Chelsea FC Transfer Rumours: 5 Players Linked to Blues

With its fiscal capability, Chelsea FC is usually linked with a variety of players throughout the season.

After Monday's Premier League win over league leaders Manchester City, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas may find a little of his pressure relieved.

Still, this Chelsea team is already going through some changes come January and reinforcements will be needed to mount a formidable challenge in England and Europe.

While these players have been linked with the club through mere rumours, Chelsea has the finances to get any of these players if they so wish.

Here is a list of five players that have been linked Chelsea.

Andre Ayew

Reports have been coming through recently that Chelsea is interesting in adding another Ghanaian to its ranks in the form of Marseille midfielder Andre Ayew.

With Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda becoming bit-part players for the squad this year, Ayew would provide a breath of fresh air to the team.

Ayew would bring some much-needed youth and creativity to the team and could link up with Juan Mata to help Chelsea improve its position.

Alexandre Pato

If the reports are true, Chelsea could bolster its attack even more with the addition of Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato.

Carlos Tevez's eventual move was sure to have an effect on whichever teams were involved, and it looks like Chelsea will also get some good from the deal.

With Nicholas Anelka leaving and Didier Drogba's future in question, Pato would help continue the youth movement at Chelsea.

Pato has had some injury problems in his career so far, but in a new country and with a new manager, he could finally fulfill all his potential.

Gregory Van Der Wiel

Chelsea is among a number of clubs that are being linked with a move for Dutch right-back Gregory van der Wiel.

Again, not to beat this point to death, this would be a move toward a younger team. Van der Wiel has been the subject of much attention across Europe for some time now and it looks like he will soon be on the move.

Van der Wiel recently stated he is ready to leave Ajax and while Valencia look like the front-runners at the moment, Chelsea has the resources to come in and steal him away.

Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill has been a hot property for the last few months even as Bolton continues to disappoint domestically.

Cahill may become part of a player swap deal with Chelsea's Josh McEachran, according to the Sun.

Brazilian defender Alex looks set to leave in the January window, opening the door even more for the English international to join the London club.

Chelsea has had defensive issues so far this season and could use all the help they can get.

Esteban Granero

Real Madrid's Esteban Granero has been linked to Chelsea in what would be an unlikely swap deal involving Frank Lampard.

Granero has been mentioned in rumours with other clubs in the Premier League and elsewhere, but according to the Sun's article, Jose Mourinho wants to link up with his former player.

Chelsea could just as well spend money to get Granero without losing a player such as Lampard, so it is highly unlikely that such a deal would be made.