Chelsea: What Roma Midfielder Daniele De Rossi Would Bring to Mourinho's Blues

New Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has already made his first forays into the transfer market with the captures of Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel, but the Portuguese manager is reportedly hoping to complete a far bigger deal shortly.

Matt Law of Mirror Football reports that Mourinho is actively looking to sign long-term transfer target Daniele De Rossi from AS Roma this summer, with a £200,000 per week contract needed to capture him.

The report indicates that Mourinho has tried to capture the Italian central midfielder at both Inter Milan and Real Madrid, but may now be able to finally seal his signature as he looks to propel Chelsea back to the top of English football.

De Rossi's Abilities and Traits

A fierce competitor and a classy midfielder, De Rossi brings an eclectic mix of the smooth and the combustible to the pitch. As capable of a thundering challenge as a 50-yard pass to feet, De Rossi can play in a variety of roles within the centre of the park and has even been seen fit for other positions by his club managers.

De Rossi played for a spell at centre-back only a couple of seasons back, where he carried that role on at international level for Italy, and has also played as the furthermost right player of three central midfielders; not as a winger, certainly, but able to offer penetration and ball retention in the channel.

On the ball, not only is he a reliable passer but he has good vision and movement. One of his real attributes is the late run into the opposition penalty area off set pieces, where he is useful in the air.

The Italian international is not renowned for great goalscoring feats in open play, and indeed did not score a single Serie A goal last season. He does however fulfill an important role in helping to win back the ball in the centre of the park with his energy, positional awareness and ability to read and intercept open play.

Chelsea's Options in the Centre

Last season Chelsea basically played two central midfielders behind the line of three attacking midfielders under Rafa Benitez, with Ramires and David Luiz typically filling the spots. It was a position of heavy rotation though, with Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel and even Oscar on occasion playing it.

Jose Mourinho will certainly keep the likes of Lampard and Ramires involved, though Oscar may be pushed to operate from a wider role if Mourinho returns to a more structured centre of the park and a 4-3-3 system.

Michael Essien also returns to Chelsea this summer after a year of playing under Mourinho at Real Madrid, though he often featured at right-back in Spain. Oriol Romeu will also be back in the Chelsea side after injury.

Potential 2013-14 Midfield?

David Luiz's future is unclear, so De Rossi could quite well be deployed as the deepest of the three in the centre, or else alongside one of Lampard and Ramires, with Mikel behind.

De Rossi would undoubtedly be an excellent addition to the Chelsea midfield, perhaps even the best all-round player they would have in that central role. He'd certainly improve the team if Mourinho was able to find the right role for him, and even a pairing of De Rossi and Luiz has plenty of appeal, though perhaps not quite enough positional defensive awareness to be a regular option.

The move might come down to the financial side, and while Chelsea certainly have the money to sign any player they want, a 29-year-old isn't going to offer them much resale value three or four years down the line.

The quality he provides in the meantime, though, might land them another piece of silverware or two.

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