It didn’t come as much of a surprise that Chelsea were the club who took the most advantage of the January transfer window.
Jose Mourinho brought in exciting Colombian international winger Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina, whilst disposing of Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah.
The £22 million sale of Schurrle means that in the last 12 months, Mourinho has sold David Luiz, Kevin De Bruyne, Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku and now Schurrle for a combined total of more than £150 million. Admirable work from the Blues!
Whilst summer signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have been superb, it remains to be seen what Cuadrado will add to the mix.
The sceptics are already claiming that he will simply become the latest quality player to become a victim of the Blues’ stacking of players who subsequently don’t go on to reach their potential because of the short-lived nature of their West London stay. Just ask Salah and Schurrle!
That said, the Colombian may go on to impress and displace Willian from the first team. Cuadrado was not the only big name to be linked with a January move to Stamford Bridge however, as this transfer XI the Blues could have had proves.
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Click on Jose Mourinho to reveal the transfer XI Chelsea could’ve had this January.
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Iker Casillas
Chelsea are pretty well stocked in the goalkeeping department with the world class duo of Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois already on the club’s books.
That didn’t stop some pretty outrageous rumours prior to the window however, with some reports suggesting Real Madrid were keen on a swap deal that would have seen Iker Casillas arrive at Stamford Bridge, and Petr Cech going in the opposite direction.
Mourinho was keen to hang onto Cech, although it remains to be seen as to whether the 32-year-old will be happy to remain as second choice beyond the summer.
Raphael Varane, Gerard Pique, Mats Hummels
Prior to the emergence of Kurt Zouma as a starting centre back, the Blues were linked with a host of top class defenders to challenge Gary Cahill for a starting berth while possibly succeeding John Terry long-term as Chelsea’s first choice.
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane is a player Mourinho knows well from his time spent in the Spanish capital and was therefore always going to be linked.
Barcelona’s Gerard Pique was another name supposedly on the Chelsea boss’ radar given he has slipped down the pecking order at the Camp Nou under Luis Enrique.
And Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels has been linked with every top club in England given Jurgen Klopp’s side are currently struggling towards the foot of the Bundesliga.
Marco Reus, Paul Pogba, Luka Modric, William Carvalho, Xherdan Shaqiri
There have been no shortage of world class midfielders linked with Chelsea which hardly comes as a surprise given their reputation as one of the richest clubs in Europe.
Juan Cuadrado was the only big name they brought in during January and it remains to be seen what he will add to a Chelsea attack that already includes Eden Hazard and Willian in the wide areas.
Marco Reus and Xherdan Shaqiri represented fellow wide men linked with a move to Stamford Bridge before Inter Milan completed the signing of the latter talent earlier on in the transfer window.
The midfield partnership of Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic has arguably been the best in the country this term but that hasn’t stopped the Blues being linked with a mega money move for Juventus star Paul Pogba.
Alternatively, Mourinho’s fellow countryman William Carvalho has been linked with a move to the Premier League consistently, with the 22-year-old considered to be one of the brightest midfield prospects in Portugal.
Whilst reports recently suggested Luka Modric would be keen to return to the Premier League, given that his wife has failed to settle in Madrid. Modric is a player Mourinho managed to success at the Bernabeu and the Croatian international would surely relish the chance to be reunited in London.
Enner Valencia, Jackson Martinez
With Didier Drogba at the age of 36, Chelsea need to start thinking about a replacement for him in the near future. Some suggested a move might have been made last January with West Ham United striker Enner Valencia emerging as a surprise candidate following his decent start to life in the Premier League.
The Hammers were unwilling to sell the Ecuador international little than six months after signing him but Mourinho may yet return in the summer.
Twenty-eight-year-old Jackson Martinez may also be a summer target with the Colombian international actively seeking a move away from Mourinho’s former club Porto.
The prospect of playing in the Premier League and linking up with his fellow countryman Cuadrado at Stamford Bridge may prove an attractive proposition.
