Chelsea fans in the Transfer Tavern are hoping that the second-half of the season will be much better than the first-half of the campaign, which has seen the defending champions faltering near the bottom of the Premier League standings.
A comfortable victory against Crystal Palace at the weekend got the punters into more positive spirits and the optimism of the Blues fans has been pushed into overdrive, following reports that the West London outfit are pushing to land Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.
If Bale arrives, many feel that they are just a few players short of fighting for European honours this term- and that they could become a major powerhouse in European football for the next few years too.
With problems within their squad though, they’re aware that a few more signings are required to get their beloved club back in the sort of position where they should be. Therefore, they’ve identified this FIVE players as ideal January recruits.
Hit Bale below to see FIVE players who could follow him to Chelsea in January!
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Jamie Vardy
The forward area within Chelsea squad has been one of the major reasons for the Blues struggles this term, with current contingent Diego Costa, Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy struggling to put in the sort of performances that Chelsea require.
A new striker is therefore a top priority for Guus Hiddink this month and Jamie Vardy is a top-talent, attracting vast interest after his 15-goal haul in the Premier League in the first-half of the campaign. To make matters more positive, the bookies consider Chelsea favourites for his signature.
Leicester, sat second in the table, are determined not to lose their England international but the lure of Champions League football and a big-money offer could be too difficult to fight off.
Marquinhos
Chelsea have also experienced problems in defence this term, with John Terry clearly declining in form. Gary Cahill is also getting older, so a young defender is the priority. After hitting a brick wall in their pursuit of John Stones in the summer, they could be set to switch their sights.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos is a favoured target for the Blues, with the young Brazilian recently admitting that he could be tempted out of Paris to enjoy more regular first-team opportunities. Manchester United are keen on his services but Chelsea have a strong chance of landing him.
His signature won’t come cheap but Marquinhos would certainly go a long way to increasing Chelsea’s form.
Isco
Seemingly on his way out of Real Madrid, where he is struggling for game time, Chelsea have joined Manchester City in the hunt for Spanish midfielder Isco. With the player unhappy, this is definitely a potential big-mover in the market.
At 23-years-old, the creative midfielder could add a new dimension to Chelsea’s midfielder. However, fending off the Citizens could be a problem- particularly as Isco has worked with Manuel Pellegrini before at Malaga.
Alex Teixeira
The signing that seems to be on the verge of completion is Alex Teixeira from Shakhtar Donetsk, with his Brazilian compatriots Willian and Oscar apparently doing the groundwork to persuade the South American to swap Ukraine for West London.
A combative and creative midfielder, Teixeira could take the burden off a struggling Cesc Fabregas and give Guus Hiddink another option. With Fabregas regarded as a snake in the grass for many, replacing him with a younger and more exciting option could work superbly for the Blues.
Sadio Mane
Many in the Transfer Tavern were surprised earlier this week when they heard that Chelsea had joined Manchester United in the race for Southampton’s Sadio Mane. However, it made sense for the Blues to look to snatch the Senegalese forward.
It’s clear Mane is unhappy on the South Coast, being dropped last weekend, and a transfer is highly likely to take place. With Chelsea in the market for better attacking options, bringing in a player that suits the bill with the additional bonus of having Premier League experience would be a significant coup.
