Chelsea are always good value during transfer windows whether it’s buying or selling players.
Last January saw the shock departure of Juan Mata to Manchester United whilst the sale of Kevin De Bruyne to Wolfsburg was also an inspired piece of business considering the massive profit they made on the Belgian’s sale.
There have been some big incomings as well, some more successful than others.
It seems for every Nemanja Matic, there has been a Mohamed Salah as well as an occasional wildcard such as the loan capture of Ricardo Quaresma – remember him?
Now playing at Porto, the former Inter Milan winger was much fancied to emulate the career of Cristiano Ronaldo back in the beginning but he lost his way and won’t look back at his brief Stamford Bridge spell with much fondness.
Whilst it has been a quiet transfer window for Chelsea so far, there could yet be some major twists and turns as come towards the end.
Here we have identified five potential surprise deals that could still go through before the deadline on February 2nd.
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Click on Jose Mourinho to reveal the 5 ‘surprise’ deals Chelsea could seal this January.
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Sami Khedira
The German international has been consistently linked with Chelsea for the best part of two years.
Khedira is a player Mourinho knows well from his time at Real Madrid and is also someone who would jump at the chance to work with the Portuguese coach again.
His contractual situation at the Bernabeu is still unresolved and Chelsea are reportedly looking for a new holding midfielder. This could be a case of Mourinho waiting until the last moment to make an offer in the hope of striking a deal for less money.
Juan Cuadrado
The Colombian international winger has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge over the past couple of days in a move which few people saw coming.
The Fiorentina forward was one of the stars of Colombia’s 2014 World Cup campaign and has previously attracted attention from the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona.
A deal may well depend on whether Chelsea can shift either Mohamed Salah or Andre Schurrle however, whilst their reported interest may have stirred some other interested clubs into action.
Marco Reus
The 25-year-old is perhaps the most wanted man in Europe at present and unsurprisingly, Chelsea have seen their name heavily linked.
Reus is entering the final six months of his contract with the Bundesliga giants before a £20 million release clause becomes active and Dortmund know they risk losing him for considerably less than he is worth if he doesn’t leave this month.
This may well be a case of Chelsea holding out in the hope of getting the best deal, whilst reports have previously suggested the Blues hold the edge as they are willing to offer Andre Schurrle in part exchange.
Paul Pogba
Jose Mourinho has been a long-term admirer of the French international midfielder and reports in the summer claimed the Blues went as far as to hold talks with Pogba in London.
Reports linking him with a move to Chelsea will not go away, whilst Real Madrid are ready to rival the Blues for his signature with a massive offer of £71 million.
Considering the history of shocks on transfer deadline day, a bidding war for Pogba – regarded as the best young midfielder in Europe – would be about as big as it could get.
Ilkay Gundogan
The German midfield playmaker is the latest Dortmund star to be in demand. Reports suggest he is available for £25 million this month, having failed to negotiatie a new contract at Signal Iduna Park.
Manchester United and Arsenal are both said to be battling it out for his signature but how many times have we seen Chelsea come in and stolen a major transfer target from under the noses of their domestic rivals before? Possibly one to watch closely.
