Chelsea Transfer News: Antoine Griezmann Rumours, Nemanja Matic Eyes Benfica Duo

Latest rumours suggest Chelsea are ready to make good on their interest in Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann while Blues midfielder Nemanja Matic has outlined the former Benfica team-mates he'd like at Stamford Bridge.

Griezmann has been linked as one of Chelsea's more prominent targets in recent weeks, and the London Evening Standard's Tom Collomosse says Atleti will target Tottenham's Erik Lamela should he move, writing:

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Erik Lamela is on the list of forwards Atletico Madrid will target if they need to replace Antoine Griezmann this  summer. Griezmann is on the radar of both Chelsea and Bayern Munich after an outstanding first season in Madrid and although Atletico are in no mood to sell, the forward's contract includes a buy-out clause of £43.5million.

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The £43.5 million sum may be as staggering to some, but Blues chief Jose Mourinho will likely be given funds to spend this summer after putting the finishing touches on this term's Premier League title.

In fact, football writer Ben Fairthorne suggested earlier this month that Mourinho had been in talks with Portuguese compatriot and super-agent Jorge Mendes, alleging the transfer is as good as done:

Lamela has gone through a tough period since moving to the Premier League in 2013, but the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino at the Tottenham helm has seen the Argentinian enjoy a surge in form this season.

What's more, Collomosse insists Atletico manager Diego Simeone has been a fan of his countryman for some time and even tried to acquire his talents while at the helm of Catania in 2011.

Griezmann has taken La Liga by storm this season, bagging 22 top-flight goals after completing a move to Los Rojiblancos from Real Sociedad last summer, joint-third with Barcelona's Neymar in the scoring charts.

However, Ed Aarons of the Guardian questions how Mourinho would fit the France international in his team with the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian, Oscar and winter arrival Juan Cuadrado already taking up space in attack:

Having signed Diego Costa and Filipe Luis from the Madrid giants last summer, Chelsea are once again looking to the Vicente Calderon for reinforcements, and Griezmann has quickly risen to become one of Europe's brightest.

His £43.5 million buyout clause means Atleti may not have much say in the matter should the player decide a move is for him, with Simeone already lining up his replacement it seems.

 

Matic Picks His Ideal Benfica Recruits

Players only hold so much sway—or none in most cases—when it comes to the transfer dealings of their clubs, but Nemanja Matic has lifted the lid on which Benfica players he'd like to see make the move to west London.

Speaking to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (via Daily Star's Rhys Turrell) this week, the midfield anchor highlighted Nicolas Gaitan and compatriot Ljubomir Fejsa as his two ideal Chelsea recruits:

"It's hard to say because I like a lot of them. However, if I had to choose, I would bet on Gaitan and Fejsa because they have superior quality, above average."

Matic spent three years at the Estadio da Luz after making the switch to Benfica in January 2011, getting to know many players with the Primeira Liga giants before coming back to Stamford Bridge last winter.

And Matic could see his spirits lifted in Gaitan's case after Metro reported Chelsea had sent scouts to watch the attacker, possibly with a view to cutting out a summer deal:

It's possible the English champions could view the Argentinian as an alternative target should they fail in their bid to secure the services of the aforementioned Griezmann.

However, Valencia will once again look to strengthen their links with Benfica, it seems, after Metro's Jan Hagen suggested the Peter Lim-owned outfit are also looking at Gaitan:

The Argentina international has scored four goals and made a terrific 15 assists during this league campaign, according to Transfermarkt, but the same fact remains that Chelsea's wide areas look stacked at present.

Depending on who remains at Stamford Bridge this summer, Gaitan could finally complete a Premier League move after years of speculation, and there are no prizes for guessing which recruit Matic would prefer.

Holding midfielder Fejsa plays in a very similar capacity to Matic and would be the more difficult of the two to imagine completing a Chelsea switch, both due to the club's needs—or lack thereof—and questions of his quality.

One obviously not under any illusions concerning Fejsa's standards, however, is Serbia team-mate Matic, who might envision himself lining up alongside the 26-year-old instead on Cesc Fabregas.