Marouane Fellaini is next on Chelsea’s wish-list with Ancelotti eager to add to the Blue’s midfield.
With Everton revealing further implications of financial issues by claiming there will be no heavy spending in the summer Chelsea could force their hand with a substantial offer. If a bid does manifest itself Moyes will find himself at a crossroads as he will either be forced to cash in under the pretence that the funds will be used to capture a replacement or try and persuade Fellaini to sign an extension on his contract that currently runs until 2013.
With Pienaar already gone the Toffee’s would be extremely reluctant to let yet another first team midfielder leave the club. Fellaini seems to have a grasp of what is beneficial to his career though as prior to joining Everton he rejected approaches from Man United and chose Everton whilst surrounded by speculation of interest from such clubs as Real Madrid.
He has been very impressive since his arrival in 2008 and his strong, robust style meant that as well as picking up a host of yellow cards he adapted to the Premiership in no time at all. Favouring a defensive role in the midfield Fellaini is also a terror in the opposition’s box as he is a cultured header of the ball.
A bid in the region of £20 – 25 million should be enough to render the deal impossible to reject and I can’t see Kenwright turning down the opportunity to take advantage of Chelsea’s affluence. The problem with Fellaini moving to Chelsea would be fitting him into the system. John Obi Mikel is currently deployed as the defensive midfielder and has revelled in that role casting doubt over Fellaini’s chances of starting.
Given that the Belgian can also be utilized up front, not forgetting Mikel’s sometimes questionable discipline, he wouldn’t be on the bench for long.
