Chelsea Transfer News: Big-Money Buys Planned by Jose Mourinho in January

Chelsea are a club in the ascendancy at present, but Jose Mourinho's pursuit of Stamford Bridge perfection isn't likely to result in any pause this January.

The Blues have been so impressive in climbing to the top of the Premier League this term that it's difficult to pick any one area in need of improvement.

However, the manager will undoubtedly keep his options open in choosing where his squad might acquire January reinforcements, with the latest rumours suggesting both defence and attack could be bolstered.

Layvin Kurzawa

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

One player Mourinho may not be hopeful of signing any longer is Monaco left-back Layvin Kurzawa, who this week came out to speak of his admiration for a Premier League rival.

According to Anthony Chapman of the Express, Kurzawa is a big fan of Manchester United and called it his "dream" to one day feature for the Red Devils: "The club of my dreams? Manchester United. One of my goals is to play for them one day."

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

The 22-year-old was being linked with Chelsea, who have failed to see summer purchase Filipe Luis thrive in the Premier League as they might have hoped this season.

Cesar Azpilicueta's good form has kept the Brazilian out of the first XI, but Kurzawa may have been eyed as a longer-term project for the Blues following some impressive Ligue 1 displays.

Mourinho may not be used to the idea of rejection after managing some of Europe's biggest clubs, but it's possible Kurzawa will hold out for his fantasy switch even if Chelsea were to come knocking.

Lionel Messi

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For all the hype currently surrounding Lionel Messi and the notion that Barcelona's star could leave the Camp Nou, Mourinho has moved to dash any notion of the forward signing for Chelsea.

In fact, the Blues boss says he'd be perfectly content to merely retain the band of players currently under his command, per Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail:

"

For me that is the perfect situation. I don't want people to leave. I don't want people to come in. We started our project this way, and I'd like to go until the end.

If other teams do it in January, good for them. No problem for me. It will not be something I will use, saying: 'These guys spend £30million more.' They can spend what they want and what they can. Hopefully everything goes okay and we have no emergency needs for January.

"

Talk of a gargantuan £200 million move for Messi had gained traction, and ESPN cited Argentinian channel DirecTV in reporting that Mourinho had spoken to Messi by phone.

One can't blame the Portuguese for being happy with the way things are going, but the manager's words are of course to be taken with a pinch of salt.

It's highly unlikely that, in the event of a Messi move, his departure from Spain would come in January. Football, however, has a way of turning logic on its head, and with the funds at their disposal, Chelsea are as likely as any other side to make such a huge transfer materialise.

Raphael Varane

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Having overseen the centre-back's development for much of his time at the Bernabeu, Mourinho could once again link up with former Real Madrid charge Raphael Varane in 2015.

It was Mourinho who originally brought the French international to Spain from Lens, however, the Daily Star's Alex Harris has revealed Arsenal are also in the hunt for his signature.

Pepe and Sergio Ramos have taken precedence as Carlo Ancelotti's centre-back pairing of choice this season, and Harris quoted Varane as recently suggesting he's growing tired of his second-fiddle role:

"It's different with the national team. I get more minutes and have more responsibility in the team. The aim is to reach the same level of involvement in the club."

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John Terry and Gary Cahill would be a difficult partnership to break up given their current form, but Mourinho is a big fan of Varane, who could certainly take over as successor to the former.

Varane starred for France at the 2014 World Cup, and while his place at the Bernabeu may not be cemented, he's still impressed enough to be nominated for the 2014 FIFPro World XI, per ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson:

Harris mentioned a wide array of alleged asking prices for the defender, ranging from £19 million up to somewhere in excess of £30 million, but even then the deal wouldn't be out of Chelsea's reach.

The west Londoners already have Kurt Zouma coming through as a French prospect of great potential, but it appears Mourinho may add another prospect of even bigger promise to his ranks in 2015.