Chelsea Transfer News: Douglas Costa Wants Jose Mourinho Link-Up, Latest Rumours

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho seems to boast a unique affinity with the players he manages, and naturally, he’s a coach that some of the world’s very best footballers would love to work under. Encouragingly for the Blues, that includes reported January transfer window target Douglas Costa.

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As reported by Elliott Bretland of the Mail Online, the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder has been subject to an £18.7 million bid from the Stamford Bridge club. The Brazilian has also fuelled rumours further in an interview with GloboESporte.com, per Bretland’s aforementioned piece, in which he was unashamed in his desire to link up with the Portuguese:

"

To play at Chelsea is a dream for any player. It is standing next to some of the best players in the world and competing with the world's best as well.

But really, what catches my eye is the coach. He is a very intelligent coach and has been victorious wherever he went. One of the things that would make me happier to act at Chelsea would be this.

"

Here’s a look at why Costa is reportedly on Chelsea’s radar:

The 24-year-old is a player who certainly looks ready to take the next step and move to an elite European club. Shakhtar have shown that they are a wonderful team for players to hone their talents—as the successes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Willian and Fernandinho will attest to—and Costa’s desire to test himself against the very best is wholly understandable.

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But as noted here by David Amoyal of GianlucaDiMarzio.com, you suspect Costa’s arrival at Stamford Bridge depends on what personnel leave the club this window:

Chelsea’s first choice to bolster their attacking-midfield options appears to be Juan Cuadrado, per Sky Sports, and his blistering, direct vertical forays mean that the Colombian would afford the Blues another aesthetic facet to their offensive play. In respect of Costa—while he is an undeniably fine footballer—he’d bring the Premier League leaders more of the same.

In Eden Hazard, Oscar and Cesc Fabregas, Mourinho already has a host of polished manipulators of the ball at his disposal and subsequently, Costa could find himself struggling for minutes. But his willingness to play for Chelsea is seemingly irrepressible, and if the opportunity does reveal itself, it’s understandable that the midfielder would jump at the chance.

If a deal does materialise, hopefully he won't find himself in a comparable predicament to Mohamed Salah or Andre Schurrle 12 months down the line.