Chelsea Transfer News: World-Class Signings Linked to Jose Mourinho's Blues
Put yourself in Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s shoes. No, forget adopting the silver fox image, just ask yourself: how can I possibly improve my setup?
The Blues spent both ruthlessly and intelligently in the summer transfer window, which looks to have worked a charm, with Mourinho’s men currently dominating the Premier League and whispers of an unbeaten season getting louder by the game.
Such a feat is well within the realms of possibility, but it’s long-term success that will matter the most to Chelsea heading into the transfer window, and two big names are currently rumoured to be lined up for a move to Stamford Bridge in January.
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Gerard Pique
Out-of-sorts Barcelona defender Gerard Pique could be on the way back to the Premier League in 2015, with chances now few and far between for the former Manchester United star at the Nou Camp.
As journalist Sergi Dominguez revealed, Marc Barta and Javier Mascherano have been getting the nod over Pique lately, provoking rumours of the star’s future in La Liga:
While several clubs will jump at the chance to sign the 27-year-old, it appears that Chelsea are leading the race for his signature, per Fichajes.net, via Metro.
The report states that the defender had previously been linked with a return back to Manchester United, who so sorely need a player of his calibre at the back, but the man himself wants to play his football at Stamford Bridge.
An intelligent defender with expert distribution, Pique certainly fits the mould of a Mourinho centre-back. And with John Terry’s retirement very much on the horizon, the transfer couldn’t be timed much better.
However, Pique’s services will come at a cost, with Chelsea reported to have already put a £23.6 million bid on the table that Barcelona have yet to respond to.
Whether Enrique deems that a reasonable price for a player in his prime remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say that he’d be an excellent addition to the Blues squad.
The next generation of Chelsea centre-backs, the likes of Kurt Zouma and Tomas Kalas, aren’t quite ready for the top level, but having a player like Pique to guide them would do nothing but aid their progression.
Anderson Talisca
Benfica star Anderson Talisca has gone from an unknown midfielder plying his trade in the Brazilian league to one of the game’s hottest properties in the space of a few months.
Talisca has taken the Portuguese top flight by the horns so far this season, scoring eight goals (according to WhoScored.com) and displaying performances good enough to put him on the radar of Europe’s elite.
Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard reports that Chelsea sent scouts to the Estadio da Luz to watch Talisca in action for Benfica during their Champions League tie with Monaco.
He went on to score the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory, which will have undoubtedly led to a glowing report being sent back to Stamford Bridge.
However, according to journalist Jan Hagen, Chelsea's scouts were in good company, with several other clubs tracking the 20-year-old’s every move:
"26 clubs had scouts at E. da Luz last night, incl. Man United, City, Chelsea, Barça, Juventus, PSG. How many came to watch Talisca? [Record]
— Jan Hagen (@PortuBall) November 5, 2014"
Regardless of how many suitors Talisca has, it's prising him away from the Portuguese capital that will prove the toughest task and require a hefty financial investment.
Johnson writes that the Brazilian has a £35 million release clause in his contract, which Benfica are hoping to increase to £47 million in a new deal.
The man himself also doesn’t appear too keen to leave his new teammates anytime soon, and he recently said he’s only focusing on Benfica for now, per Johnson:
“I am thinking only of Benfica. I’m ready, I know I have and am able to learn a lot from this wonderful group, with supporters and with the coach.”
That said, should any club meet the £35 million clause, it would hand the Portuguese giants a profit of over £30 million—which would be difficult to grumble about.
It’s all just a case of whether Chelsea think he’s worth such a staggering sum of money, and with the squad at the Blues’ disposal, Talisca could well become another star loaned elsewhere.
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