Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Nemanja Matic, Xherdan Shaqiri, More

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea are cruising through the 2014-15 Premier League season, courtesy of some fantastic transfer business during the summer, but the Blues won't be resting on their laurels once the January window opens.

While there likely won't be much business done at Stamford Bridge in the coming months, it would be a surprise to see the January window pass without some movement. Great cubs are always improving, and the Blues are no exception.

Keeping hold of one or two key contributors will be vital (and, according to the latest reports, Mourinho knows this). Let's have a look at the latest transfer news coming out of Stamford Bridge.

New Deal for Nemanja Matic?

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Nemanja Matic still has four years left on his contract, but Goal's Graeme Bailey understands Chelsea will offer the Serbian international an improved deal to ensure the midfielder remains with the Blues for the foreseeable future.

The 26-year-old has been nothing short of amazing since rejoining the club from Benfica, starting every single Premier League match so far, via WhoScored.com. His great run has reportedly drawn interest from Real Madrid, who lack a star midfielder with his particular defensive abilities in their squad.

Mourinho has no intention of losing the Serb, however, and an improved contract would all but eliminate the possibility of a transfer in the near future. There's no denying he would be deserving, something the manager himself alluded to after the win over Liverpool.

He said, "At this moment, he's a giant. Not for his size but for the way he plays. The man is a giant."

Squawka's Pete Sharland certainly believes he's deserving as well:

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Matic has arguably been the most important player for Mourinho this season and it is hard to see how the club would cope should he suffer an injury. No player can replicate the blend of technique and defensive power that he offers and it is not hard to see why he appeals to Mourinho. He has won 29 tackles this season, has a passing accuracy of 88% and has already laid on two assists for his team-mates.

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An official announcement regarding Matic's new deal likely won't arrive in the coming week, but expect the negotiations to be concluded before the start of the January transfer window.

Bayern Munich Brace for Xherdan Shaqiri Offers

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri is one of the most talked about transfer targets in all of football, and the Daily Star's Bruce Archer knows Bayern Munich expect several teams to make a move for the forward in the January window.

The 23-year-old has made just three Bundesliga starts all season, via WhoScored, and with Arjen Robben and Mario Gotze both in fine form, his chances of earning a regular starting position in Bavaria are slim.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are all reported to be interested in the tricky winger who impressed greatly during the 2014 World Cup. The latter club may be the favourites to land him—based purely off need—as the Blues in particular are set at the forward position.

Liverpool have the financial resources to pull off a big move, and Shaqiri would likely prefer a move to Anfield. He dropped a big hint in that direction when he spoke to Blick (h/t London Evening Standard's Tom Collamosse):

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After the World Cup I sensed it was better for me to try something else and I wasn’t short of offers. Liverpool showed the greatest interest but Bayern decided not to let me go and in the end there was nothing I could do. I have to get on with it – we will meet again in the winter and discuss my situation.

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According to FourFourTwo's Alex Shaffer, Bild know Bayern will settle for a €20 million bid:

Explosive, technically apt and with a keen eye for goal, there's little doubt the Swiss international would be a great asset for the Blues. But with Eden Hazard and Willian holding a tight grip on the starting positions, Shaqiri could face a similar situation to the one he currently finds himself in.

Schalke not Interested in Andre Schurrle

Jon Super/Associated Press

Andre Schurrle is expected to be moved during the January window, but Schalke 04 sporting director Horst Heldt told Bild (h/t ESPN FC) his team won't be in the running for the Chelsea winger. He said, "We're not considering Andre Schurrle at all, and the same goes for Xherdan Shaqiri and Lukas Podolski."

Viewed as a potential breakout candidate in the 2014-15 season, the German international sits firmly behind Hazard and Willian in the pecking order, having started just four Premier League contests, per WhoScored.

Consistency has been the 24-year-old's biggest issue, as he often shines as a substitute but underperforms as a starter. Mourinho continues to criticise the forward, although German football expert Raphael Honigstein sees this as a good sign, via TalkSPORT's Jack Fox:

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I think it’s almost a good sign that Mourinho keeps talking about him, saying he needs to play better, because as long as Mourinho says these things about you, you think you have a good chance.

Remember how he always used to criticise Eden Hazard? I think it’s when it goes very quiet, that’s when you know you’re on your way out. So I still think he’s got a great future and if he gets fit, and performs like he did at the World Cup, where he played at the highest level, then he can still grow as a player.

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The Blues have tremendous depth at the forward position, so should a significant offer arrive for Schurrle, it's likely Mourinho would decide to pull the trigger on a sale.

Such an offer won't arrive from Schalke, however, opening the door for Premier League rivals to make a play for the German star.

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