Chelsea’s midfield will be busier than a Tube station at rush hour next season.
Jose Mourinho’s quest to stockpile every midfielder under the sun runs on apace this Saturday morning, as he looks to sign Juventus and France star Paul Pogba for north of £60m after the World Cup.
The former Manchester United reserve is arguably the most coveted young midfielder in the world and Mourinho wants to slot him in beside Nemanja Matic next season, loading the bullets for Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Oscar to fire.
With Mohamed Salah, Andre Schurrle, Willian, Ramires, Cesc Fabregas, John Obi Mikel and countless others all vying to fit into Jose’s first XI, the move for Pogba seems a bit like overkill but that hasn’t stopped the West Londoners before.
Not only that, but they’re also being linked with Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to provide competition up front.
Eesh.
Elsewhere, Daryl Janmaat is the latest Dutchman to be linked with Manchester United as Louis van Gaal prepares for life in England.
Janmaat has impressed at right-back in the World Cup and would probably be seen as a safer bet that Rafael, whose star has waned in the last year or so.
Over to Liverpool, where Adam Lallana will complete his move early next week from Southampton. Once that deal is done, Brendan Rodgers will turn his attention to 26-year-old attacker Lazar Markovic (below). The winger will cost a cool £25m from Benfica and seems a strange move given the fact that Liverpool badly need a central defender, with Dejan Lovren also wanted by Spurs and Arsenal.
Speaking of the Gunners, Arsene Wenger has been making all sorts of noises about Arturo Vidal and hopes that £44m will tempt Juventus to sell the brilliant Chilean midfielder.
Finally, Mario Balotelli is said to be desperate for a move to Arsenal after a disappointing World Cup, Tottenham want to sign Esteban Cambiasso from Inter Milan, Erik Lamela is going nowhere and Southampton hope to finalise the £8million transfer of Graziano Pelle from Feyenoord on Monday.
