Chelsea FC Transfer Rumors
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Fresh off a disappointing loss to Spanish leaders Atletico Madrid, Chelsea FC supporters may be looking for some solace. After all, the Premier League race is more or less out of our hands, and with our elimination from the Champions League yesterday, we may face our first season without a trophy since the 2010-2011 season!
Chelsea have made a name for themselves as one of the top clubs not only in England but Europe as well, reaching a European competition semifinal or better 8 time since 2004! With these winning ways comes the ever present specter of big name transfer targets. Chelsea are one of the clubs that usually seek out a top transfer target at the end of each season and at least attempt to make a splash in the market and this summer will be no different despite it being a World Cup summer. If anything the World Cup could present a showcase for both the already known targets but also for some lesser known players who may find themselves courted by big clubs following a successful showing in Brazil.
Recently Chelsea have been increasingly linked to Brazilian born Spanish striker Diego Costa, who we are all now more familiar with following his exploits against us in the Champions League semifinal. Here you can read a brief article about Chelsea’s pursuit of Costa, which is considered all but a done deal by some. Chelsea have also been heavily linked to PSG front man Edinson Cavani, who seemed a little off center in Ligue1. The Blues are also long rumored to be in for AS Monaco striker Radamel Falcao, who is currently rehabbing a knee injury that could see him miss the World Cup.
However more recently rumors have surfaced linking Chelsea with current Real Madrid and France national striker Karim Benzema. Benzema was a mainstay of Jose Mourinho’s Madrid team and has been just as effective under Carlo Ancelotti scoring 24 goals and creating 15 assists in all competitions for Real, who will contest a Lisbon based Madrid derby against Atletico on May 24th for the Champions League title. The rumors state that Madrid still like Benzema, but as fitting a club such as that they must have the newest and brightest stars, which means they are off to raid Premier League leaders Manchester City and Liverpool for either one of Sergio Aguero or Luiz Suarez. It is rumored a bid of £40 million could seal the French striker, and that Real would package those funds towards Aguero or Suarez.
I would enjoy seeing Benzema play for Chelsea, I believe if he helps fuel a French renaissance in Brazil this summer he could swap his Galacticos whites for Royal Blue.
Another target for Chelsea is Juan Iturbe, a newcomer on the scene currently playing for Hellas Verona in Serie A on loan from Portugeuse powers FC Porto. Despite Iturbe being a winger, it seems Chelsea are still intested in him, and many other English clubs are as well. Verona has a purchase clause in his loan contract, and according to the Daily Mail, they will look to purchase and sell the player for a profit quickly thereafter. Despite his not being a position of need (in any stretch of the imagination), Chelsea is known for stockpiling talent under owner Roman Abramovich and Technical Director Michael Emenalo.
Of all the rumored transfer targets for Chelsea this summer I personally hope the Blues pursue and sign Madrid’s Benzema, as Mourinho’s experience with a player cannot be replicated. Benzema is familiar with Jose’s system, know what the manager expects and most importantly, scores a lot of goals.
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