Trying not to be too unrealistic, I'd like to see:

OUT

Mikel - £7.5m?

Ramires - £5-10m?

Salah - £7-10m?

Drogba - Retire

Atsu - £1m?

Kakuta - £1m?

Marin - £2m?

Moses - £3m?

Romeu - £2-5m?

I don't want Cech to go, but I think he probably will, so let's say about £15m for Cech

That would bring us in roughly £40m or so, maybe £45m if we can get some good deals.

I would use that money to try and get in a real quality winger, from the likes of Isco, Draxler, Reus, etc... whoever is realistically available at the time, hopefully for no more than about £30m.

I'd be open to Remy going if we can get in someone better.

We would then need a backup keeper, but I'd be okay with us signing an older keeper who would be happy with mostly sitting on the bench, like a kind of Hilario figure.

So let's say we spend £30m on a winger, and maybe £5m on a keeper.

I would also go for Varane, if we can get him for around £25-30m.

That would give us a squad of:

Courtois, [some older backup]

Azpilicueta, Luis

Terry, Zouma

Varane, Cahill, Christiansen

Ivanovic, Kalas

Matic, Van Ginkel

Fabregas, Ake

Hazard, Cuadrado

Oscar, Loftus-Cheek

Draxler/Isco/Reus, Willian

Costa, Remy/new striker, Bamford

Most of those attacking midfielders could play in any of the 3 positions. Bamford can also play RW or LW and do a good job.

What you are proposing here solves no problems. We need a proper box to box midfielder, oscar is to inconsistent and ramires doesnt have the skills required. Both would be good squad players, but are not first choice. I think we need to play a 4-3-3 with matic, fabregas and koke/witsel in midfield and then hazard and willian on the wings and obviously costa up top. Our squad players can be ramires, mikel, oscar, cuadrado, remy and bamford. This will give us strength pace and creativity in midfield allowing our attacking players more freedom. There is also good depth in the squad. No massive changes, but would eliminate our main weakness.

Irritating little bugger Verrati. Don't want at all.

If Ramires leaves, maybe Sissokho on the cheap. Add some legs and physicality. Obviously not top drawer, but I wouldn't be too unhappy with him in midfield.

Incidentally, looks like Sherwood has Benteke firing again...

 

 

Man I wish we could get Alex Song. He could be our Yaya-esque player albeit with less quality. He will be definitely available this summer and I think we were also interested in him last summer.

 

Hope we get him, Matic-Song-Fabregas would be deadly midfield.

 

Sissoko ? Song ? We can do far better than that surely, these 2 are mid table players. What have they done this season that would make them good enough players to be competing for the Premier League and Champions League ? I would rather stick with what we have then sign those 2.

 

Adding Song to our midfield wouldn't make us deadly either, he's nothing special.

I think we should sign a left-back--some one like Ricardo Rodriguez or Lucas Digne.

 

I'm really tired of seeing Azpi on the left.

20m for Ramires? Sorry, but there's no chance of that whatsoever.

 

Well somehow we sold David Luiz for 50mil. In this market, we can definitely get 20mil for Ramires, maybe some German or Italian team will sign him. 

 

What if we were to offer 30mil to Atletico for Koke plus Ramires, good deal for both parties. They get money and a decent midfielder. 

I don't think we should sell mikel tbh. We need to keep our defensive midfielders.

I think we should sign a left-back--some one like Ricardo Rodriguez or Lucas Digne.

I'm really tired of seeing Azpi on the left.

We have one on the bench who was considered the best in Europe last season. We don't need to pay out more money for another player.

Koke a good option, and I wouldn't mind moutinho of monaco either, but the latter is unlikely to happen. If we can get khedira on cheap then we should think about it. I don't know who else is out there tbh. We have rlc and ake we can bring in too.

I think we should sign a left-back--some one like Ricardo Rodriguez or Lucas Digne.

I'm really tired of seeing Azpi on the left.

We've been linked with Ricardo rodriguez in the mirror today. I'd be astounded if we spent over 40m in 2 seasons on sub left backs, as I can't see Mourinho changing azpiliucueta or ivanovic at full back.

We've been linked with Ricardo rodriguez in the mirror today. I'd be astounded if we spent over 40m in 2 seasons on sub left backs, as I can't see Mourinho changing azpiliucueta or ivanovic at full back.

If Ivanovic did move to PSG at the end of the season as rumoured (I hope he doesn't) then Dave might be at right back next year and we'll be in the market for a fullback.

