5 Players that Chelsea FC should sign during the 2011 Summer Transfer Window

Having seen the English football season end last weekend, the busiest part of the season begins now; the preparation and the re-building process for next season. With the transfer window swung fully open, clubs are busy recruiting new players to strengthen their squads. Having surrendered their title to Manchester United, Chelsea will be keen to strengthen their squad to regains the Premier League Crown. Here are five players who I feel will help us achieve that goal and gain a fourth Premier League title.

Gregory van der Wiel:

Age: 23   Height: 6ft 0in   Club: AFC Ajax   Position: Right Back/Centre Back

Transfer Value: £12-18million

Gregory van der Wiel has been on Chelsea’s radar for sometime now. Despite not having made any official offer, Chelsea are reported to be fans of the young Dutchman. Coming out of the famous Ajax academy, which has produced great players such as Johann Cryuff and Dennis Bergkamp, van der Wiel has established himself as Ajax’s and Holland’s number one right-back.

Predominately a right back, he can play at centre-back just like Branislav Ivanovic. Despite Ivanovic being our current right-back, he is a centre-half by trade and we don’t have a true right-back who can defend and support our attacks.  Yes we do have Jose Bosingwa and Paulo Ferreira, but both are not seen as our number one choice. Following several injuries, Bosingwa has struggled to shine at right back and isn’t the same player as he was when he first joined Chelsea. Ferreira on the other hand is a loyal servant to the Blues, but Ferreira doesn’t offer and attack down the side and is seen as a main defensive option. Chelsea need someone who can bomb down the flanks and provide support to our attack and still defend and put pressure on attacking wingers, and van der Wiel is just the player that Chelsea might be looking for.

However, van der Wiel does play in the Dutch league and there have been many players who have found the transition to the English Premier League difficult and struggled, notably Mateja Kezman and Ryan Babel. In spite of this van der Wiel has shown in the Champions League and the FIFA World Cup that he can hold up against the best players so the transition that people talk about should not be a major issue. Van der Wiel offers Chelsea more width and has exceptional pace and work rate. He would suit the team well and with Michael Essien or Ramires playing on the right, he can offer more natural width. More importantly his marking and awareness abilities is top class and he is an attacking minded right-back who is not afraid to join in the attacks and whip in some balls to the middle.

Should Chelsea want to lodge an official offer, they would need to pay around £14million, the cheapest from my five, to secure the services of this fine youngster. Though they do face firm competition from big spenders Manchester City, I feel that van der Wiel would benefit more with a move to the Bridge.

Luka Modric:

Age: 25   Height: 5ft 7in   Club: Tottenham Hotspur FC   Position: Central Midfielder  

Transfer Value: £20-30million

Following Tottenham’s failure to qualify for next seasons UEFA Champions League, a few of Tottenham’s star players may be tempted to leave the north London club in order for further Champions League football. One of these players is Croatian playmaker, Luka Modric. Modric has been vital to Tottenham’s quarter final run in the Champions League and their impressive league form. Usually playing in central midfield, he can also play in an attacking role or a deep-lying playmaking role.

Despite being a small player, his low centre of gravity and superb passing range, makes him of the Premier League’s converted players. Just ask Spurs fans on their opinion on Modric and you will get brilliant reviews about the Croatian, and rightly so. Modric was voted Tottenham fan’s player of the season in 2010/11. He was the second best passer in the English Premier League last season, with a pass completion rate of 86%, only behind our Michael Essien who had a pass completion rate of 87%.

His vision and ball distribution makes him an ideal signing for Chelsea. He can thread the balls through to the forwards and help control the balance between midfield and attackers. Along with Michael Essien and Frank Lampard, Modric could provide the balance that Chelsea craved so much last season. Following the departure of Deco, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack in last summer’s transfer window, Modric can be seen as an ideal replacement and fill in that creative midfield role that Chelsea had missed at times last season. However, Harry Redknapp will be reluctance to sell his star players for a low price and an offer around £25million may tempt him to part with his star player and allow Luka Modric move across London.

Wesley Sneijder:

Age: 26   Height: 5ft 7in   Club: Internationale   Position: Attacking Midfielder  

 Transfer Value: £25-35million

This Dutch maestro is one of the best midfielders in the world. He has been at the top of his games for the last few years. He was influential in Inter Milan’s treble winning season in 2009/10 and continued this highly impressive form at last years FIFA World Cup in South Africa, helping the Netherlands reach the finals of this prestigious tournament.  Still only 26 years old, Sneijder has won three league titles in three separate titles and were Chelsea to buy him, he could make it four in four.

His impressive form for both club and country is not a one off. Sneijder is considered to be one of the hardest working players in the game and his form throughout the season is consistent. He has been recognized in the Euro 2008 and 2010 FIFA World Cup’s, Team of the Tournament. This consistency is ideal for a player to succeed in the English Premier League, and would suit Chelsea’s style of play.

