Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Willian and Mikel John Obi

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reportedly wants to sign Chelsea winger Willian. The former Blues boss is said to be willing to pay as much as £25 million to work with the Brazilian attacker again.

Mourinho believes Willian can play a key role in helping rebuild United, according to Tony Banks of the Daily Express:

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Jose Mourinho though rates the 28-year-old highly, and believes his free running skills and pace could be a vital asset as he attempts to rebuild Manchester United.

Willian only signed a new four-year deal at Stamford Bridge in July, but Mourinho is ready to test the waters with Chelsea with a January move for a player who has not started a league match since the beginning of October.

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Banks also noted how Willian has played sparingly since Antonio Conte took over as manager at Chelsea. Indeed, the Italian has preferred Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses in wide areas.

There doesn't seem to be an obvious spot for Willian in Conte's 3-4-2-1 formation. However, Mourinho always valued the former Shakhtar Donetsk star highly.

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In fact, Willian was a hugely influential player when Mourinho guided Chelsea to the Premier League title in the 2014/15 campaign. Willian scored two goals and made three assists in the league that season, per WhoScored.com.

More than just numbers, though, the South American forward was a constant menace to defences. His perceptive movement and tireless running stretched markers, made Chelsea lethal on the break and always gave their players a credible option in the final third.

Frankly, it seems strange Conte can't find a use for the Brazil international, even after making his tactical switch. He may not have a berth out wide, but Willian's flair and movement would surely be useful in one of the two positions behind lone striker Diego Costa.

Those areas are usually occupied by the mercurial Eden Hazard and former Barcelona man Pedro. But there aren't many better third options in a No. 10 role than Willian.

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Such strong attacking depth would prove vital for the Premier League leaders in their bid for another title.

Former Chelsea Manager Wants Mikel John Obi

Willian isn't the only Chelsea player drawing admiring glances from a former manager. Andre Villas-Boas at Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG reportedly wants to acquire holding midfielder Mikel John Obi.

The Daily Mirror's Adrian Kajumba detailed the extent of Villas-Boas' interest in the player, whose contract expires at the end of this season: "French side Marseille are keen to land Mikel in January. But they are now facing competition from Villas-Boas and Shanghai SIPG, who are one of China's richest clubs and capable of outbidding Marseille for Mikel."

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Kajumba also detailed how 29-year-old Mikel is still to play for Conte and won't be handed a new deal.

Earlier this month, the Nigeria international said he's willing to consider an exit from Chelsea during the January transfer window, according to ESPN FC's Colin Udoh.

This is a similar situation to the one involving Willian. Ostensibly, there's no obvious place for Mikel in Chelsea's best starting XI; not when Nemanja Matic and N'Golo Kante are manning the defensive-midfield berths at the heart of Conte's formation.

However, if the Blues were to lose one of their destroyers in the middle, say, to injury or suspension, there aren't many deputies as suitable as Mikel.

Chelsea aren't in Europe this season, but they still have a squad capable of winning both the Premier League and the FA Cup.

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Maintaining the squad's strength by keeping key players such as Willian and Mikel can help the Blues push their rivals all the way in the hunt for major honours.