If Ivanovic did move to PSG at the end of the season as rumoured (I hope he doesn't) then Dave might be at right back next year and we'll be in the market for a fullback.

I doubt ivanovic will move. But that is probably the basis to the rumour. Good player rodriguez though, but Wolfsburg don't need the money so I think he will be too expensive.

I doubt ivanovic will move. But that is probably the basis to the rumour. Good player rodriguez though, but Wolfsburg don't need the money so I think he will be too expensive.

I wouldnt be distraught if ivan was to leave, he's a bit jekyl and hyde, one game he scores us the winner, the next he costs us 2 goals because he's constantly out of position. Doubt he's going anywhere, he's working his way to be a chelsea untouchable.

What you are proposing here solves no problems. We need a proper box to box midfielder, oscar is to inconsistent and ramires doesnt have the skills required. Both would be good squad players, but are not first choice. I think we need to play a 4-3-3 with matic, fabregas and koke/witsel in midfield and then hazard and willian on the wings and obviously costa up top. Our squad players can be ramires, mikel, oscar, cuadrado, remy and bamford. This will give us strength pace and creativity in midfield allowing our attacking players more freedom. There is also good depth in the squad. No massive changes, but would eliminate our main weakness.

 

I agree with you on 4-3-3, but I would go further and replace both Mikel and Ramires. I don't think Mikel can rotate with or play alongside Matic when needed, while Ramires technical ability, vision, strength and positioning is not good enough to be our box to box player. Thats why I want a new box to box midfielder (Witsel/Koke/Pogba/Parejo) and Monacos defensive midfielder Kondogbia.

 

 

I don't think we should sell mikel tbh. We need to keep our defensive midfielders.

 

Kondogbia can easily replace Mikel, he is one of the main reasons Monaco dosen't concede much goals. His vision and passing is also far better, having played well in both Spain and France.

Pogba is exactly what this team needs, i know its aiming high but we do have the financial powers to pull it off, also Varane would be a handy pick up giving the best young CB pairing in world football, imagine:

GK - Courtois

RB - Ivanovic

CB - Zouma

CB - Varane

LB - Azpilicueta

CDM - Matic

CM - Pogba

CM - Fabregas

RW - Cuadrado

LW - Hazard

ST - Costa

4-3-3 Formation

I agree with you on 4-3-3, but I would go further and replace both Mikel and Ramires. I don't think Mikel can rotate with or play alongside Matic when needed, while Ramires technical ability, vision, strength and positioning is not good enough to be our box to box player. Thats why I want a new box to box midfielder (Witsel/Koke/Pogba/Parejo) and Monacos defensive midfielder Kondogbia.

 

 

 

Kondogbia can easily replace Mikel, he is one of the main reasons Monaco dosen't concede much goals. His vision and passing is also far better, having played well in both Spain and France.

 

I would rather integrate ruben-loftus cheek into the midfield next season; he is similar in style and physicality to pogba, whom would cost at least 60 million. 

 

For me, it would be like this next season in our midfield choices: 

 

Mikel

Ruben loftus cheek

Koke

Moutinho

Imbula

Ake 

Baker

Matic

Fabregas

 

Ramires we could sell for a between 18-25 million. If we did sell Mikel, then I'd hope we would get at least 10 million for him as he's still a useful player for a team in Italy, France or Germany. Oscar i am not so sure on; we could probably cash out on him for between 30-40 million and bring in one of moutinho/koke, but Oscar is much more useful than Willian, but we wouldn't get what we paid for Willian back, so we would be looking at between 15-20 million for him. 

 

I would rather keep Mikel and Oscar, sell ramires and willian though and bring in those midfielders i mentioned. 

I would rather integrate ruben-loftus cheek into the midfield next season; he is similar in style and physicality to pogba, whom would cost at least 60 million.

For me, it would be like this next season in our midfield choices:

Mikel

Ruben loftus cheek

Koke

Moutinho

Imbula

Ake

Baker

Matic

Fabregas

Ramires we could sell for a between 18-25 million. If we did sell Mikel, then I'd hope we would get at least 10 million for him as he's still a useful player for a team in Italy, France or Germany. Oscar i am not so sure on; we could probably cash out on him for between 30-40 million and bring in one of moutinho/koke, but Oscar is much more useful than Willian, but we wouldn't get what we paid for Willian back, so we would be looking at between 15-20 million for him.

I would rather keep Mikel and Oscar, sell ramires and willian though and bring in those midfielders i mentioned.

