Axel Witsel

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

Mourinho has also been alerted to the possibility of signing Belgium international midfielder Axel Witsel. #CFC (Telegraph)

#FCB want £5m for Alex Song, while #Zenit are demanding around £23m for Witsel. #Juve have already had a £15m bid rejected (Telegraph) #CFC

Witsel is likely to want to be sure he'll play a large # of 1st-team games ahead of Euro 2016, which could be a problem for #CFC (Telegraph)

Mourinho wants greater strength in depth in the centre of the pitch, but a new signing has to compete with Matic & Fabregas (Telegraph) #CFC

[Billy. 2,742]

NO.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

According to @RusFootballNews, Axel Witsel, is close to finalizing personal terms with Chelsea ahead of a summer move. #CFC #Zenit

The deal would cost #CFC about £18m and Witsel is keen to recoup the £120,000/week wages he currently earns in Russia (via @RusFootballNews)

[jernej93 569]

Well, Matic was sitting on the bench for a year because of Witsel.

Because they brought Witsel for around 7M, one of their highest transfer fees and their highest transfer fee of summer 2011. Matić was for free ... when Witsel made way for Matić they won league, both domestic cups and double time runners up in Europa league.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign #Zenit's Witsel for £22m but face fierce competition from #Juventus. (Evening Standard) #CFC

Mourinho tried to sign Witsel earlier when he was in charge at Real, but he joined Zenit from Benfica for £28m in 2012. (Evening Standard)

[nyikolajevics 2,690]

Because they brought Witsel for around 7M, one of their highest transfer fees and their highest transfer fee of summer 2011. Matić was for free ... when Witsel made way for Matić they won league, both domestic cups and double time runners up in Europa league.

Stilll, I wouldnn't say Witsel is limited or one dimensional. He is quick, energetiic, he can score, his tackles are nice. Fábregas-Matic-Witsel in the middle would be amazing.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Very limited player, I would say he is bad version of Matić

You just can't (or shouldn't) play with Witsel - Matić in central midfield. You need one player who is holding midfielder (big, strong, good tackler, jumpy - Matić) and one who drags forward, who is main creative player of the team (creativity, passing, ball control, vision, hard work, tackling - surely not Witsel). Fabregas is too weak for this role and if he plays nr.10 and Witsel - Matić are behind him, he won't get much time on the ball. What we need is more creative and hardworking midfielder like Pogba or Schneiderlin. Witsel is too expensive to be backup for Matić. Zouma can take this role or if we bring Pogba/Schneiderlin they surely know how to play restrained role in midfield without going forward too much and with Fabregas/Ramires/RLC alongside

I dont see a big difference in Witsel and Schneiderlin, when it comes to their style of play.

[Hostedenis 556]

I dont see a big difference in Witsel and Schneiderlin, when it comes to their style of play.

I do. Witsel retains the ball a lot better and it's almost impossible to take the ball from him. Schneiderlin can be easier dispossessed, but Schneiderlin offers more offensively. Witsel usually plays it safe, with wide passes.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Hmm, it seems more newspaper has reported the news. Actually if we sell Mikel and buy Witsel, I will not complain at all.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

I dont see a big difference in Witsel and Schneiderlin, when it comes to their style of play.

Schneiderlin is better. Schneidelrin has much better distribution, tackling and strategic sense. Witsle is more like a like for like replacments for mikel. has some skill and strength but ponders too long on the ball and has close to zero productivity.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I dont see a big difference in Witsel and Schneiderlin, when it comes to their style of play.

except schneiderlin is a more action guy. Wins tons of tackles and can boss the midfield... Witsel is a good replacement to Mikel but not exactly a midfield boss

[Weckerz 3,781]

Where did all these Witsel experts come from? Don't tell me you watch Zenith.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Schneiderlin is better. Schneidelrin has much better distribution, tackling and strategic sense. Witsle is more like a like for like replacments for mikel. has some skill and strength but ponders too long on the ball and has close to zero productivity.

I accept that Schneidelrin is better, I just dont rate Schneidelrin too much either, i dont see world class potential in him (or anything near it), doesnt have a really high celling imo.

He looked very average each time i saw him in France when playing with better players around him. But he's still alot better than Mikel and Ramires off course.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

This will be an amazing transfer. I don't know or care if he's better than Schneirderlein, prior to last season, it wouldn't have been debatable, but I see Witsel fitting into our team better and being a better partner for Matic due to his mobility with the ball. The thing I like about Witsel is he's a solid 8 at almost everything you want in a central midfielder. Technically, tactically, positionally, ball distribution wise, football IQ, ball retention wise, even flair and so on.

Schneirdelein is a little too much of a defensive midfielder. In games were Hazard, Fabregas and Willian are having problems finding space against deep lying defensive teams, we need a player who can drive with the ball from deeper positions and help create/divert attention away from our 4 advanced players. Schneirderlein isn't going to do that for you.

[iseah100 5,612]

Schniederlin is better tbh