Chelsea Transfer Rumors: 5 Targets the Blues NEED to Sign

On of the best things about being a fan of a big time club like Chelsea is that the transfer window can be just as exciting to follow as the season.

Rich and powerful owners dig deep in their pockets to bring the most talented and biggest names to their clubs, to both put trophies in the clubhouse and fans in the seats. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich did not invent this concept, but he sure does subscribe to it.

Within days of the appointment of Andre Villa-Boas at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea transfer target list became inflated with some of the biggest and most expensive players in the game. Luka Modric, Welsey Snejider, Radamel Falcao, Neymar were all heavily favored to be in West London come August.

For the most part, Villa-Boas has done all he can to quiet the speculations and has verbally committed to the players the club already has. This is the right steps to take for a team that already has the pieces necessary to win.

Villa-Boas is not coming into a team that needs rebuilding. This group was in the title race up until the third to last week of the season and made it to the Champions League semifinals. The core players that won the double the previous season still remain as well.

If Chelsea were not to make a single move in the off season, they would still remain a favorite in the league and Europe, but to help secure them it would benefit to make a few moves.

However, these moves don't need to be signings of stars and over priced talent. Instead Villa-Boas should focus on securing the players that will add depth and dimension to an already talented squad.

Of course Falcao would be a great player to get, but is he really necessary on a team that has three strikers that all have had an argument for being the best in the world?

Here is a list of five players that have been on the Chelsea transfer rumors whose signings would not only be welcomed, but would be essential to the teams success next season. They are not going to break the bank, but make the most practical sense for a team already loaded with talent.

João Moutinho

Moutinho was one of the first players linked to Chelsea when Villa-Boas was appointed. At first his name was one among many that were rumored to come, but his potential of being in a Blue's uniform is becoming more and more a necessity in recent days.

In just the first few days of preseason, Chelsea suffered a huge blow when Michael Essien tore his ACL, sidelining him for up to six months.

The Ghanian native has been integral to the clubs success when he has been healthy, often being one of the most influential players on the field. This is mostly due to his immense versatility  in playing in almost any position and in any situation.

Moutinho would fit this similar role as a versatile midfielder. He is comfortable any where in the middle of the field, all the way from attacking in the box to defending just outside of his own.

The value of having someone like this is that they can fill in for inevitable injuries and give rest to a multitude of players.

Perhaps what Moutinho could bring to the team more than anything would be the intangibles. Being that he is from Porto, he knows Villa-Boas well. He could help bridge the divide that exists when players get a new coach.

Adel Taarabt

Luka Modric has been on the Chelsea radar since the very beginning of the transfer window. Tottenham have denied that the Croatian star is for sale. Nonetheless the two London clubs have dueled it out in the media for over a month now.

Modric is a great player, but the price on him is very high and the argument of where to play him could become an issue in the clubhouse. It would seem almost unthinkable to give him Lampard's spot and unfair to leave Ramires behind. But you also can't expect a player who is in the prime of his career and will cost probably well over £25 million to be content sitting on the bench.

Instead it would be more practical for Chelsea to put their aim and focus on QPR star Adel Taarabt.

The Moroccan midfielder was a highly rated prospect, but due to some admittingly poor contractual decisions he ended up at QPR.

In only his second season at the club and 21 years of age he was named the team captain, lead in goals (19), assists (16), was an integral part of the team winning The Championship and gaining automatic promotion.

It would seem unfathomable that a team looking to stay in top-flight football would sell their best player and fan favorite, but QPR boss Neil Warnock has already stated he is prepared to lose him.

Taarabt has publicly acknowledged his interest in moving to a top club, but also has his reservations about being a bench player.

He told Football365.fr: "I like the London clubs. I do not hide my liking for Chelsea [although] I would prefer to play regularly at QPR to being on the bench for a season at Chelsea. Now, if they told me I'd play 20 games per season, I think I'd be very tempted."

It would be easier to fit him into the Chelsea line up as he has experience both playing as an attacking midfielder and forward. In Villa-Boas 4-3-3 formation, Taarabt has four or five positions he could possibly fit into to find playing time.

Not to mention he would also cost a fraction of what Modric would opening up the transfer budget for other targets.

Angel Di Maria

Di Maria is a new target that has come up in the rumor mill only recently. But as the window progresses it is picking up more and more weight, mostly because of moves being made in Madrid.