Pipe dream that, some of those players aren't gonna come here to be rotated around or be on the bench

Too many superstars and not enough players like Ramires and Mikel to balance the team out. 

Too many superstars and not enough players like Ramires and Mikel to balance the team out. 

 

thats why we should get pogba. hes a grafter on top of all that skill

I would rather integrate ruben-loftus cheek into the midfield next season; he is similar in style and physicality to pogba, whom would cost at least 60 million. 

 

For me, it would be like this next season in our midfield choices: 

 

Mikel

Ruben loftus cheek

Koke

Moutinho

Imbula

Ake 

Baker

Matic

Fabregas

 

Ramires we could sell for a between 18-25 million. If we did sell Mikel, then I'd hope we would get at least 10 million for him as he's still a useful player for a team in Italy, France or Germany. Oscar i am not so sure on; we could probably cash out on him for between 30-40 million and bring in one of moutinho/koke, but Oscar is much more useful than Willian, but we wouldn't get what we paid for Willian back, so we would be looking at between 15-20 million for him. 

 

I would rather keep Mikel and Oscar, sell ramires and willian though and bring in those midfielders i mentioned. 

 

Mourinho has said he dosen't like big squades like this, with 8-9 players for 3 positions. He rather have a small squad with versatile players. Ruben loftus cheek, Ake and Baker haven't done anything at the highest senior level, when players like KDB and Lukaku dosen't get a chance after impressing for their loan clubs, then I don't see how these players will be given a chance in a top club like Chelsea. WIth your midfield there wouldn't be a chance at all with 6 experienced midfielders infront of them.

 

I'd like us to have four quality options for 2-3 positions (Depending on 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations) :

 

DM: Matic,  DM/CM: Kondogbia, Box to Box: Pogba, Parejo, Witzel or Koke, Deep lying playmaker/ CM / AM: Fabregas

 

Then you can add a talent like Ruben loftus Cheek to learn from them and get some minutes throughout the season.

 

 

Too many superstars and not enough players like Ramires and Mikel to balance the team out. 

 

PSG: Veratti, Motta, Matuidi, Cabaye, Rabiot, Pastore

 

Bayern: T.Alcantara, Schweinsteiger, Martinez, Alonso, Lahm, Rode

 

Madrid: Kroos, Khedeira, Modric, Isco, Illaramendi

 

Barcelona: Xavi, Mascherano, Busquets. Rakitic, Iniesta

 

Juventus: Pogba, Vidal, Marchisio, Pereira, Pirlo

 

 

This is what we are up against in Europe and to compete with these midfields we need something better then Ramires and Mikel, alongside Matic and Fabregas.

Edited March 15, 201511 yr by comtrend

Too many superstars and not enough players like Ramires and Mikel to balance the team out.

Superstars?! Who?

Costa, Hazard, Fab maybe Terry & Matic.

None of the rest of them perform well enough or consistently enough to be considered superstars IMO.

I'd go all out this summer and f**k FFP for a year, if PSG & Citeh get away with it why not us?

Bring in Varane, Pogba & if the rumours are true and Bales wants out, I'd take him as well because he wouldn't go for the price they bought him for, if not Reus or dangle some money in front of Wenger for Sanchez.

it would on paper cost a hell of a lot but we've done some great business of late so I think we could recoup a fair bit and get these guys for smaller prices than speculated in the press.

The new sponsorship deal would help massively as well!

 said if before, i like Pjanic at Roma, super skilful, like a very mobile Cesc, would actually be fabulous with Cesc and Haz, push Cesc to play the No 10 role..

I think it's time to call it a day on the Brazilian experiment. Oscar, Willian and Ramires have their contribution to make but what they do is just not good enough to help us get amongst Europe's elite

 

Fabregas has contributed well at times but generally looks knackered half way through a match. Matic looks physically and mentally exhausted - he's shouldering quite a burden in the current set up.

 

I'm sure Jose has a shortlist - I'd like to see a Michael Ballack-like player in beside Matic and a couple more creative players around Costa to balance what Hazard is doing

^ Problem is would you trust Jose to make the right signings? You look at the right side of our midfield and it is strange the amount we have spent since he came in and he hasn't got it right?

^ Problem is would you trust Jose to make the right signings? You look at the right side of our midfield and it is strange the amount we have spent since he came in and he hasn't got it right?

 

Well considering Mourinho brought in the likes of Costa, Cesc and Matic I have every bit of faith to make the right signings, just like he has done his whole career

 

Every manager will buy flops now and again. 

If Pogba goes to Madrid I would take a serious look at Modric, absolute class player