Here are 10 players I believe Chelsea should be looking to sign in January.
1) Sami Khedira – Real Madrid
Age: 26
Strengths: tackling, positioning, awareness
Weaknesses: pace, shooting, heading
Likelihood: 7/10
Jose Mourinho has a strong bond with the Germany international from his time at Real Madrid and the pair have been linked with a reunion all summer.
2) Karim Benzema – Real Madrid
Age: 25
Strengths: movement, heading, strength
Weaknesses: composure, work-rate, temperament
Likelihood: 2/10
Although his status in Madrid is shaky, whether or not Mourinho is looking for another striker after signing Samuel Eto’o is something that will, I’m sure, become apparent.
3) Eliaquim Mangala
Age: 22
Strengths: strength, heading, tackling
Weaknesses: inexperienced, heavy footed, dirty
Likelihood: 9/10
Mourinho seems desperate to land the Porto centre-back and I believe that the new year will see it happen.
4) Pedro Obiang – Sampdoria
Age: 21
Strengths: passing, positioning, technique
Weaknesses: dribbling, inexperienced, rash
Likelihood: 5/10
The lanky midfielder has been continually linked as Mourinho looks to mould a midfield to his liking.
5) Kyriakos Papadopoulos – Schalke
Age: 21
Strengths: strength, heading, passing
Weaknesses: pace, rash, heavy footed
Likelihood: 6/10
The Greek giant is likely to leave the Bundesliga side when he returns from injury, and Chelsea are looking for a John Terry replacement.
6) Julian Draxler – Schalke
Age: 20
Strengths: dribbling, creative, shooting
Weaknesses: light weight, greedy, naive
Likelihood: 8/10
The way Mourinho sets his side up is perfect for the young German.
7) Cheick Tiote – Newcastle
Age: 27
Strengths: strength, passing, tackling
Weaknesses: clumsy, streaky, dirty
Likelihood: 4/10
His form has plummeted over the last year or so and is in need of a refreshment. Could Chelsea be the place?
8) Miralem Pjanic – Roma
Age: 23
Strengths: passing, energy, driven
Weaknesses: light weight, dribbling, heading
Likelihood: 7/10
The Roma midfielder has been linked with the Blues for a while now and January could be the boiling point.
9) Leighton Baines – Everton
Age: 28
Strengths: passing, set pieces, positioning
Weaknesses: none
Likelihood: In my opinion Baines is the best left-back in the world. His performances last season back that up, and as Chelsea look for a replacement for Ashley Cole Baines, and Luke Shaw, are the obvious candidates.
10) Lars Bender – Bayer Leverkusen
Age: 24
Strengths: passing, positioning, tackling
Weaknesses: pace
Likelihood: 5/10
Dubbed the next Steven Gerrard, Bender has been making waves in the Bundesliga and would be the perfect driving force next to Ramires.