Blue Colored Sky

Simple 11m£ doesn't look good to me. No player in exchange ? No first round draft pick, even ? () I can't get my head around this. He's not Moses to make a profit on him and move on.

Pretty cool with 2 senior caps already, I have to say. And everyone that watched the games say that he was comfortable.

Real apparently turn their attention to Kondogbia and Vidal. Another suitor down after knowing of the cost ?

I only want to point out that selling club register sale profit still on current books from 1st July 2014 to 30th June 2015. That's why transfer happens before 1st July, to make books look better. The transfer windows are only registration periods.

Filipe is not poor defender. Certainly no worse than Ivanovic. But his style of defending is based on pressing and intensity. I would compare this to Matic who is brilliant in intercepting the ball but when he defends deep in standing situation he's rather average. Filipe is average 1on1 defender, yes, but I don't think that Marcelo, Jordi Alba or David Alaba are better. I don't even think that Marcelo and Alba would play here either even though they're clearly top full-backs. Only Alaba but that's due to his physique, he is strong player. We have disorganized pressing and have too many passengers. Fabregas, Ivanovic, Cahill and JT are so poor in putting pressing, it's no surprise. Filipe in place of Azpilcueta doesn't make things better. Azpilicueta is a monster in applying pressure and in 1on1 situation, clearly the best in the world combining both things. But without him we're loosing the best presser so it doesn't make sense. The only way to utilize Filipe properly is to drop at least two of this band : Fabregas, Ivanovic, Cahill, JT. I don't understand saying that Filipe can't play because Hazard has free role. What is that, we allow Hazard to have free role ? So he didn't make 2 mistakes in Atletico game when he switched off ? He has free role apparently ... But second thing, Ronaldo is way lazier worker than Hazard and Marcelo is more offensive than Filipe, yet Mourinho allowed the pair to play on the left side for 3 years no matter what. So does problem really lay in Hazard ? I think we should look elsewhere. JT, Cahill, Ivanovic, Fabregas ... Just 2 days ago Mourinho said in BT event that one of the great quality of the manager is that he masks team flaws. So there you go, just what Mourinho does now when he has JT and Cahill as the pair of CBs. Therefore I think that Filipe should be used as a bargaining cheap, as much as I like him. We should land either of Koke or Griezmann thanks to him.

Isn't Varane already established defender ? But surely will be in 2 years. Chelsea have JT and Ivanovic for experience in the next 2 years. By 2017 Varane should play in lots of El Classicos, Champions League final, World Cup, Euro at home soil. Many, many games under pressure.

Just remember that QPR get 25% of the fee. Therefore such stupid price tag like 50m£ is touted. But why should City be bothered about this ? They surely shouldn't go over 35m£.

Sounds like recycled news. And hopefully it is. On the other hand we're linked with Griezmann, Koke, Pogba, Varane etc. and then few days later we read about Douglas Costa, Enner Valencia, Moussa Sissoko and Toby Alderweireld. wtf. In one day we want to go for the Champions League and on the other fight for top 4.

Musonda. But Rob Beasley is late to the party. It was reported at least a week ago. Seeking attention again ?

Zouma is nowhere near Varane right now. Varane isn't promising CB lol it's like saying Pogba is promising CM but we have RLC for that. Facts : Varane would become undisputed first choice CB alongside JT while with Zouma it doesn't seems likely that he displaces Cahill in the near future. Mourinho tried something with Zouma but when things got dirty he came back to safe option which is Cahill. Wow, thanks mate ! I still very much believe in Varane to happen.

Hmm ... why he's so open regarding transfers ? That's interesting. With them wanting Filipe and getting Vietto (which is very close they say) we surely get Griezmann ?

