The Chelsea fans here in the Transfer Tavern have been a miserable bunch this season and have relinquished their stranglehold on the Premier League title, with the club seemingly also set to miss out on European football next season too.
The club have moved to appoint Italy boss Antonio Conte into the role of manager and he will take over at Stamford Bridge following Euro 2016, which takes place in France during the summer.
He is set to put his own stamp on an underachieving squad and several players are set to leave the Premier League club, whilst several more will walk through the door labelled arrivals too.
Talk in the Tavern has turned towards which players might come in during the close season and after their superb win over Barcelona last week, our writer Lee Clarke picked out FIVE Atletico Madrid players who could be on Chelsea’s list of targets during the summer….
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE ATLETICO STARS!
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Antoine Griezmann
The Frenchman will become a man in demand during the summer and if reports are to be believed, Chelsea are right at the front of the queue for his services.
The forward has netted 29 goals for Atletico Madrid this season and his form overall has attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs.
Chelsea desperately need to get some goals into their side and Griezmann could go on and play at Stamford Bridge for several years, with the player currently in the form of his life.
Incoming Blues boss Antonio Conte is a big fan of the player and a summer move looks set to be made.
Koke
The 24-year-old has been linked with high profile moves away from Madrid previously, and this summer could see him finally depart from the Spanish capital.
A defensive midfielder by trade, Koke could be the perfect replacement for Nemanja Matic who looks likely to depart Stamford Bridge during the close season.
The Spanish midfielder has been described by Atletico boss Diego Simeone has ‘incredible’ this season and he has played a big part in the club reaching the semi-final of the Champions League.
Given his age, the technically gifted footballer could be a real asset in the Chelsea first-team squad for next season and many years to come.
Diego Godin
Given the likelihood that John Terry will depart Stamford Bridge during the summer, Chelsea will need to scour Europe for a replacement.
Uruguayan defender Godin could be a perfect replacement for the former England captain with his style of defending very similar to that of Terry’s.
Controversy tends to follow the 30-year-old but it is hard to deny his undoubted talent when it comes to playing football, with the player a key cog in the Atletico defensive unit.
Godin has been fairly loyal to Madrid over the years and it is hard to imagine him leaving, but that shouldn’t stop Chelsea from trying to prise him away.
Saul Niguez
The 21-year-old Spaniard has been linked with just about every top club in Europe of late, whilst Premier League clubs Manchester United and Arsenal have also been touted as being interested in the player.
Niguez is clearly a talented boy and would be one for the future should he sign for the Blues, but with Matic set to leave in the summer, the club could tie down a suitable replacement ahead of his best years.
The youngster was actually released by Atletico’s city rivals Real Madrid as a youngster and has gone on to show them what they are missing this season with string of fine displays in the first-team.
Luciano Vietto
With striker Diego Costa linked with a possible return back to Atletico Madrid in the summer, Chelsea could find themselves in the market for a replacement and Vietto could fit the bill.
The Argentinean striker has made 27 appearances this season but has managed just three goals, which suggests he might need a move to aid his career.
The Premier League is a different animal compared to La Liga and a fresh start could do wonders for Vietto’s career.
Conte will probably look to sign players with big futures ahead of them when he arrives at the Bridge and Vietto has shown promise during the current campaign.
