Chelsea Transfer News: Moussa Sissoko Claims Interest, Latest Paul Pogba Rumours

Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko claims Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is monitoring his progress.  

As the Daily Telegraph reported, the 25-year-old wouldn't turn down an opportunity to work with the Portuguese boss, who recently won his third Premier League title with the Blues:

"

Is he following my progress? According to what I am hearing, yes. He is one of the best managers in the world. He has won so many titles… Any player would love to be coached by this man. For the moment, I am coached by other people. If one day I have the chance to work under his guidance, I would be very happy.

"

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In January, Sissoko told Telefoot (h/t Sky Sports) that he would also love to work under Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "If Arsene Wenger calls, I'll have a man-to-man ­discussion with him and then we'll see. Arsenal has always been the club of my heart. I hope I will improve to win the ­Champions League one day."

Without wanting to downplay Sissoko's qualities, making similar comments about two top-level clubs screams of a player who is trying to generate interest in his services.

The Frenchman has proved himself a highly capable marauding midfielder at St. James' Park, but he lacks the concentration and the consistency to become a regular at Chelsea. Blessed with physical power and a great turn of speed, Sissoko has a tendency to waste the ball when he finds himself in profitable positions.

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He scored just four goals and provided two assists in 34 appearances for the Magpies during the 2014-15 campaign. As WhoScored.com noted, he completed 79.1 percent of his passes and averaged more fouls (1.6) than successful tackles (1.1) per match, underlined by seven yellow and two red cards throughout the Premier League season.

Mourinho prioritises efficiency and reliability at Chelsea, building a team that remains focused and disciplined in testing situations. It's difficult to argue Sissoko would offer greater quality than Ramires, who plays with similar vigour and has failed to hold down a first-team spot at Stamford Bridge in recent times.

Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, as David Wright of the Daily Express reported. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Manchester City are also touted for a move, per Mark Ogden of the Daily Telegraph.

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Interestingly, Pogba recently suggested he would love to star alongside Lionel Messi at Barca, according to AS (h/t Enis Koylu of Goal.com):

"

Playing with Messi would be a dream come true. He's the best player in the world. I love watching Barcelona play, but I also love watching them lose. We know that we're not favourites but it's a final. We're going to give our all. We have nothing to lose and you never know what can happen.

"

Unlike Sissoko, Pogba could develop into a genuine leader at an elite club. The 22-year-old is technically gifted and growing more mature with each passing season, having played a key role in Juve reaching the 2015 Champions League final.

Mourinho needs to make alterations to his squad to help Chelsea compete on the European front, as noted by B/R UK's Garry Hayes:

Pogba has the quality to improve the side's chances of success, while Sissoko would likely struggle to assert himself over players such as Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Oscar and the Blues' other midfield options.

Squad tweaks could set Chelsea up for many years of success in England. Mourinho often plays the market well, ridding his squad of unneeded players and landing replacements at the right time.

However, it's perhaps fair to say many supporters will wish to see more of youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek—who put in some exciting performances at the end of the season—over welcoming Sissoko, whose hype is often amplified by being one of the best players on a struggling team.