A Fantasy XI of Players Linked with Chelsea in the Past 12 Months

Let's lighten the mood.

Chelsea may be languishing just two points above the relegation zone right now, but that doesn't mean it should be all doom and gloom for Blues fans.

Indeed, read the sports pages of any newspaper or access any website and the gossip columns are filled with rumours of who Chelsea are attempting to sign.

From obscure unknown youngsters to the biggest stars of the game right now, Chelsea's name is never too far away from the headlines.

So that got us at Bleacher Report thinking: What if Chelsea were able to sign any of those players they have been linked with? You know, if Roman Abramovich actually paid the billions it would require in one transfer window to change the face of the current team.

How lethal would Jose Mourinho's Chelsea be? Would they be the envy of world football?

The criteria to make it into our Chelsea fantasy XI was simple—a player must have been linked with Chelsea this calendar year and cannot be currently playing for the club.

So, sit back and enjoy; close your eyes and think of the possibilities.

Goalkeeper

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Rob Green

Of all the names linked with Chelsea in recent times, Rob Green ranks among the least glamorous.

The Queens Park Rangers stopper was rumoured to be a replacement for Petr Cech (per the Daily Star) after the Czech goalkeeper moved to Arsenal last summer.

It made business sense given Green wouldn't have been expected to play much this season and would have been signed relatively cheaply.

Thankfully for Chelsea, they opted for Stoke City's superior stopper Asmir Begovic instead, who has deputised expertly for Thibaut Courtois, who spent three months out injured.

Now 35, Green would have been a good enough No. 2, but it doesn't bear thinking how Chelsea would have fared had he been needed as much as Begovic this term.

Defenders

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This is fantasy football, remember, so we've decided to go more offensive and throw some caution to the wind.

That means just three defenders to give plenty of attacking threat. Of the many defenders Chelsea have been linked with, we've opted for the following:

John Stones (right side)

Chelsea's pursuit of the Everton man was well-documented this summer just past. We're hearing now  (according to the Mirror) that Jose Mourinho could return to Stones as a solution for his on-going defensive problems.

Whether or not a fresh bid would be accepted by Everton remains to be seen, but given how poor Chelsea have performed at the back this season, Stones would certainly add something different to the champions' rearguard.

In our fantasy XI, the 21-year-old would add some flair coming out of the back, too.

Raphael Varane (left side)

The French defender arrived at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, and according to a number of newspapers, including the Evening Standard, Chelsea attempted to reunite the pair at Stamford Bridge this summer.

It's not difficult to see why. Varane is a classy operator, as good in possession as he is when doing the dirty work every defender has to face. The 22-year-old offers some aerial strength, too.

Alongside Stones, he would give our fantasy defence some longevity, given their youth.

Diego Godin (centre)

Every defence needs a scrapper and Diego Godin would be that man for our fantasy XI.

The Uruguayan, now 29, would complement the likes of Stones and Varane, adding a bit of experience and know-how when things got a bit tough to handle.

It's those qualities Chelsea have missed this season, which is why Godin has been linked with the club as recently as October (per the Daily Star).

Midfielders

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We're deploying four across the middle here, providing a blend of steel and craft. It's vital any team can battle and also create opportunities further forward, which this mix of talent in midfield would certainly do.

Isco (right midfield)

Operating on the flanks, the Spaniard would give our midfield some much-needed width and craft.

He's been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in the past, with Chelsea being rumoured of a move for him more recently according to the Daily Star (h/t Fox Sports).

It would be an exciting prospect to see a man of Isco's talent at Stamford Bridge. Whether it's in our fantasy team or the real thing, the 23-year-old provide plenty of magic.

Paul Pogba (central midfield)

The French ace is wanted by almost every major club in Europe after making such a big impact with Juventus.

Chelsea are among those, apparently having a £62 million bid rejected for the 22-year-old by Juventus this summer according to the Independent.

Pogba's a dominant figure and can marshal the midfield against the toughest opponents.

Koke (central midfield)

Sitting alongside Pogba, Koke would add an extra dynamic to the forward play of our fantasy XI at Stamford Bridge.

We've seen just what a talented footballer he is at Atletico Madrid, forming a big part of the club's re-emergence in more recent times.

Koke, 23, was linked with Chelsea this summer, with Spanish newspaper Marca (h/t the Daily Telegraph) reporting Atletico turned down a £46 million bid from the Blues.

Marco Reus (left midfield)

Dortmund's Marco Reus is a vastly talented attacker, capable of playing through the middle or out wide.

To accommodate him here, we've positioned the 26-year-old German on the left side, meaning he'd have scope for cutting in from the flanks and getting at defenders.

He provides a potent goal threat, which is why last January the Daily Mail were linking Chelsea with a move for him.

Strikers

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Unless Chelsea are chasing matches, it's rare we'll ever see three strikers on the pitch at the same time.

As this is fantasy football, though, we've indulged ourselves with three deadly front men. This season alone, they have scored 47 goals between them for their clubs, meaning the possibilities are endless.

Cristiano Ronaldo (right)

He's only been loosely linked with Chelsea, but whenever there's the slightest hint at having Cristiano Ronaldo in your team, you take it. Which we have.

The Independent reported last month that Chelsea were considering the 30-year-old as part of any deal taking Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.

If we consider the stats alone, Chelsea would be coming out better off in that transfer. Ronaldo has 17 goals this season while Hazard has zero, compounding Chelsea's struggles.

Gonzalo Higuain (centre)

He's the man spearheading Napoli's title push in Serie A this term and Gonzalo Higuain would be the man doing exactly that for the attack in our Chelsea fantasy XI.

The former Real Madrid man, who celebrates his 28th birthday on December 10, has shown himself to be a real goal threat in Italy. He's become a wanted man as a result.

Only last month the Argentinean was being mooted by the Daily Mail as a potential replacement for the struggling Diego Costa.

Javier Hernandez (left)

What was Louis van Gaal thinking by allowing Javier Hernandez to depart Old Trafford this season?

The Mexican has scored goals wherever he has travelled and looks revitalised with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. All the while, United are struggling for goals themselves.

Hernandez's goalscoring form has seen him linked with Chelsea (per the Daily Star), and given that the Blues have hit the back of the net just 16 times in the Premier League all season, you can see why.

He'd be slightly out of position on the left side of our three strikers, but with pace to burn, the 27-year-old would still offer a major threat.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes