What would we do in the shoes of Jose Mourinho?
It seems almost churlish to try and suggest that Chelsea need to improve things in January after their unbeaten season so far, but that is the nature of football – to stand still is to move backwards, so it would be no surprise if Jose Mourinho dips his toes into the murky waters of the January transfer market.
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If we were in Mourinho’s substantial shoes at Stamford Bridge, we would look to make these six deals to improve on perfection:
In) Andrej Kramaric (Rijeka)
Mourinho seems to be keen on the prolific young Croatian striker and, with Didier Drogba coming to the end of his career, the Blues certainly need another senior option in attack – albeit probably loaned out until the end of the season.
Out) John Obi Mikel
Nigerian international Mikel is no longer quite up to the requisite standard of Chelsea and could probably do with ending his career playing regular first team football and a club slightly lower down the food chain.
In) Giannelli Imbula (Marseille)
With Mikel no longer up to scratch, the thing that Chelsea most desperately need in the January window is an alternative for the Matic role in defensive midfield, with no one currently at the club capable of filling the Serbian’s shoes when he is injured and suspended. The Blues have been tracking Marseille’s powerful box-to-box star Imbula for some time and it is perhaps time to bite the bullet and make a deal happen.
Out) Petr Cech
Whilst there is nothing wrong with Cech as a footballer whatsoever, it isn’t fair on such a top class, international star to be keeping him as a reserve when Cech wants regular first team action.
In) Seamus Coleman (Everton)
Chelsea have been linked with Everton right back over recent months, despite having both Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta available for that position in their first team squad. It makes sense, however, with Ivanovic not getting any younger and Azpilicueta’s long term future seeming to lie at left back.
Out) Mohamed Salah
Salah has failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge and looks destined to go down as a rare miss from Jose Mourinho in the transfer market. He is likely to leave, whether it is permanently or on loan.