Chelsea Transfer News: Jose Gaya Fee Revealed in Latest Blues Rumours

Chelsea are reportedly ready to add another left-back to their squad in the January transfer window, with Valencia’s Jose Luis Gaya on their radar.

That’s according to Sport (h/t talkSPORT) who claims that the Blues will have to pay £35 million if they’re to prise the youngster away from the Mestalla when the transfer window reopens. It’s also noted in the piece that Manchester City are also keeping an eye on the Los Che starlet and will offer competition for his signature.

Gaya grew into one of the brightest young prospects anywhere in European football last season. Here’s a look at some of his best moments from a breakthrough 2014-15 campaign:

It’s a position of intrigue for Chelsea. Cesar Azpilicueta has been deployed as left-back despite being right-footed under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho, adding tenacity, intelligence and industry to the Blues back four. Indeed, even Filipe Luis was unable to dislodge the Spaniard in his sole season at Stamford Bridge.

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But according to the talkSPORT piece, the Spaniard is to be shifted over to the right of the defence to replace Branislav Ivanovic, with new signing Baba Rahman to slot in on the left. As noted by football writer Henry Winter, they’d be an excellent pairing:

If Azpilicueta’s permanent home from now on is to be at right-back, then the Blues could definitely do with some cover on the left. Gaya is a player that’d be capable of vying with Rahman over the next few seasons for a spot in the starting XI too.

Going forward, the 20-year-old Spaniard would give Chelsea a completely different edge. Gaya is very quick across the ground and his unrelenting energy allows him to get into dangerous positions often for Valencia. Gaya's final ball is also improving when he does get time on the ball in the attacking third.

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Still, as we can see here courtesy of WhoScored.com, Gaya is already making decisive contributions in the final third of the field:

But most encouragingly for the Blues is that Gaya can defend too. Not too dissimilar to another ex-Valencia man in Barcelona’s Jordi Alba, his searing pace makes it easy for the youngster to cover space, he’s committed in the challenge and he has already coped well against some of the finest attacking players in world football.

Indeed, as we can see here courtesy of OptaJose, some of the top sides tried to target Gaya last season, but he stood up well to the challenge:

For £35 million, Chelsea would be getting an outstanding young player that’s capable of nailing down a starting spot at Stamford Bridge for years; with that in mind, it could be money well spent for the Blues. Much depends on whether Mourinho does take Ivanovic out of the team and whether he thinks the Serb is now a spent force, though.

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As noted by Oliver Holt of the Mail On Sunday, it’s certainly not looking good for the veteran defender at the moment:

Gaya would probably be better off spending a few more years at Valencia yet. Remaining at the Mestalla would give him time to develop as a key player for this team and play at the highest level, too. After all, Valencia are in this season’s Champions League, and with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the division, there are few better tests for a young defender than La Liga.

From a Blues standpoint, it’d be a little premature to completely rule out Ivanovic going forward, especially given just how good a player he has been in the past. Still, a defensive reshuffle does seem to be imminent for Chelsea, and Gaya is a player who would not only expedite a tricky process, but enrich the quality in that area.