Chelsea Transfer News: Andriy Yarmolenko Eyed by Jose Mourinho, Latest Rumours

Ukraine winger Andriy Yarmolenko is alleged to be high on Chelsea's wish list after manager Jose Mourinho travelled to watch him in action, while latest reports indicate John Obi Mikel is nearing a Stamford Bridge exit.

Yarmolenko played the whole of Ukraine's 1-0 defeat to Spain on Monday evening, and Fernando Baquero of Spanish newspaper Sport says Mourinho made the trip specifically to keep tabs on the Dynamo Kiev man.

Boris Grdanoski/Associated Press

The report singles out Yarmolenko as the sole reason behind Mourinho's trip to Kiev, insisting the Blues helmsman was not on hand to watch Chelsea trio Cesc Fabregas, Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta. 

Dynamo are said to have placed a €20 million (£15 million) valuation on their winger's head, and the Mirror's Ed Malyon identified Yarmolenko as one of his side's best performers, despite the defeat:

The Blues have already altered their attacking midfield recently after Juan Cuadrado headed to Juventus on loan this summer, with Pedro arriving from Barcelona as his replacement.

Sport Witness provided quotes from Yarmolenko, who was quizzed on why he thought Mourinho was present at the Olympic Stadium but wasn't willing to speculate on the matter:

The west Londoners have endured a lacklustre start to the 2015-16 season as the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa have been sub-par, which means a possible winter revolution could take place at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho's desire to enact a swift turnaround at the club has left the positions of many stars in doubt, and any recruitment made this January could well lead to a drastic shake-up in the Chelsea pecking order.

Yarmolenko would be cup-tied in Europe considering he's already featured and scored in the Champions League this season, and Mourinho will have the chance to examine the Kiev star again when Dynamo and Chelsea clash next week.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Meanwhile, Italian outlet Calcio Mercato says Chelsea are "ready to cash in" on Mikel this January, per Metro's Tom Olver. Turkish magazine Fanatik has quoted Besiktas president Fikret Orman, who stated his club could re-enter the race for the Nigeria international this winter (via Turkish Football's Emre Sarigul):

"If Senol Guneş had given the go ahead we were going to sign him and we could enter the race again over the winter break. However, we have coped remarkably well considering we are first with most our defensive midfielders out injured.”

Mikel has become a peripheral figure at the west London outfit in recent years, playing just 60 minutes in three Premier League appearances this season.

The emergence of Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic as Mourinho's first-choice central midfield pairing, combined with the competition of Ramires, Oscar and others has led to Mikel's plummet down the Chelsea ranks.

The 28-year-old played the full 90 minutes in just three Premier League games last season and is poised to celebrate his 10-year anniversary at Chelsea if he happens to remain until July 2016.

Fringe figure though he may be, Mikel was present for the historic Champions League win of 2012 and is one of only two such remaining players, according to ESPN's Jake Cohen:

The quick turnaround of star talent at Stamford Bridge is a cycle that claims even the most evergreen stars, and it seems Mikel's gradual edge outside Chelsea limits could be nearing completion.

Mourinho may be willing to permit the player his exit if it means freeing up space for a new arrival, one who could hold a lot more promise to make a first-team impact than the wilting Mikel.