Chelsea Transfer News: Paul Pogba and Antonio Rudiger Bid Rumours Emerge

Chelsea have submitted a bid worth £56.8 million for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, according to reports.

Sport (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro) claim the package could see Oscar, who the Blues apparently value at £21.3 million, move to Turin. In addition, the piece claims that Chelsea have offered £35.5 million in an attempt to lure the Frenchman to Stamford Bridge this summer.

It’s a deal that does seem feasible at first glance. After all, as noted here by Bleacher Report’s Adam Digby, Bianconeri manager Massimiliano Allegri has admitted he is a fan of the Chelsea playmaker:

Of the two, Pogba is a better fit for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s blueprint too. The Frenchman has caught the eye with his mesmeric dribbling and thunderous shooting from distance, but the defensive side of his game, which is excellent, has often been overlooked in assessment of his talent.

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Indeed, as we can see here courtesy of WhoScored.com, Pogba is insatiable in his willingness to win the ball back for his team:

But losing Oscar would rob Chelsea of a vital edge. While Mourinho may withdraw the Brazilian for the big games away from home in favour of some extra defensive steel, the incisive, cerebral talents that Oscar possesses are so important for this Blues side, especially against teams that are willing to sit deep and close off spaces.

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In addition, part-exchange deals are extremely rare in the modern game. The logistics that come with these transfers are extremely complicated and for a potential swap as high-profile as this, it’s one that’d be extraordinarily tough to negotiate. As such, if either of these two players are to move this summer, expect the deal to be an isolated, individual one.

Chelsea Chasing Antonio Rudiger

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Antonio Rudiger has reportedly requested that his agent expedite a move to Chelsea this summer, despite interest in the young defender from Wolfsburg and Porto.

According to Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express, Mourinho is hoping to add some defensive options to his squad this summer and he wrote that German newspaper, Stuttgarter Nachrichten, claim the Blues have already made a £12.8 million offer for the Stuttgart star.

Rudiger, just 22 years old, has been an imperious figure at the back for Stuttgart, showcasing a composure, physicality and maturity that belies his tender years. Here’s how he compared statistically in league matches last season to Chelsea’s first-choice pairing:

	Rudiger	Terry	Cahill
Apps (Sub)	18 (1)	38	33 (3)
Goals	0	5	1
Tackles per game	1.7	1.1	1
Interceptions per game	0.9	0.9	0.8
Blocks per game	0.6	0.8	0.8
Clearances per game	5.3	5.7	6.1

In addition, the Germany international is an adaptable talent, capable of sitting deep and soaking up pressure, or playing in a pressing, high line.

As noted here by Cristian Nyari of FCB Media, Rudiger has also been deployed as a full-back for the national side:

If there’s one area of this formidable Chelsea squad in which they are a little short it’s probably in defence. While John Terry and Gary Cahill formed a tremendous partnership last season, the strength in depth isn’t quite there when compared to other facets of the group.

Rudiger would potentially be a top-quality acquisition and a player who could fulfil a variety of roles in the team. But a young man like him needs to be playing regular football to refine his skill set and although he’d learn plenty from the top-class talent at Chelsea, his time on the pitch, and subsequently his development, would suffer as a result.