Portugal right-back Jose Bosingwa will join Chelsea in the next 48 hours after Porto accepted a £16.2million offer from Avram Grant's side.
This news is very welcome following the end of a long, torrid-turned-great season. With United inevitably clinching the title yesterday, I turned my thoughts to two things. The Champions League final and next season.
When I woke up this morning, we had signed Boswinga from Porto, so I guess I was thinking aloud and I was heard by somebody.
Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa have all made moves for the 25-year-old in recent months, but it appears Chelsea has held them off.
This is the third player Avram Grant has signed, following Anelka and Ivanovic's arrival back in January, but this player is the first part of Avram Grant's rebuilding plans as Chelsea looks to strengthen its squad before next season.
Chelsea issued a statement confirming the deal on their official Web site.
It said: "Chelsea can confirm it has reached agreement with FC Porto for the transfer of Jose Bosingwa. The player is now in England to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical."
16 million for a defender seems a lot of money and already I'm hearing rival fans slating this signing. One can never know whether he's worth that much until he starts playing.
The fact that he's "relatively unknown" to Premier League followers is not important because a lot of players have made it over here after being "relatively uknown" upon arrival.
Chelsea paid 16.8 million for Makelele in 2003, in a move that raised a lot of eye-brows because he was a defensive midfielder and ALL his attributes contributed to protecting the back four. After successfully completing five seasons at Stamford Bridge, its pretty safe to say that, it was money well spent.
Whether Boswingwa is worth 16 million will remain to be seen but it shows that Grant wants to try and solve our right back problem "once and for all."
United has long been in the hunt for a right-back and assistant coach Carlos Queiroz confirmed their interest in the player earlier in the season.
United saw him as a successor to Gary Neville, but Chelsea has moved swiftly to snap-up the attack-minded defender.
Bosingwa joined FC Porto in 2003, where he played under former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho and has been a first-choice right-back for the last three seasons.
This casts a doubt over Belletti, as he has been continuously ignored recently with Essien employed at right back and Belletti on the bench.
Bosingwa won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho and alongside current Chelsea defenders Carvalho and Ferreira. He has been a first team regular ever since, and has also overtaken Valencia's Miguel in the right back spot in the national team.
We should all get a real good look at his ability during Euro 2008, when he turns out for Portugal.
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5 months ago
Seems like a good signing
Along with Ivanovic , should bolster up our defence as most probably we will be selling Ben Haim and Bridge this summer.
Dont know much about this guy, but hope hes gud :)
from 5 months ago
I dont think Bridge will leave as he provides vital cover for Cole. Ben Haim digged his own grave when he publicly attacked Grant and Chelsea. I'd rather think Belletti is the one that might be leaving, which is stranger as I thought he had a decent first season and made the right back slot his own....
We shall wait and see....
from 5 months ago
I agree that Bridge is a almost equal cover for Cole
But I dont think he will want 2 spend another season in the bench
He will in all probability ask for a transfer this summer
If we can hold onto him, that would be a major "signing" for us
5 months ago
im sure he will be better than Fereira....but I think he is overpriced.
from 5 months ago
Most teams overprice their players when Chelsea, United or Real Madrid come calling...
5 months ago
I dont know abt this guy, but we are paying huge amounts but not utilizing them correctly, I seriously feel that carlvahlo should be sold and ivanovic should be given a chance. And we have very good players in reserves di santo, scott and ben sahar deserve a chance to prove.
from 5 months ago
Carvalho should be sold? He's been our best defender this season, and you want him out?
Ben Sahar wont reach Chelsea quality, hence we dont need him. Di santos and Sinclair have both shown immense promise and they will hopefully be given an opportunity next season...
from 5 months ago
Sorry mate, but are you mad? Carlvahlo is a stud....I do think sinclair would be great to see play though.
from 5 months ago
Naa bruv, Ricky has been out best performing defender this season. He might not be "the best" defender we have but he's succesfully lead the defence in the absence of Cech and Terry. I would never let him go. Thanks for your comment though - your entitled to your opinion as I am mine....
5 months ago
Remember that signing Jose from Portugal has proves beneficial for us in the past
:)
I am hoping for the same this time
5 months ago
I fancied him for United, could be like an Evra
from 5 months ago
Thats funny, 'Cos most United fans I've spoken to today are slating him saying he isn't premiership quality and not Chelsea's standard...
We shall wait and see..
5 months ago
Nah i liked the look of him against Pool in Champions League...I was hoping United actually bought him when we were linked with him. Its a big price, but could prove to be a great signing. Im looking forword to seeing him anyway.
from 5 months ago
oh seen. You're the first one to say that, so that good....
5 months ago
By Stephen
Jose is a great attacking defender, He will push the tempo from the right and can score goals too. He will be a great value/asset for chelsea. But sometimes players can have a tough time adjusting to the EPL. I hope he still in top form and continues to exemplify excellence like he did for Porto.
I'm a big Chelsea Fan. My concern for next season is our style of play. We need beautiful football, but we need it in conjunction with consistence goal scoring. We need strikers that can produce and some creative play makers.
What do you guys think? What are some of the potential play-makers and strikers Chelsea should purchase?
4 months ago
Great buy. Agile, versatile and good tackler. But the down side is he is not that good at crossing, I hope he improves on that.
Chelsea should consider buying Kerlon (his seal dribble is simply awsome)[Cureziro], Renato Agusto[Fla. rio] and Renatinho[Santos]. They would come at a relatively cheap price and are all good prospects.
4 months ago
boswinga hope to be better hen ivanovic n ferrera
4 months ago
drogba should stayback in team...
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