Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Speculation Surrounding Jose Mourinho's Blues

Chelsea had a phenomenal summer transfer window that saw the club bring in plenty of star power while getting rid of players who no longer had a future with the club, and Jose Mourinho has to be happy with his squad's performances early in the 2014-15 season.

The Blues won't take things easy, however. Top clubs are always looking to improve, and Mourinho knows it. Several young talents are already being linked with a January move to Stamford Bridge, adding to the team's already impressive collection.

Here's the latest buzz surrounding Chelsea's transfer activity.

Thibaut Courtois

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The Belgian international is the future of the Blues in goal, and according to Sky Sports, the club is ready to hand Thibaut Courtois a new five-year contract.

The 22-year-old is currently on international duty with Belgium (who won't start their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign due to their match against Israel being moved to March), and he's expected to sign as soon as he returns to England.

He told Sky Sports he doesn't expect any complications, saying: “It’s not yet signed. I am here with the national team so it is difficult, but when I am back at Chelsea I will probably sign the new contract.”

After three years on loan with Spanish champions Atletico Madrid, Courtois finally got his chance to shine for the Blues in the summer of 2014. His early performances have been impressive, fuelling speculation Petr Cech could soon be departing the club.

It looks like Courtois will be Chelsea's designated starter for a long time, and a new contract was always inevitable.

Adrien Rabiot

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Paris Saint-Germain youngster Adrien Rabiot looks likely to leave Les Bleus in January, and a host of English and Italian clubs are waging war over who is in pole position to land his signature. According to Football-Italia, several sources claim he has already agreed to terms with AS Roma.

PSG's Nasser Al-Khelaifi confirmed Rabiot already has one foot out of the door:

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We talked about Rabiot with Roma and other clubs. But we did not come to any agreement. I love the kid—I think he’s a great player and I want him to stay.

I have tried to get him to renew his contract, but without success. He wants to leave.

"

The 19-year-old midfielder is widely regarded as one of the biggest talents to emerge from France in years, and PSG did everything possible to accommodate him as much as they could. Unfortunately, Rabiot's mother is rumoured to be the one making the decisions, and she's notoriously hard to deal with.

Goal's Robin Bairner dedicated an entire article to the situation, and Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson also weighed in:

Rabiot is insanely talented, but he's not ready to be a vital contributor for a top club. Chelsea already boast a lot of quality in midfield, and with playing time the main reason the youngster is looking for a move, Stamford Bridge hardly seems like a solution.

Zakaria Bakkali

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PSV Eindhoven's Zakaria Bakkali is almost certain to leave the Dutch club in January, with Chelsea rumoured as a potential destination, according to the Daily Mail's Simeon Gholam.

The Belgian international emerged as the next great winger from the Lowlands at the start of the 2013-14 season but saw both his production and playing time nosedive as PSV struggled in the Eredivisie, and it quickly became clear he wanted to move to a bigger club.

Bakkali has reportedly turned down a contract extension, and PSV Sporting director Marcel Brands believes he's making a mistake:

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Of course it's bad for the club.

But I think it's actually worse for the player himself. It is a shame that a young player with talent does not choose the right path.

People might think I am naive but I don't blame the guy or his father.

The problem is that Zakaria is getting influenced by everything and everyone around him.

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The 18-year-old is regarded as a "bad apple" in the Netherlands, but talent will often trump a player's mental makeup. Clubs will still be interested in his services, hoping he will mature as he grows older.

Bakkali's contract runs out at the end of the 2014-15 season, so any transfer move in January will likely come at a massive discount. Demand for his services will be high, however, and with the youngster reportedly seeking playing time, he may not be interested in a move to Chelsea at this stage of his career.

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