Potential signings and rumours continue to be thrown at Chelsea with the January window almost halfway through, and Jose Mourinho is a big fan of the latest player supposedly offered to Chelsea.
There has been no indication from Liam Rosenior or the club’s hierarchy that Chelsea will delve into the January window. Little surprise, given that Chelsea signed 10 players for almost £300m in the summer.
There are likely to be a few exits and while an injury or a potential exit can always push a team into the market for a replacement, Chelsea and Rosenior seem to be focused on the hectic list of fixtures.
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Arsenal on Wednesday, Brentford on Saturday, Pafos next Wednesday. Plenty for Rosenior to get his teeth stuck into, with the Chelsea boss impressing Gary Lineker among others. But January lingers in the corner.
What Jose Mourinho has said about Chelsea’s latest target
Reports emerged on Monday that Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Al Hilal’s Ruben Neves, as per Simon Phillips on his Substack channel. It comes after he entered the final six months of his deal.
TalkSPORT said at the start of the month that Al Hilal had offered Neves two new contracts, but he had turned down both. A third is on the table but if Neves does not sign it, then Al Hilal will sell him for £15m.
Ruben Neves in action for Al Hilal.
Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images
Now, super agent Jorge Mendes – who also represents Jose Mourinho – is trying to find Neves a new club and Chelsea have been offered his services. However, it is reported that Chelsea have decided against it.
That is despite Mourinho’s verdict on the midfielder, quoted as praising both Neves and Joao Moutinho back in 2018 on the Manchester Evening News, while the Special One was Manchester United manager.
He said: “They press in midfield, these two Portuguese boys (Neves and Joao Moutinho). They are both the kind of player that likes to bite, to press. They don’t give a long time for you to have the ball, to turn.”
If Chelsea only make one signing in January, who should it be?👀
Vinicius Jr. is off the table…
Vinicius Jr. hasn't had talks with Chelsea
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
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Ruben Neves would be a brilliant signing, but he doesn’t start
There is no way that Neves, no matter how brilliant the long-range shot specialist is, gets into Rosenior’s starting XI ahead of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. While he’s still 28, he’s used to a slower style.
There is no doubting that the Saudi Pro League is improving but it is still miles behind the quality of the Premier League. Neves has been here and done it, but Chelsea don’t have time to get him up to speed.
It is the right call from Rosenior and Chelsea not to sign Neves, who will be on enormous wages even if he takes a pay cut to return to England. Chances are, Neves will join a mid-table Premier League club.
For Rosenior and Chelsea, focus is firmly on Wednesday night as the new Chelsea gaffer looks to get a result at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal, enough to keep Chelsea in the tie for the second leg away.
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