After a very successful first season with the Real, he seems to already be looking at a potential spot on the bench for next year with the club reportedly going after players that play his position. Fabio Coentrao, Neymar, and Kun Aguero are some of the biggest names being tossed around and all would more than likely push Di Maria to a sub role.

Sadly it is the way of big clubs who don't win silverware to make their reliable role players collateral damage in the pursuit of championships. However, this bodes well for Chelsea who are looking for a creative and productive winger to support the new 4-3-3 formation.

Di Maria is an incredibly talented player, but does not show off his flair as much as he could. He is a perfect support for Drogba, Torres, Anelka or whoever may start up front with him.

If you watched the Argentina/Costa Rica game last night you would have seen what I am talking about. Before he scored the final goal of the match, he was a great outlet for the stars on the team. Messi, Aguero, and Gago all used him as point on which they could release off of and make space for themselves to work their magic.

His goal also showed one of his greats attributes, his ability to make well timed runs.

His attitude would also be ideal for a coach which has stressed the importance of team unity. He has superstar talent, but remains modest and is always more welcome to team achievements that personal statistics.

Chelsea was criticised for a lack of creativity last season on the offensive front. That has mostly been what has fueled the speculation surrounding a Neymar move to Stamford Bridge. But Neymar has a lot of baggage that comes with him. It would benefit Chelsea do instead get the fallout from a Neymar move to Madrid in Di Maria.

Gregory Van Der Wiel

For the past two seasons the question of what to do at the RB position has been a headache for managers. Both current RB, Jose Bosingwa and Paulo Ferreira, are incredibly productive in supporting the attack, but are caught out of position too often and have been the blame of too many goals against.

Branislav Ivanovich was inserted in the role successfully, but did not have the same offensive output. Also, when Alex became injured, he had to come back to the center until David Luiz arrived. That time between is when the Chelsea went on their slide and ultimately lost the league.

van der Wiel is a natural RB who has proven that he has both the offensive explosion and the defensive presence.

At only 23 years of age he has already made 108 appearances for Ajax and 24 for the Dutch national team, including being the starting right back for six of seven 2010 World Cup games.

He plays almost identically the the man that would be playing his opposite, Ashley Cole. Never afraid to join the attack, he is willing to carry the ball as long as he has room, but has the speed to cover back if a counter should go the other way.

He is also known for filling space off the ball. He has scored many goals after passing the ball off the the wing and continuing to cut inside all the way to the box and receive the ball unmarked. To top it off he has an incredible finish for a center back turned right back.

The biggest difference he has with Cole is he is not a push and run player. Instead he enjoys keeping the ball much closer and beating defenders with foot work. If his and Luiz were to play on the right side of the defense together, it could produce some fun to watch football.

Coming to Chelsea would fit a role they need to look at, but are not desperate to fill. As long as players can remain healthy, Ivanovich will probably probably get the RB start. But should injuries occur or Alex leave as it has been rumored, they could be looking at a depleted back line.

Being so young van der Wiel could come in and take some time to learn the system and English game on the bench. If he develops the way he has been, by the January transfer window he could be starting and helping the Blues regain their silverware.

Romelu Lukaku

Chelsea has been rumored to pick up anywhere from two to three new forwards this offseason. That would give them six or seven world class strikers that would easily be starting on any but a handful of other teams.

The crowded front line would make an uncomfortable clubhouse where egos will out weigh team unity and the fight for playing time could blow up into a media bonanza.

The truth is Chelsea really doesn't need a single new forward right now. Between Drogba, Anelka, Torres, Kalou and even Florent Malouda they have all the talent need to be the most offensively productive team in the league.

Falcao, Alexis Sanchez or Tevez would of course be welcomed, but the price tags on these players' heads just doesn't warrant the pursuit.

Instead it would be more beneficial for Chelsea to go cheap and young with Belgian sensation Romelu Lukaku.

At only 18 years old, Lukaku has scored 31 goals in 71 appearances for his club Anderlicht. He has also been deemed by the media as the "next Drogba," given his size, strength and incredible knack for finding the goal. It would be beneficial for the team to bring him now where he can develop further with the Ivorian mentoring him.

Right now, the only thing going against the Chelsea forwards is age. The average age of the potential starters is 30 years old. Even if they were to stay at the Bridge they do not have much more than three or four years left.

With Josh McEachran and Daniel Sturridge already developing at an impressive rate, it will not be long before they are everyday names of the roster. Lukaku would be a great compliment to those guys and one day could be the best target man in the league.

Until then, he is young and good enough that many teams would be willing to pick him up on loan, allowing him valuable playing experience.