Chelsea could face the big task of looking to the transfer market for a replacement for star player Willian this summer as he’s linked with Barcelona.
The Brazil international has reportedly been the subject of a £50million bid from Barcelona, which has been turned down as talks are ongoing, according to Sky Sports.
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A popular player at Chelsea, Willian would undoubtedly be a big loss for the Blues and a real quality performer would need to be brought in in his place if he were to swap Stamford Bridge for the Nou Camp.
Read on as we pick out five realistic names who could be ideal to plug that gap for Chelsea next season…
Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)
Recently linked with Chelsea by Diario Gol, Marco Asensio would be one hell of a signing and in the long run quite likely an upgrade on Willian.
Whilst not being exactly the same style of player, the Spain international looks a huge talent and can seemingly do it all in that attacking midfield position.
He also hasn’t been enough of a regular at Real Madrid that he couldn’t be lured away. You know what to do, Chelsea…
Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
Linked with Chelsea by the Evening Standard among others, Anthony Martial has struggled at Manchester United and could do with a change of club in order to play more and get the chance to escape Jose Mourinho and express himself.
Martial and Mourinho certainly don’t seem an ideal fit, so if Willian leaves Chelsea this seems an ideal opportunity for the Frenchman to start afresh in the Premier League.
The 22-year-old has also been linked by the Daily Star with Bayern Munich, suggesting he’d cost around £70million.
Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen)
That Evening Standard piece also mentions interest in exciting young Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey, who will surely be on his way to a bigger club before too long.
The Jamaica international is a superbly skilful and entertaining attacker, and would surely fit in well alongside similar players like Eden Hazard at Chelsea.
It remains to be seen how much of a priority he is, but Bailey would be well worth looking at if Willian does make the move to Barcelona.
Dries Mertens (Napoli)
One of Serie A’s best players in the last couple of seasons, it is little surprise to see Napoli star Dries Mertens being linked as a target for Maurizio Sarri if he becomes Chelsea manager.
This claim comes from the Telegraph, and the versatile Belgian could surely do a job replacing Willian on that right-hand side, even if he has largely shone as a striker under Sarri up until now.
Chelsea fans surely won’t complain if it is Mertens brought in, with his goal record and intelligent play, plus his familiarity with Sarri’s methods making him a very strong candidate indeed.
Malcom (Bordeaux)
Not strongly linked with Chelsea so far, but Get French Football News did report of some potential interest from CFC earlier this summer.
The young Brazilian has shone at Bordeaux and could be ideal as a long-term replacement for his fellow countryman at Stamford Bridge.
Having attracted plenty of interest in recent months (GFFN also mention Liverpool and Inter Milan), it seems likely Malcom will be at a bigger club before too long, so Chelsea should definitely be in there before their rivals get there first.