Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Steven Gerrard and Top Rumours Circling Blues

Chelsea have been linked to an audacious bid to sign Barcelona central defender Gerard Pique. But the Blues reportedly won't take the chance to sign ageing Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard for nothing next summer.

Manager Jose Mourinho has swatted aside claims he will try to sign Gerrard when the veteran's contract expires at the end of this season, per Daily Express reporter David Wright:

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Asked if he would be interested in signing Gerrard next summer, Mourinho said: 'No. "How long can he still play? I don't know.'

And asked whether he had any regrets about previously failing to land Gerrard, the Blues tactician added: 'No. It was a long time ago.'

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The last part of Wright's report is a reference to Mourinho's unsuccessful attempt to sign Gerrard in 2005. Back in April, Sachin Nakrani of The Guardian recounted some of those events:

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By the end of June all negotiations over a new deal were off, and after Chelsea made a £32m bid for the 25-year-old at the start of the following month all hell broke loose. Liverpool rejected the offer and told Gerrard, via his agent, Struan Marshall, that a contract was still on the table if he wanted to sign. But fed up with weeks of standoff and aware Chelsea, now Premier League champions, were keen on him again, Gerrard put in a transfer request. Or, as he describes it, "a hand-grenade rolled into the Liverpool boardroom."

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Obviously, Gerrard stayed put and last season came closer to the Premier League title than any other time in his 16-year career. Ironically, it was Mourinho's Chelsea who ended Liverpool's title bid and eventually condemned the Reds to second place.

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Chelsea won 2-0 at Anfield in late April, finding their first goal after a disastrous slip from Gerrard. Mourinho's most recent critique of his one-time target came prior to Chelsea returning to Anfield this season, a game the Blues won 2-1.

There's little need for Gerrard in the Chelsea midfield. The ageing playmaker can still pick a pass as well as any player, particularly from deep areas.

However, Chelsea already have the perfect blend in the middle, courtesy of the brawn and energy of Nemanja Matic alongside the mercurial flair and creativity of Cesc Fabregas.

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It makes little sense for Mourinho to return to bid for Gerrard now.

However, it certainly makes sense for Chelsea to pursue Pique. The out-of-favour Barcelona centre-back is still young and talented enough to offer the Blues a successor to ageing skipper John Terry.

Mourinho will reportedly outbid Premier League rivals Manchester United for Pique while relying on the player's friendship with Fabregas as a deciding factor. That's according to Daily Express writer Anthony Chapman:

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However, Chelsea are willing to make Barcelona a higher bid of £24million, and various Spanish outlets believe that both Pique and the Catalan giants are only interested in negotiating with Jose Mourinho.

The Blues signed a number of players from La Liga over the summer, including Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Cesc Fabregas, and Pique looks set for a reunion with his former team-mate in January.

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Pique's standing at Barca has certainly been hit after a number of subpar performances. He's barely featured under new manager Luis Enrique this season.

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The 27-year-old has played in just eight matches for the Catalan giants so far this term, per WhoScored.com. But Enrique recently denied there's any rift, speaking during the pre-match press conference before Barca beat Almeria 2-1, per Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo (h/t ESPN FC reporter Dermot Corrigan):

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Pique is doing everything a footballer can do.

It is you [the media] who is exaggerating. If I have a problem with a player, I like to be direct with them. But thankfully that has not happened here.

I am not speaking any more about this matter. You have already asked me three questions about just one player.

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Enrique may have been trying a little too hard to convince everyone all is well with Pique. If there is friction, it's something Chelsea and Mourinho should take advantage of.

Pique has never been the quickest, but he has the right attributes for the Premier League. He's powerful and commanding in the air.

Pique played in England's top flight from 2004-08 when he featured for United. Now, he could return and help Chelsea usher the 33-year-old Terry into retirement.

Mourinho recruited 20-year-old Frenchman Kurt Zouma this summer, but his team's ageing back line still needs refreshing. Pique can provide it.

Chelsea have an obvious need for a defender with Pique's skill and winning pedigree at the game's highest level. But Mourinho's squad has little need for Gerrard or any other extra bodies in midfield.