With Torres struggling to score, is Sneijder the right man to help El Nino to start firing in the goals? Sneijder’s ball control and brilliant playmaking in the middle of the field would make him an ideal signing for the Blues, and could possibly form a midfield trio with Michael Essien and Frank Lampard, and potentially help Fernando Torres find the back of the net.  However, Abrahmovic would have to fork out around £30million if he is to bring the Dutchman to the Bridge, but with a player of this fine calibre, Abrahmovic will be happy to splash the cash.

Eden Hazard:

Age: 20   Height: 5ft 7in   Club: Lille OSC   Position:  Winger

Transfer Value: £20-30million

Eden Hazard is one of the hottest properties in Europe. An estimated eight, yes eight, clubs are interested this Belgian wizard. Despite being 20 years of age, Hazard has already made 20 international appearances, whilst helping French club Lille OSC to their first league and cup double in over 50 years. His fine performances have earned him great reviews from various managers and he has been marked out as ‘one for the future’.

The Belgian has already been likened to current superstars, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Hazard is still developing and learning the trade, his style of play and attacking mentality is rather similar to Messi and Ronaldo’s. He has tremendous ball skill and has the pace and dribbling skill to run past and cause havoc to defenders. He loves to take players on and is not afraid to get involved. The Belgian starlet has close-to-perfect ball control and has a great knack for scoring. To Chelsea fans he may show similarities to current Blues favourite, Frank Lampard. Hazard could be seen as a long-term replacement for Lampard, with his ability to score and set up goals from midfield.

With Torres struggling to perform, Hazard may be the player to help revitalize Torres and help him reach the ability and class that persuaded Chelsea to pay £50million for the Spaniard.  He can be deployed behind the central striker but will be more effect and dangerous on the wing. His natural position is the left wing, which would mean that current left winger, Florent Malouda, may have to settle for a space on the bench. However, Hazard is able to play on either flank thus giving him a better picture of the whole field. He will be able to provide the genuine width and quality that Chelsea desire and can bring more balance and attacking threat from the left. In a career which has seen him play over 140 league games, he has only accumulated 9 yellow cards, showing his calmness and cool whilst on the field. This is considered to be one of his main attributes.

If Chelsea were to buy the Belgian, they will have to compete with the likes of Liverpool FC, Real Madrid CF and Internationale. With his potential to become a huge attacking talent, Hazard is available on the market for £20million.

Neymar da Silva Santos Junior:

Age: 19   Height:  5ft 8in   Club: Santos   Position: Striker

Transfer Value: £20-35million

I’d be lying if I said that Chelsea aren’t been keen admirers of this Brazilian starlet. They have been leading the race for the Brazilian sensation for a very long time. In fact, Neymar has made it clear that he would love a move to the London-based club.

At the tender age of 19, Neymar has become one of the biggest, rising superstars in the last few years. He has a fantastic goal-scoring record at his current club Santos (27 goals in 64 appearances), which has seen him become one of the hottest property in the world and is currently being courted by several European giants including reigning European and Spanish Champions FC Barcelona. He had to be convinced by Brazilian legend Pele last summer when Chelsea put forth a £17million bid for the youngster. Neymar also has a convincing international record, scoring three times in as many games for Brazil. His fast pace, skill on the ball and amazing goal record is one of the many reasons why many clubs will be chasing after his signature this summer.

It is one of the main reasons why Chelsea should go after this Samba star. His fast growing reputation surely will tempt the Chelsea owner Roman Abrahmovic, to increase his offer and part with a large sum of money, possibly £25million. With Nicolas Anelka looking more likely to leave the Bridge in the summer, and Chelsea looking to find an ideal partner for Fernando Torres, Neymar would seem to fit the bill.

But it must be noted that Neymar had only signed a new 4-year deal in 2010 tying him to his current club until December 2014, so any potential deal may result in a large bill for the Blues. But many Chelsea fans would welcome the move and any move could be seen as an ideal investment.

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Having seen a first trophy-less season since the 2007/08 season, there is much speculation that Abrahmovic will give us lots of money to spend on transfers and help regain the title and win their first ever Champions League trophy. I personally feel that if Chelsea were to sign all at least three of these players, then we will have a massive chance in regaining the title, providing that we don’t let many of our current players leave.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this article as it was for me to write it. These are simply my own views and speculation, which may not actually happen at all. As you may have gathered I do support Chelsea, so my views may be bias some of which you may disagree with. Please leave a comment and discuss your own opinion. Also who would you like Chelsea to sign this summer? Is it anyone from my list or is there someone else? Feel free to discuss below.

Thank you,

James