It is very much looking like a two-horse race for the Premier League title this season with Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea going head-to-head with Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City.
And fans here in the Football Transfer Tavern are in agreement that the title could well be decided this month, dependent on which side makes the most impressive signings.
Manchester City have made the first move with the £28 million capture of Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony.
The Ivory Coast international is perhaps the closest the Premier League has seen to Didier Drogba in his prime and will add that physical presence and guaranteed goals for the champions given no player scored more goals in England’s top division than Bony did over the course of 2014.
Manuel Pellegrini believes the addition of another proven Premier League striker could be the missing piece of his Manchester City jigsaw – but what about Chelsea?
Their squad looks pretty complete as it is but we have identified five players who Mourinho could bring in this winter that would improve things and perhaps be considered the final piece in Chelsea’s jigsaw.
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Click on Jose Mourinho to reveal 5 ‘final jigsaw piece’ arrivals for Chelsea to sign this month.
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Marco Reus
There isn’t a club in Europe that wouldn’t want Marco Reus in their side were he to become available.
Chelsea’s current equivalent is Andre Schurrle and whilst the German attacker has scored some important goals in his time at Stamford Bridge, Reus would be seen as an upgrade, capable of playing week in, week out and the perfect compliment to Eden Hazard on the other flank.
Chelsea have been linked with the 25-year-old and with cash plus Schurrle in part exchange, this is a potential deal that could interest Borussia Dortmund.
Raphael Varane
It is coming to that time when Jose Mourinho needs to start thinking about a long-term replacement for John Terry.
Reports have linked Real Madrid centre back Rapahel Varane with a move to Stamford Bridge, with Real Madrid reportedly willing to listen to offers of £19 million.
Given that Mourinho has spoken of Varane in glowing terms before and is the man who gave him his first team break whilst in charge at the Bernabeu, it would not come as a shock if this deal came off, although Real Madrid will have the final say of course.
William Carvalho
Chelsea have arguably the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League in Nemanja Matic but Mourinho reckons he can do with another for those tricky away days at both home and abroad.
Cesc Fabgregas is most useful in that number 10 role and away from home, he can often neglect his defensive duties.
The addition of a top box-to-box midfielder such as William Carvalho would free up Fabregas and make the Blues even more difficult to break down.
This is something Mourinho may be considering given the way in which Chelsea have been leaking more goals than they would have perhaps liked in recent weeks.
The 22-year-old is considered one of Portugal’s brightest young stars and would be available this month for £30 million.
Paul Pogba
With that same thought in mind, Paul Pogba is an alternative target to Carvalho. The Frenchman is set to cost more money but that is because he has done more to establish himself as one of the world’s best young midfielders in recent years, helping Juventus to back-to-back Serie A titles.
He has continuously been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent times with some reports suggesting he held talks with Chelsea in London over the summer.
A midfield partnership of him and Matic with Fabregas floating behind Diego Costa just ahead is a mouthwatering prospect for Chelsea fans.
Mats Hummels
Whilst the long-term future of John Terry is a concern, there have also been worries about the form of Gary Cahill alongside him this season.
The recent 5-3 defeat at Tottenham saw a particularly poor performance from the England international and with Jose Mourinho famous for the defensive strength of his teams, a world class centre back may be seen as the final piece to his Chelsea jigsaw.
German World Cup winner Mats Hummels has been linked a number of times and sooner rather than later may be the time to move for the 26-year-old, given Borussia Dortmund’s uncharacteristic struggles in the Bundesliga this term.
