder with Chelsea looking to secure at least £25m from his sale and PSG are reportedly the favourites to land the Blues star.
David Luiz is another player who played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s recent successes who is now seemingly not a key part of Jose Mourinho’s plans.
The Brazilian has been an inconsistent performer when called upon this term and Mourinho is ready to sell the former Benfica man who has made five Premier League starts this season.
Mourinho has opted to use John Terry and Gary Cahill as his preferred central defensive partnership and will look to bank £30m from the sale of the Chelsea fan favourite and Barcelona are tracking Luiz with a view to making a January bid.
Though Fernando Torres has on occasion this term been very effective on the whole he has once again failed to come anywhere near to living up to his £50m price-tag.
The former Liverpool man has scored just one goals in eight Premier League appearances and Jose Mourinho will look to recoup as much of the fee paid to sign the experienced striker as possible, though in reality it’s unlikely the West London side will make even half the amount spent on the Spanish international in January 2011.
A move back to La Liga could be on the cards though is likely to occur in the summer with a January departure only an option if Mourinho successfully signs a fresh striking option.
Torres has scored just 16 goals in 90 Premier League appearances for Chelsea.
John Obi Mikel has been consistently linked with a Stamford Bridge exit and Turkish giants Galatasaray are ready to make a January bid for the Nigerian international a bid that Jose Mourinho could be ready to consider.
The returning Chelsea boss has set his sights on a number of defensive midfielders he feels are superior to the 26 year old.
Mourinho feels that he can bring in a more suitable strong tackler presence to help protect his creative midfielders and as such Mikel will become surplus to requirements.
Veteran left-back Ashley Cole has been dropped on a number of occasions this term and with the England man’s contract set to be coming to an end in the summer Jose Mourinho is looking to bring in a long term replacement for the 32 year old.
With only a rolling one year deal likely to be on the table for the former Arsenal man Mourinho will allow Cole to leave if he desires a fresh challenge, with Real Madrid said to be keen on the full-back.
Jose Mourinho is not one for sentimental decisions and is ready to allow Cole to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season if he manages to land a suitable left-back to fill the void.
Chelsea will launch a January bid for Everton starlet Ross Barkley, who has been in fine form this term, as Jose Mourinho looks to freshen up his midfield.
The England man is enjoying life under new Toffees boss Roberto Martinez and has become a pivotal member of the Goodison Park first team set-up and consequently a player the Merseyside club could struggle to keep hold of.
Chelsea are ready to offer up to £20m for the 19 year old, with further incremental payments worked into any deal based on his progression at Stamford Bridge, an offer that Everton chairman Bill Kenwright may struggle to turn down.
A January move for Barkley would in turn offer the youngster a solid chance at securing a spot in Roy Hodgson’s 2014 World Cup squad.
Jose Mourinho will look to raid his former club Real Madrid in pursuit of German international battler Sami Khedira who the Portuguese boss sees as the ideal steely addition to his Chelsea midfield.
Recent reports have suggested that the 26 year old former Stuttgart man is unsettled in Spain and his recent attack on the Spanish press will not have gone unnoticed by Mourinho, Khedira stating;
“I feel insulted by the Spanish press, I will never be one of their favourite sons,”
“I began the season on the bench and once again I’ve been made a scapegoat. They don’t value me, even when I play well.
“I’m not Spanish, I didn’t cost a lot and I’m a disciple of Mourinho.”
Mourinho believes that Khedira would be a more well rounded option to field than the likes of John Obi Mikel or Michael Essien though one wonders if the Spanish giants are willing to do business with their former manager.
Robert Lewandowski has been in his usual consistent goal-scoring form this term, scoring 11 goals in 14 Bundesliga starts, and may perhaps be open to a move to Stamford Bridge as Jose Mourinho seeks to snap up the 25 year old in January.
The former Lech Poznan man is into his fourth season at the Westfalenstadion and has netted an impressive 90 goals in 161 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund may prefer the option of banking something from the sale of a player who can leave the club on a free transfer in the summer with a move to join Bayern Munich for nothing being a real fear for the Bundesliga side.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is readying a January bid for French international centre-back Eliaqium Mangala.
The 22 year old is considered one of the most consistent defensive forces in European football and is being tracked by a number of interested parties and that growing interest will push Mourinho into making an offer early in the January transfer window.
Mangala helped FC Porto to secure the domestic title last term, the Estadio do Dragao side conceding just 14 goals in 30 games in the process, and has now had a £40m release clause included in his latest club contract. However the Blues have been encouraged to bid by club president Pinto da Costa who has stated that his club may be willing to listen to offers lower than that rather inflated price-tag.
Chelsea continue to track Southampton left-back Luke Shaw as a long term replacement for veteran Ashley Cole.
The 18 year old is a Chelsea fan and despite the Saints superb start to the season it could prove tough for Mauricio Pochettino to prevent the English youngster from having his head turned by genuine interest from the Stamford Bridge side.
Mourinho will wait until the end of the season before making a significant offer for the teenager.
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