How Mourinho will aim to shake up the squad this summer.
There was much excitement around Chelsea last summer when it was announced the highly revered Jose Mourinho would be returning as manager.
Yet 12 months on and no silverware, a third place finish in the Premier League and a semi-final exit from the Champions League and things aren’t quite as joyful at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho wants to shake up the squad in the close season with Roman Abramovich’s money and here’s five players we expect to come in and five to leave.
Players out
Ashley Cole
The left-back has already confirmed that after eight years of success in west London he will be leaving the club when his current contract expires.
Cole has struggled with form and fitness in 2013/14 and was replaced in the starting XI for much of the campaign by Cesar Azpilicueta.
Source: Guardian.
Samuel Eto’o
Upon arriving from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013 the striker was awarded an initial one-year deal and the 33-year-old hasn’t really impressed enough to have that extended.
Add to that the fact that Eto’o has now twice publicly criticised Mourinho and it looks as if the Cameroon international will be on his way.
Source: Metro.
David Luiz
When Mourinho returned to the Bridge he identified two previous stalwarts in the side that he wasn’t sure about, of which one was Juan Mata – who has since been sold to Manchester United – and the other was Luiz.
With both Barcelona and Bayern Munich keen on signing the Brazilian the west Londoners should get a hefty fee for the defender, which will help fund other transfer pursuits.
Source: Mirror.
John Obi Mikel
With Nemanja Matic and Ramires established as first team midfielders at the club and Frank Lampard expected to be offered a new one-year contract, Mikel will have to be the fall guy to allow for new signings.
The Blues went to a lot of trouble to sign Mikel ahead of United back in 2006 and since then the Nigerian has hardly proved worth it.
Source: Mirror.
Fernando Torres
Ever since his British transfer record £50m switch from Liverpool in January 2011, Torres’ time in the English capital has largely been a disappointment.
The fee has hung over the Spaniard’s head and his previous prolific scoring has disappeared, leaving Mourinho ready to cut his losses on the 30-year-old.
Source: Metro.
Players in
Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid
If there is one deal that is expected to happen it is the one involving this 25-year-old striker, who has been linked with Chelsea for months now.
Having scored 35 goals in what could be a double winning campaign of La Liga and Champions League for Atletico, Costa is among the most deadly strikers in Europe currently.
Source: Daily Mail.
Sami Khedira, Real Madrid
As previously mentioned both Matic and Ramires have been good this term, but with Lampard aging and Mikel looking to be on his way, Mourinho wants extra recruitment in central midfield.
The 51-year-old is a big fan of Khedira’s, having signed the German for Madrid from Stuttgart back in 2010 and now wants a reunion with the 27-year-old in England.
Source: Metro.
Felipe Luis, Atletico Madrid
A second player from Atleti and a third from the Spanish capital now, as the departure of Cole means a new left-back is a priority.
As impressive as Azpilicueta has been in the role, relying on the 24-year-old soley could prove costly and Felipe has helped his current side to great success alongside Costa.
Source: Telegraph.
Mario Mandzukic, Bayern Munich
Mourinho has already admitted that if he had a proven goalscorer at the club then they would have stood a better chance of winning the title.
So with Eto’o and Torres going, replacing them with Costa and Mandzukic would definitely be a step up and the latter could be used in the negotiations that sees Luiz go the other way.
Source: Mirror.
John Stones, Everton
Finally, the departure of Cole and Luiz means that Mourinho’s trusty defence is depleting greatly and whilst the core is there, support is needed.
The Blues are also very aware of the homegrown quota and therefore are looking to bring in the Toffees’ young, English and versatile defender Stones – who can play at right-back as well as centrally.
Source: Mirror.
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