Chelsea Transfer News: Oscar Sale Discussed, Roberto Firmino Rumours

Juventus are hoping to land Chelsea playmaker Oscar in a cut-price £9 million transfer, according to reports.

John Cross of the Daily Mirror claims the Bianconeri will submit a “cheeky” bid for the midfielder, with the fee not even half of the £19.5 million the Blues spent to bring the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge back in 2012. Cross also claims the Italian champions have put forward the prospect of a season-long loan.

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However, as noted here in a recent interview with Squawka Football, the 23-year-old seems content with life in London:

The Brazilian gives the Blues not only an intricate edge when he lines up in his favoured No. 10 position, he also adds the kind of steeliness Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho demands from his players. Nonetheless, Oscar is usually the first player taken out of midfield in favour of more defensive options in tough matches.

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Here’s how the Brazilian has fared in this season's Premier League games to the Blues’ other players occupying attacking midfield positions:

	Oscar	Willian	Hazard
Apps (Sub)	26 (2)	28 (8)	38
Goals	6	2	14
Assists	8	3	9
Shots per Game	2.6	1.5	2.1
Key Passes per Game	1.3	1.4	2.7
Tackles per Game	1.9	1	0.7

While the chance to join Juventus may appeal to a player who is constantly rotated in and out of the side at Chelsea, there is absolutely no way Mourinho will sell him for that kind of meagre fee. In addition, given Oscar is not in the Copa America squad for Brazil this summer, expect him to emerge as a key man for the Blues next season.

As noted by Chelsea HQ, the midfielder has played non-stop football since 2012 and is in desperate need of a rest:

The Brazilian is a player with all the requisite qualities to thrive in a Mourinho team, and given he’s likely to get some recuperation time in the offseason, we should be expecting big things from him in 2015/16.

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However, if he can’t establish himself as a key fixture and a regular starter in important matches, it’ll be intriguing to see whether this extremely talented player is content with being rotated, or if he will go in search of pastures new.

Roberto Firmino Likely to Move Abroad

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The agent of reported Chelsea target Roberto Firmino has hinted his client will be moving abroad this summer. As noted by Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star, the Blues, Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked to the midfielder.

The Hoffenheim star’s representative, Roger Wittman, had this to say when asked about the Brazilian’s future: “I don't rule out that he'll stay at Hoffenheim, and I also don't rule out that he'll stay in Bundesliga,” he explained, per Anderson’s piece. “But basically you have to expect a transfer abroad.”

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Bleacher Report Chelsea correspondent Garry Hayes certainly thinks this team could do with some additions in attacking areas and took a look at how a couple of quality players in this area of the pitch could potentially enrich the Blues:

If Mourinho did decide to cash in on Oscar, Firmino would be an intriguing replacement. Like his compatriot, Firmino is a skilful manipulator of the ball and someone who doesn’t mind doing the dirty work, as is evident by an average of 2.7 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga last season, per WhoScored.com.

As noted by Selecao Brasileira, the Hoffenheim star is a creative force and an excellent goalscorer:

"

Roberto Firmino ends his season with a goal and an assist for Hoffenheim, a total of 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) May 23, 2015"

If Oscar doesn’t leave Stamford Bridge this summer, the 23-year-old should think carefully about becoming a Blue. After all, Mourinho’s squad is loaded with players to occupy the attacking midfield slots, and if he is to leave the Bundesliga, Firmino will want to join a team where he gets regular football.

He’s certainly someone who fits the bill when it comes to a Mourinho-type player. But at this juncture, Chelsea are not the right fit for the Brazilian, though at any other Premier League club, Firmino has the attributes to make a major impression.