Agree. He is Ramires with very good technique. I don't mind replacing Ramires with Allan. Allan is very combative and has drive to run forward. His tackles are ridiculous, he has average 4.6 tackles per game (whoscored) which is only in Matic territory. But he offers drive forward, passing, pressing and some technique. Complete package. He could actually replace both Ramires and Mikel because he can slot in big games in "Ramires role" as an engine as well as be back-up to Matic who offers similar style to Matic in DM position with pressing and lots of front foot interceptions. For 18m€ it's a steal and I'm surprised he is slightly under the radar. Though I am sure I read Chelsea name somewhere.

Mourinho is pragmatic first and foremost. Do you actually believe that if he has an opportunity to sign Koke/Pogba sacrificing Oscar he would say 'nah, I will wait until Oscar finally turns against good team' ? I can't believe that someone suggest it ... It's Mourinho we're talking about ! He has nowhere near a status of JT, Ivanovic, Matic, Hazard, Diego etc. Nowhere near. I don't remember subbing Ivanovic, Matic, Cesc and Diego off when they were on a yellow and still trying they hardest to get the second card. How many times they were playing on the edge of the second card, especially Ivanovic and DC and still they were allowed to play ? Quite a few times, our striker was virtually sending off several times this season, yet he was still on the pitch by manager decision. If Oscar had the status of above players he would stay on the pitch against PSG. He is easy sheep to sacrifice. Willian already shows that he can play as a starting number 10. I lost count the number of times Oscar was dropped against bigger teams over the last 2 seasons. Even Azpilicueta took his place (!) against Atletico. Willian somehow always plays in the big games. But of course Mourinho loves Oscar, because he says so - that's why he drops him to the bench. Mourinho really irks lack of European trophy. And since Oscar doesn't help him against big boys it's easy that if there will be opportunity to replace him with better player, he will take it. I'm not saying selling Oscar for the sake of it but upgrading with the right player. When I recently listened Mourinho comments from recent years just after going out of the Champions League, it's easy to feel how much this trophy means to him. Remember when he dissed Di Matteo just because he won CL with Chelsea before him ? Adding to that he has to take the crown from Barcelona, he will try everything to challange for the trophy next season.

Defender = CB, 100%. Midfielder - Imbula, Kondogbia, Allan, Schneiderlin, Nainggolan, Witsel I think someone from this bunch. I probably forget about others but at least one of them is attainable. And when Mourinho thinks about CM then it comes as a replacement to Mikel/Ramires. And I wouldn't count a striker as a clear upgrade when you only think about replacing Drogba ... Unless Remy leaves. I'm sure there will be more to that. We're already short on attacking midfielders with 4 at the moment but we had 6 of them in Mourinho first season in 2013. I think the number will be 5. Also Cuadrado may leave. Salah may opt out of his loan with Montella sacking yesterday. Moses will leave. When 3 of them leave they can jointly subsidize great portion of "a star" player cost like Di Maria/Sterling/Griezmann. Or watch us swapping Cech for Walcott. And finally still think that Oscar may leave if that helps getting Pogba/Koke. Mourinho will surely be all for that. Him substituting Oscar at half-time against 10man PSG is all-time proof that Oscar place is there for taking.

Are you sure about this ? Because everything seems too quick for me ... I was expecting that this process will take 5-7 years. Also, are Chelsea going to get this holly 60k capacity ?

Good to finally hear that from him ! Many people doubted that defender (CB) will be our target which for me is obvious ...

No. The fact is that Jose really hurts his squad players. I wrote this a few times already but football players are really, really sensitive like OMG. For example Lampard and Cole wanted to damage Chelsea just because AVB was here, similar situation with Drogba under Scolari. That's how much they cared about the club actually ... Regarding Jose and squad players, Jose rarely rotates and as he says, he never gives an explanation why he doesn't play certain players and why he bench someones. Because he rotates very little and give clear, biased untouchable status to some, the squad players feel empty. Yes, as a professionals they should play as well as they can when they have a chance BUT back to the point, ALL FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE SENSITIVE, FRAGILE MINDED PEOPLE. They have to feel 'love' to perform and those squad players simply are bereft of any confidence. That's why Salah looked like barely 4th tier league player and just 2 weeks later he plays awesome football in different place. Salah, KdB, Schurrle, Ba they say things in similar fashion. You could also find that in David Luiz and Mata comments probably. Jose doesn't necessary brings confidence in his squad players. It's quite distinction from his mentor Sir Bobby Robson who most of the time spend with players who he doesn't pick.

