Chelsea Transfer News: Marquinhos 'Proud' of Rumours, Stefano Sensi Scouted

Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos has told Yahoo Brasil (in Portuguese—with a translation by George Bellshaw of Metro) he’s “proud” to be linked with a January transfer to Chelsea.

The Brazilian has found it difficult to dislodge David Luiz and Thiago Silva in the heart of the PSG back line this term, and that much has got the Blues—along with Barcelona—onto his scent.

Yet Marquinhos himself said that although he’s flattered by the interest surrounding him, he’s happy with life in the French capital (via Metro):

“The interest of Barcelona and Chelsea? I am very proud of this interest. It’s good to know that other clubs are watching me, but I am happy at PSG where I live a very special moment in my career.”

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The 21-year-old signed for PSG back in 2013 for a then-world-record fee for a teenager of £27 million and has gone on to make 54 Ligue 1 appearances for the club, according to Soccerway.

His performances—albeit mainly in the absence of one of his countrymen—earned him a contract extension with the French champions that will keep him with the club until 2019, but that hasn’t deterred Chelsea.

The Blues’ hunt for a long-term successor to John Terry hit a snag in the summer, after Everton rejected the Blues’ numerous approaches to get John Stones to Stamford Bridge.

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And while Kurt Zouma and Gary Cahill have the potential to hold down the Chelsea back line for a long time, Marquinhos brings something different.

The Brazilian is a ball-playing centre-back—a player who reads the game brilliantly, remains calm under pressure and turns defence into attack by surging forward.

He’s similar to Stones in that respect; and much like the Englishman, he’ll cost Chelsea a pretty penny to get on their books.

The Blues reportedly had a £30.6 million bid for Marquinhos knocked back in August—per Metro—so they’ll have to go a lot higher to secure his services in January.

It could well prove a big fee worth parting with for Jose Mourinho and Co., though, as the 21-year-old Marquinhos has the credentials to go on to much bigger and better things.

Elsewhere, Chelsea are said to be scouting Italian playmaker Stefano Sensi, who is expected to leave Serie B side Cesena at the end of 2015/16.

And according to TuttoMercatoWeb (via Tom Olver of Metro), representatives of the Blues were in attendance at Cesena’s clash with Bari on Sunday evening.

Olver writes that Sensi is widely regarded as the best player in the Italian second division, and here’s a reminder of why:

The versatile star can play in holding midfield or further up the pitch, yet it’s his role in front of the back four as “the new Marco Verratti” where Sensi really shines.

This season’s January transfer window could prove the most important in Chelsea’s history.

Mourinho’s men are at something of a crossroads right now, where too many players are underperforming yet not being threatened with the bench.

The Portuguese boss could well find himself very busy in January then, as he looks to once again make Chelsea a team to be feared.