With Chelsea being linked with some interesting players in the transfer market, to say the least, here’s a look at five players rumoured to be among Jose Mourinho’s top transfer targets for the summer – each accompanied by a youngster or other forgotten players the Blues could try to promote from within instead…
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Chelsea transfer rumours
1) Douglas Costa vs Mohamed Salah
According to the Metro, Chelsea may already have an £18m deal in place to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Douglas Costa. Although the Brazilian wide-man has performed well in the Ukraine, the Blues already have the excellent Mohamed Salah as an option out wide, with the Egyptian impressing greatly during a loan spell at Fiorentina this season. Quite why the former FC Basel man hasn’t been given more opportunities at Stamford Bridge is beyond everyone who’s seen him play recently.
2) Paul Pogba vs Ruben Loftus-Cheek
A comparison made by Jose Mourinho himself recently, according to the Metro – Chelsea may not need to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus as they already have the highly-rated Ruben Loftus-Cheek coming through as one of the club’s most promising youngsters. The midfielder has had some first-team run-outs this season and could be in line to earn more next term.
3) Emmanuel Adebayor vs Lucas Piazon
According to the Daily Telegraph, Chelsea are looking into signing Emmanuel Adebayor from Tottenham Hotspur this summer. While the Togolese forward has his merits as a backup option, he seems a strange signing when Chelsea already have quality young attackers like Lucas Piazon waiting in the wings. After seeing what a player like Harry Kane can do this season when just given some playing time, perhaps the Blues should follow suit?
4) Mauro Icardi vs Patrick Bamford
The London Evening Standard reported earlier this week that Chelsea were stepping up their interest in signing Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi. While the Argentine looks a top talent, it is again hard to understand why the Blues would splash out £22m on a player who doesn’t necessarily look hugely better than the club’s own rising star Patrick Bamford, who has really caught the eye on loan at Middlesbrough this season. Again, as a squad player, what’s the harm in giving the 21-year-old a chance?
5) Raphael Varane vs Nathaniel Chalobah
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane is a ‘top priority transfer’ for Chelsea this summer, according to the Daily Mirror. Instead of forking out even more cash, why not look closer to home at another top young talent in Nathaniel Chalobah, who has impressed in numorous loan spells away from Stamford Bridge and is surely now deserving of some playing time for Jose Mourinho’s first-team?