Chelsea are set to resume their pursuit of the title this weekend, with Jose Mourinho’s side now just counting down the weeks until their fourth Premier League success.
The Blues have been dominant since the opening month of the season, and currently sit five points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City – whilst also boasting a game in hand away at bottom club Leicester.
It would take a collapse of monumental proportions for Mourinho and his team to throw it away now, yet despite a season that looks set to end in a comfortable title win, the ever success-hungry Roman Abramovich will be demanding more next season.
No doubt the Champions League exit to Paris St Germain last month will have left a bitter taste in the mouths of everyone connected to Chelsea, with the manner in which they exited the competition suggesting Mourinho may well need to add reinforcements in the summer if he is to finally lift the European Cup as Chelsea boss.
Here we have identified five transfer targets he should stay well clear of however.
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Click on Jose Mourinho to reveal 5 Chelsea transfer targets to avoid this summer
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Enner Valencia
The Equador striker impressed during the summer’s World Cup in Brazil, and started life in England in equally impressive fashion.
Valencia fired a contender for goal of the season early on in the campaign at Hull, and it seems as though he has been living off that strike for some time.
He was linked with Chelsea during the last transfer window, despite the fact he has scored just four goals all season for the Hammers, and sits behind Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho in the pecking order when Sam Allardyce has all his strikers fit.
With Didier Drogba perhaps retiring in the summer, it makes sense for Chelsea to sign another powerful striker, but one perhaps with a better goalscoring record in England than Valenica has managed so far.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor has had no shortage of opportunites at top clubs, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid listed amongst his current employers.
Yet none of those clubs would attempt to sign him back in the summer, which makes it even more strange to see Chelsea linked with a move for the out of favour Tottenham forward.
On his day, Adebayor can score goals for fun. The problem is simply that he is too inconsistent, whilst his attitude has often been questioned.
Perhaps Mourinho thinks he might be able to succeed where so many others have already failed?
Raheem Sterling
There is no question Raheem Sterling is one of the brightest young English players to emerge in years.
But would he get the chance to play every week at Stamford Bridge?
Jose Mourinho has been pretty set in his three of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian this season, so much so that he allowed Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah to leave in January, with Juan Cuadrado arriving as a replacement.
There are no guarantees Sterling would be an automatic choice at Stamford Bridge, whilst he would cost in excess if £50million – and we all remember what happened the last time Chelsea gave Liverpool £50million for one of their best players…
Theo Walcott
Similarly to Sterling, the question as to whether Theo Walcott would earn a starting place at Stamford Bridge is one that does not have a definitive answer.
The England international is said to be open to leaving Arsenal in search of regular first team football, something nobody at Chelsea is guaranteed this days – just ask Petr Cech.
His injury record over the past 12 months would also be a cause for concern for Jose Mourinho, with Walcott having only returned from a 12 month lay off just two months ago.
Ross Barkley
It has been a disappointing season for Ross Barkley at Everton, and this summer could prove defining in his career.
It is important Barkley bounces back at Goodison Park next season, and reminds everyone of just why he is considered to be one of the most exciting young talents in world football.
A big money move to Chelsea at this stage in his career could go either way, but you get the feeling now just simply isn’t the right time for him. Just look at what happened to Jack Rodwell…