FFP protects Chelsea, why are you worried ?

"Mainly against attacking teams" = mainly against better teams. I don't need Jose to speak outloud when actions speak for itself. So far he dropped Oscar whenever he had a chance to, that's a fact. Oscar can certainly be replaced, Jose gave enough of hints of that. Willian is even taking Oscar role as a number 10 now. I don't see why Oscar couldn't be sacrificed.

Actually FFP protects United. They can spend a lot and still comply within rules. Not sure how much they spend but it will be shitload of money. Thankfully, their owners still want to take money from the club and get a profit. Otherwise we could really be in big troubles. United will spend, City will spend and Arsenal will spend. I can't imagine Chelsea going out of the transfer window without a couple of major signings. Simply have to improve.

Mourinho certainly disagrees. He dropped Oscar in any sort of bigger game whenever he had choice to. Oscar has only played when there were no alternatives. He even put Azpilicueta to play as a winger against Atletico because he had more faith in him than in Oscar. Mourinho comments mean next to nothing regarding transfer window. If Mou would have a chance to swap Oscar with Koke he certainly would take it. And already showed that he has enough of Fabregas in bigger games when he had to bring half-fit Ramires in to help midfield. He surely would take some physical midfielder into the side.

Guys on Twitter say that he will be first choice for RB. Barca already tried to sign Cuadrado for RB position and now they bought another winger ... that will be interesting. I don't know. We will see. It's interesting what Laporte contract extension will mean. One option is that he is staying put. Second is that Bilbao increase release clause to get more money and may finally actually accept offer 1 euro lower than that clause (so now it will be 49.999999€) because they were reluctant for that previously and wanted to make it hardest for other teams not accepting such deal therefore leaving interested club to pay full release clause plus taxes which is through the roof money. That was stumbling block in Real Madrid's attempt in January apparently. I still believe in Varane to happen and Real buying Laporte as a replacement. If not then we can go for Laporte, 35m£ isn't outrageous IMO (Bilbao know that since they increased that clause ). If neither is gettable then I think Miranda is a good option. 31 with last year on the contract, Atletico should take 20-22m€ which is 14-16m£ and we have starting defender for 3 years.

So you'd put every young player in the same bracket ? I remember when we were linked with 18 years old Neymar in 2010. We were actually very damn close to sign him, it failed at the last moment. But surely we can regret that now ? Even though he was just one year sensation ... I think the main problem is that every player is different. You have to distinguish one from another and see real gems. I'm very well aware that Fekir may fail, not fulfil his potential etc. but he is on the high, played very well in recent France friendlies, has good season behind him and with his attributes like strength, left-foot, elite close control, dribbling, he looks good fit, I can't help but feel that. Chelsea are not even linked with him but I think he is right behind Reus, Griezmann and Di Maria in my wishlist for RW position.

I don't see many names. Fekir is way better fit than Schurrle, Salah, Cuadrado, Mata. He looks very good option, I wouldn't pass on that just because he hasn't played enough European games. I believe that if Chelsea gave chance to poorer fits than Fekir why shouldn't they give that to someone, who on paper looks perfect fit ? He has balance, dribbling, can resist challenge through massive thighs and has elite close control, things that we lacked. Bertrand Traore is diffrent player to Fekir. But there should be enough room if Cuadrado will leave as there's interest in him.

Not if he had Pogba agent ! Anyone called Fekir world-class ? I know that he has very good close control and fantastic balance. His thighs are massive ! Therefore he can't fall on the ground when challenged. Two things that are absent in Schurrle, Salah and Cuadrado. Is prolific and can assist. Left-footed and naturally plays on the rights. Has huge talent IMO so yeah, I believe he can be the ultimate right winger we're looking for.