Chelsea Transfer News: Major Jose Mourinho Targets in Rumoured Summer Raid

Chelsea were one of the busier Premier League teams in the January transfer window, with ins and outs going a long way to improving their already impeccable squad.

A seven-point lead at the top of the table means that the title is well within the Blues’ grasp, but manager Jose Mourinho wants more than that—he wants his side to become football immortals.

Doing that means adding the final pieces to his talented puzzle, and here, we assess the latest summer rumours around Stamford Bridge as to who could fit the mould.

Kevin de Bruyne

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Do not adjust your screen, former Chelsea star Kevin de Bruyne really is linked with a return to the Premier League—as reported by Paul Gorst of Metro.

The Belgian signed for Chelsea in 2012 but, having failed to hold down a regular place in the line-up, he left for Wolfsburg—where he suddenly found his feet.

The 23-year-old has been outstanding in the Bundesliga this season, scoring and creating goals for fun—as OptaFranz revealed:

He’s finally displaying the kind of the form that the Blues expected of him upon his arrival in London, but the Wolves may have to let their star man go under Financial Fair Play regulations—according to Sportwereld, via Gorst.

The £22 million fee that Wolfsburg paid for Andre Schurrle could leave them in a spot of FFP bother in the summer, so they could be forced to profit on De Bruyne—and Chelsea are reportedly waiting in the wings.

Transfer rumours come and go a lot in football, and this is one that’s quite simply barbaric.

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Sure, De Bruyne is showing glimpses of brilliance in the Bundesliga, but where would he fit into the Mourinho setup?

Even Chelsea’s recent signing Juan Cuadrado could have a task on his hands, with Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian producing countless scintillating performances in the blue shirt.

The Blues could happily afford to bring De Bruyne back, but why would he want to swap his life as top dog at Wolfsburg for a spot on the Chelsea bench?

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Mourinho produced a masterstroke signing Nemanja Matic back from Benfica, and as good a capture as that was, it was also a necessary one.

The last thing the Blues need right now is another attacking midfielder/winger for their front line and the last thing De Bruyne needs is to surrender his hero status.

Paul Pogba

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The transfer rumours surrounding Paul Pogba are much like the man himself—running and running.

The Juventus midfielder has been the subject of mass speculation since emerging as one of the world’s top performers, with Chelsea among several clubs in hot pursuit of his signature.

However, the Blues have suffered a major setback in their quest to land the Frenchman, as he’s likely to set them back a world-record transfer fee—per James Dickenson of Daily Express.

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Chelsea had previously been planning to bid £40 million for Pogba in the summer—via Tony Banks of Daily Express—but the player’s agent, Mino Raiola, has revealed that he expects his client to fetch upwards of £80 million—via Dickenson:

“Pogba could go to one of six teams. When the right moment arrives this we will take it but moving isn't an objective itself. We're in no hurry. If he goes he will break Ronaldo's transfer record.”

While a staggering amount of money, Bleacher Report’s Matteo Bonetti believes that he’d justify such a price tag, as he told Ryan Bailey:

There’s a reason the asking price is so high. Juventus can’t simply let a player of Pogba’s mind-blowing calibre walk away for peanuts—they need to be stubborn.

Former Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero told Gazzetta dello Sport that he wouldn’t sell the 21-year-old at all if it was down to him—per Ben Gladwell of ESPN:

"

In Sydney last year I got to play against Paul and he made a great impression on me for the way he combined strength and technical ability. The fans don't like losing their champions either so I would keep hold of Pogba, also because he's quality, he's well mannered and you can grow fond of him.

"

So, the ball is now in Mourinho’s court.

It’s down to the Portuguese boss to make sure he gives Pogba and his agent the “right moment” to leave, and success both domestically and in Europe could provide the required motivation.

It’s fending off other bidders that’ll likely be the Blues’ problem in their quest.