Chelsea Transfer News: Diego Godin, Koke and Antoine Griezmann Eyed, Top Rumours

Chelsea have pinched their fair share of players from Atletico Madrid in the last few years, and with reports linking the Blues to Diego Godin, Koke and Antoine Griezmann, it seems as though business between the two clubs may not be finished yet.  

According to Francisco Javier Diaz of AS, the Blues are set to raid the Madrid outfit once more in an attempt to bolster their squad, with the aforementioned trio in mind. Chelsea signed Diego Costa and Filipe Luis from the Rojiblancos last summer; they also loaned goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to the Vicente Calderon side for three years prior to the 2014-15 campaign.

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Although Koke and Griezmann are the most glamorous names mentioned, Godin would arguably be the most significant capture for Chelsea. Here’s a look at why:

The Uruguayan is one of the most unheralded defenders in world football. At the base of this Atletico team, he’s been an unshakeably forceful and authoritative presence, forging a title-winning central defensive partnership with Miranda in the 2013-14 term.

As OptaJavier relays here, Godin is a massive threat in the opposition’s penalty area, too, regularly getting on the end of set pieces and corners:

Chelsea’s defensive woes have been well documented so far this season. Stalwarts like Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry and Gary Cahill have all floundered in the nascent weeks of the campaign, with manager Jose Mourinho seemingly undecided on which men are best equipped to keep the trap door shut for the Blues.

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There are some excellent young options at the back for Chelsea, with Cesar Azpilicueta already a quality full-back and Kurt Zouma and Baba Rahman showcasing promise; however, as is evident by these numbers from Squawka Football, the Blues need some experience in this position:

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Chelsea have now conceded 2+ goals in 8 of their last 10 Premier League games. Something’s not right at the back. pic.twitter.com/ts4Rd7PbJu

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 3, 2015"

Godin would be an ideal candidate, but having let Miranda leave for Internazionale in the previous transfer window, it’d have to be a massive offer for Atleti manager Diego Simeone to even consider selling. 

Koke is a player who would also give Chelsea a major boost. At the moment, chief creative fulcrum Cesc Fabregas is struggling badly for form, and his compatriot, who offers a similar inventive streak but a little more in the defensive side of the game, would be an ideal replacement if Mourinho feels the former Barcelona man isn’t quite up to scratch.

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However, as we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, the Spain international has typically been deployed in a wide position for Atleti, an area in which Chelsea are currently well stocked:

Griezmann was a winger before he signed on for Simeone in the summer of 2014, but the Argentinian has converted the former Real Sociedad man into a wonderful centre-forward. The Frenchman relishes playing off of a target man, surging into the box from deep and showing a cold composure when chances do arise.

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Of the threesome mentioned, Griezmann would most likely be the priciest, having established himself as one of the finest forwards in La Liga; however, he is capable of moments of genius, as we can see here, courtesy of Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez:

It’d be little surprise if Mourinho did have eyes for all of these players. After all, he and Simeone both look for similar qualities in a footballer, in that they have to have class but also showcase defensive application and unwavering concentration. Still, it’d be a big surprise to see Chelsea get one of these players, never mind all three.

According to Diaz’s piece, Atletico have been proactive in trying to quell Chelsea’s interest, noting Koke and Godin are tied up on bolstered new deals until 2019, while Griezmann is committed until 2020. As such, getting these players out of the Calderon would be a hugely expensive exercise for the Blues, and one that’d most likely push them into looking elsewhere.