Whilst much of the news on Chelsea today is centred around the big match at Old Trafford on Sunday, there are still a few snippets regarding Chelsea FC transfer rumours with some interesting updates surrounding Sami Khedira, Antonio Ruddier and Paul Pogba.
So let’s start with the Real Madrid midfielder…
We’ve been hearing for a long time that Sami Khedira has been in the middle of a reported tug-of-war between Chelsea FC and Arsenal on the basis that the German international is keen to move away from the Bernabeu in the pursuit of more game time.
It’s been suggested that Chelsea and Arsenal have offered lucrative advanced salary contracts said to be in excess of £100,000 per week, however reports in the Daily Express today are suggesting that Khedira has now offered to drop his wage demands to around £80,000 per week.
July 4, 2014; Rio De Janeiro, BRAZIL; Germany player Sami Khedira (left) battles for the ball with France player Paul Pogba during the quarterfinal match in the 2014 World Cup at Estadio Do Maracana. Mandatory Credit: Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via USA TODAY Sports
Either way, the midfielder did manage to get some extra game time under his belt for ‘Los Blancos’ in midweek against Liverpool, which now means he’s cup tied as far as the Champions League goes.
If Khedira hasn’t lowered his demands and truly does want a move away from Spain, then he may have to, given that the main reason for making any signing in January is to reinforce your squad, and eliminating yourself from one of the key competitions is not going to make you top of anyone’s list.
Furthermore, Carlo Ancelotti has stated that Khedira will not be going anywhere until at least the summer and even then, Madrid will make an offer to extend his contract to stay in Spain.
I would be very, very surprised to see Sami Khedira in a Chelsea shirt, come January or any other time. As stated here, there are many reasons not to want to bother with him, but if you need another, read this.
Antonio Rudiger is an Arsenal fan!
Talented young German defender Antonio Rudiger had been touted as a target for Chelsea to reinforce what is to be fair, and ageing backline.
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The young Stuttgart player has done well in the Bundesliga and has made the step up to full international level replacing legendary defender Philip Lahm.
Too good for Stuttgart, rumours had him top of Chelsea’s list (who isn’t?), but Rudiger has declared this week that he is a die-hard Arsenal fan and if he does move from Stuttgart he ‘wishes it to be to Arsenal’.
If Rudiger was ever a serious contender for a bid in January or even the summer, his comments will make it difficult to sign for the Blues should that be an option. However as we see with Cesc, affiliation with the Gunners doesn’t make it impossible.
This one is still plausible, albeit unlikely.
Paul Pogba Extends His Contract At Juventus:
Most likely on top of every major European club’s transfer inbox, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has today signed a new extension to his contract to stay at Juve until 2019.
Of course, that doesn’t mean to say that someone will not make a bid anyway, but it does push the asking price up to an estimated £63 million.
Talented though the boy is, I can’t see Jose Mourinho asking Marina Granovskaia for that much, at least not without sacrificing some existing (underperforming) talent.
To be fair, it’s not so much Chelsea’s loss, because there is, at last, talent coming through from the youth teams. No, not as much an issue for Chelsea, but how must United be kicking themselves in letting Pogba go for nothing?
Summary…
Whilst it would be, let’s say ‘unwise’ to believe everything Mourinho says, I am going to put a lot of faith in the comments he made to ex-Man United right back, Gary Neville in the Daily Telegraph, where he highlighted the fact that Manchester City are an ageing team, whilst Chelsea are full of young, developing players and can go on for another 10 years.
Would Jose suddenly want to change that dynamic? To now want to compete with City to play the oldest squad?
No. I don’t think so. If there’s one area that Mourinho excels in, it’s bringing in raw talent and honing it to a fine, polished diamond. Need an example? Arjen Robben…
So let’s forget Sami Khedira and possibly even Antonio Rudiger and not even think about who’s coming in during the next window, because unless Chelsea have a calamitous run of injuries, they don’t need to buy anyone at all.
***UPDATE***
Gerard Pique to Chelsea FC for 25m EURO!
So this rumour broke late yesterday afternoon (UK time), from the Metro paper so far as I can tell. I’ve said it before and I will undoubtably say it again, the only reason for buying any player in the winter transfer window is because you have absolutely no option.
Now that can mean one of two things: Firstly injuries are so bad a team has to buy just to get 11 decent players on the pitch. Secondly, because the price is such a steal, a club would be stupid not to go for it.
Whilst Gerard Pique is a quality defender, he doesn’t fit either of the two criteria above. Sure Chelsea do need to address issues of JT and Ivanovic getting on a bit in years, but there is no rush yet, and besides the club already has Zouma, Ake and if required Christensen.
Again I stand to be corrected, but for me BUSTED!