While Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has already enjoyed a summer shopping spree, bringing Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa to Stamford Bridge, the spending is far from done.
With ambitions to make up for not winning a trophy last season, the Portuguese manager is reportedly now targeting two big-name midfielders to make the switch to west London and join the club’s silverware mission.
Though blessed with several impressive players in the heart of the midfield, Mourinho is looking to bring in either Paul Pogba or Toni Kroos to add gloss to his setup.
Pogba, who was one of the stars of Juventus’ successful Serie A campaign last season, is a primary target for Mourinho, as Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard reports.
Johnson writes that the former Manchester United midfielder is valued at £60 million, and Chelsea are looking at parting company with John Obi Mikel and Ramires to fund the transfer.
Though the fee appears excessive, Pogba would be worth every penny, as he’s the kind of powerful, box-to-box midfielder that could have a big impact on the Premier League.
The Frenchman’s former Manchester United teammate, Rio Ferdinand, also believes that he’s destined for greatness, as he wrote in his BBC Sport blog:
“Paul told me before he left that he wanted to be 'the best player in the world'. I don't know whether that will happen, but he will definitely turn out to be the best midfielder in the world.”
Though flattering, Pogba has become accustomed to praise from the best players in the business, as it doesn’t come without reason.
The France international, who impressed at the World Cup in Brazil, scored seven goals and assisted a further seven last season, according to WhoScored.com, winning endless plaudits in the process.
Financial sports journalist Jake Cohen is among those impressed with Pogba and said, via Twitter, that landing the Frenchman would be worth the heavy dent on Chelsea’s books:
If Chelsea can pry away Paul Pogba for £55m (€70m) + sign him to 5-year deal at £150k pw, he'll cost £18.8m py on FFP books. Worth it. #cfc
— Jake Cohen (@JakeFCohen) July 6, 2014
However, it’s prising the 21-year-old out of Italy that will prove Mourinho’s toughest test, as Pogba seems to be content with life in Turin, as his agent Mino Raiola revealed, via Johnson:
“The boy is happy in Turin and will not leave.”
Mourinho, then, will need to use all of his powers of negotiation to land Pogba in the coming months. Likewise on his quest to make Kroos a Blue.
Kroos’ future has come under mass speculation recently, with Real Madrid said to be signing the German. However, according to Metro, Chelsea have matched the Spanish giants’ bid and want to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Though the 24-year-old has said that his future won’t be decided until after the World Cup, as per Thomas Zocher of Sky Sports, Chelsea will remain optimistic that they can get their man.
With defensive-minded midfielders Fabregas and Nemanja Matic in the squad, it’s difficult to see exactly why Chelsea are trying to snap the Bayern Munich midfielder up, but Mourinho will have his reasons.
Of all the positions in Chelsea’s setup, central midfield is probably the area that needs the least work, and the Blues should turn their attention to bringing in players that are more of a necessity than a luxury.
That being said, having the likes of Kroos and Pogba in your squad can be nothing but a good thing, as both Bayern and Juventus fans will tell you.
Chelsea had a so near, yet so far campaign last term, but it’s players like Pogba and Kroos that can be the difference in matches, and that’s exactly what the Blues need for next season.
Mourinho’s men will obviously be up there challenging for the title in the 2014/15 Premier League and competing on all other trophy fronts, but they just need an edge to go all the way to glory.
Certain players give teams that edge; it’s just up to Mourinho to sign them.
CHELSEA News: Filipe Luis and Tiago to Follow Diego Costa from Atletico
Source: Bleacher Report
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