Chelsea are struggling on and off the field with an underwhelming Premier League run as well as a potential transfer ban imposed by FIFA. They are now anxiously waiting for the verdict after appealing against the decision, but at the same time are also monitoring the transfer market to wrap up new deals if the set of circumstances take a turn in their favour.
According to Daily Express, the Blues are after James Rodriguez, the Colombian sensation whose two-year loan stint at Bayern Munich is set to expire at the end of the ongoing campaign. The Bundesliga big boys have the option to tie him down permanently but are unlikely to offer that as the player failed to impress boss Niko Kovac enough.
Rodriguez will return to his parent club Real Madrid (as claimed by Marca). However, he will move on once again following Zinedine Zidane’s reappointment as the Blancos boss. The Frenchman did not fancy the midfield attacker in his plans which eventually led to his egress after falling down the pecking order.
A stunning 2014 World Cup earned him a high-profile £63m transfer to Bernabeu from AS Monaco. Despite a decent first season, Rodriguez’s form took a downturn, and a move to Bayern came up as an opportunity to regain his reputation. But the 27-year-old is still struggling to live up to the hype, and the reported £36m cut-price has alerted the London giants.
Although Manchester United have also entered the race to sign him up, Rodriguez might prefer a move to Chelsea as they have the better chance of claiming a Champions League berth. The profile of Premier League must be fascinating for the midfielder as he would experience a new challenge shaking off the disappointment of the past few years.
Chelsea are destined to lose Eden Hazard to Real Madrid (as suggested by Marca) which might smoothen the talks furthermore over a potential switch to Stamford Bridge ahead of the other suitors. The Blues require high-profile recruits to boost the supporters up, and a move for the Los Cafeteros superstar might serve the purpose to some extent considering his potential, quality and talent to turn things around.
Sanctioning a transfer fee for Rodriguez won’t be the best of deals based on his current form, but the club should give it a go due to his availability for a reasonable sum.
