Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, Tiago Mendes or Paul Pogba to Chelsea FC?

Heading into pre-season, the speculation over possible Chelsea FC transfer targets is gathering speed. Rumours linking the club to a range of central midfielders are the most common headline grabbers at the moment, with a number of high profile names being suggested. There are two main roles this potential new signing will likely fill.

On Paul Pogba “His temperament remains in question and at £60 million he is a huge gamble … but he’s my pick”

Last season Mourinho mostly varied between two formations. Against most opposition he lined the team up as a 4-2-3-1 and a new central midfielder will likely enter one of the two more deep lying positions alongside Nemanja Matic. He preferred to pack the midfield against stronger opposition, particularly in away ties, opting for a 4-3-3 formation. The central 3 could operate in a flat line just as last season or we could see a staggered 3 across midfield, with Matic slightly deeper than the other two.

The following players have all been linked with Chelsea in recent weeks and here is a brief look at what they could offer:

These options all have their strengths and would certainly add to the depth of the Chelsea squad. Looking from a statistical perspective at what they offered last season is incredibly interesting. There is always the possibility that players from within could emerge this season, especially if they show promise in pre-season. Marco Van Ginkel has returned from a long term cruciate knee injury and provides a lot of energy in midfield.