Chelsea January Transfer Rumours: 5 Players Rafael Benitez Should Try to Sign

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The January transfer window is upon us.

In the sea of transfer rumours that surround us, I've decided to try to pick the top five players Rafael Benitez should try to sign in January.

However, it should be noted that not all of them have been linked to Chelsea recently.

Read on and discover which five players Chelsea should try to sign in January.

Luke Shaw

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According to The Guardian, Chelsea were close to signing the Southampton prodigy Luke Shaw last year, but eventually backed out of the transfer.

Shaw, 17, is another youngster who came out of the famous Southampton academy, which has also produced the likes of Alan Shearer, Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The 17-year-old is an attacking left-back with fantastic dribbling ability and ball control, which combined with his extraordinary pace, makes him a perfect replacement for the seemingly outgoing Ashley Cole.

This season might be Shaw's first in the Premier League, but the youngster has already shown he is more than capable of playing at the highest level.

However, there haven't really been any newer reports linking Shaw with a switch to Stamford Bridge.

Edinson Cavani

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With Mirror reporting that Falcao has already signed with Real Madrid, the Blues should focus on trying to sign Napoli forward Edinson Cavani.

Similarly to Luke Shaw, Cavani was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last summer, but the move never materialised (The Guardian).

Having already scored 21 goals this season, there are literally no doubts whether the Napoli hitman would be able to perform in the Premier League.

Marouane Fellaini

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It's fair to say Marouane Fellaini is one of the most in-form players in the league at the moment.

For those wondering, the Belgian international is the man behind Everton's incredible run this season.

However, with his tough-tackling ability, strong presence in the air, long surging runs forward and admirable finishing, the midfielder has already outgrown his current club.

As rumours of Frank Lampard's summer exit loom over, finding a replacement for the veteran will be Rafael Benitez's top priority, and is there a man who would be a better replacement than Fellaini?

Andre Schürrle

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Another player who got away from Chelsea last summer is Andre Schürrle (The Guardian).

The Bayer Leverkusen forward might not have a stellar record in the Bundesliga, but make no mistake, the talented 22-year-old is one of the best forwards in the league.

Schürrle, who is capable of playing in a number of positions, would provide perfect cover for Eden Hazard, Fernando Torres, Juan Mata and even Ramires and Frank Lampard.

Chelsea would be making a huge mistake if they once again missed out on such a versatile player.

Theo Walcott

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Theo Walcott's contract saga still hasn't come to an end, and Chelsea would be wise to reconsider sending a bid for the Arsenal forward.

Should Walcott reject a new contract extension, the Gunners would be in no position to negotiate, as they will lose their forward for nothing in six months.

This is a perfect opportunity for Chelsea to send in a tempting bid to test Arsene Wenger's resolve to keep Walcott at the Emirates stadium.

Chelsea, despite being on the verge of signing Demba Ba from Newcastle (as reported by BBC), need a world-class striker, someone who can perform on a regular basis, and Walcott would be an incredible signing.