Jose Mourinho‘s second tenure as Chelsea manager came to an end on Thursday, as the west London club and defending Premier League champions decided to part ways after a dreadful start to the 2015-16 campaign. 

Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have today parted company by mutual consent.

All at Chelsea thank Jose for his immense contribution since he returned as manager in the summer of 2013.

His three league titles, FA Cup, Community Shield and three League Cup wins over two spells make him the most successful manager in our 110-year history. But both Jose and the board agreed results have not been good enough this season and believe it is in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways.

The club wishes to make clear Jose leaves us on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea. His legacy at Stamford Bridge and in England has long been guaranteed and he will always be warmly welcomed back to Stamford Bridge.

The club’s focus is now on ensuring our talented squad reaches its potential.

There will be no further comment until a new appointment is made.  

Sam Wallaceof the Daily Telegraph reported Dutch manager Gus Hiddink, who was interim Blues boss in 2009, will take over for the rest of the season. Hiddink won the FA Cup with the club during his previous stint.

After an awful run of results, the 2-1 away defeat to Leicester City on Monday evening was clearly the final straw for the Blues hierarchy. The champions are just one point clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Mourinho returned to the Chelsea bench in 2013 after spells with Inter Milan and Real Madrid and guided the club to the Premier League title last season. However, their start to the new campaign couldn’t have gone much worse.

A loss against Arsenal in the Community Shield was followed by three losses in the club’s first five Premier League matches, the same amount of defeats the Blues suffered during the entire 2014-15 campaign.

A 2-0 win over Arsenal in September appeared to be the turning point, but more defeats followed in quick succession, along with a host of controversy.

There was an incident with then-team doctor Eva Carneiro, via the Daily Mail‘s Matt Lawton, as well as a lengthy battle with the Football Association after Mourinho alleged bias from the officials after a 3-1 loss against Southampton, per Sky Sports.

In the weeks following the match against Southampton, Mourinho continued making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

A video surfaced in which he appeared to shove a teenager on the street, per BBC Sport, and he was sent to the stands after reportedly trying to force his way into the referee’s dressing room at half-time during the 2-1 defeat to West Ham United, via Fox Soccer.

Respite did not arrive with the recent fourth round of the Capital One Cup as the defending champions were knocked out on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Stoke City—the Blues’ 2014-15 star player, Eden Hazard, missed the decisive spot kick. Defeats to Liverpool, Stoke, Bournemouth and then Leicester followed in the league.

With the results on the pitch not going Chelsea’s way and the many controversies surrounding Mourinho, his sacking became inevitable.

Mourinho is one of the most successful managers of this generation and was the man who first led the Blues to the top of the football world between 2004 and 2007. As a tactician and a motivator, he has few equals, and his track record with FC Porto, Chelsea and Inter―and even Real Madrid, to a lesser extent―is impressive.

But controversy seems to follow “The Special One” wherever he goes. He left the Blues in September of 2007, just weeks into the new campaign, setting the team back for the remainder of the season. His most successful spell with Inter followed, winning the treble, but in Madrid, silverware was relatively scarce, and more issues surfaced.

Mourinho clashed with captain and club legend Iker Casillas, via ESPN FC’s Graham Hunter, and Mourinho lasted just three seasons with Real before returning to west London.

The Blues will now have to turn attention to securing a permanent manager, but with Jurgen Klopp accepting the position at Liverpool, options are slim. Carlo Ancelotti is the most high-profile name available, but he is reportedly set to join Bayern Munich at the end of the season, per Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail.

However, shock reports surfaced earlier in the week suggesting that Juande Ramos, the former Tottenham Hotspur managerial flop, has been cited as a potential replacement, as reported by Matt Hughes for the Times.

Mourinho will likely take some time away from the game to find his bearings and give his reputation a chance to recover from the many controversies that haunted him the last couple of months. Given his impressive record of success, he’s bound to find another high-profile position once he returns to football.

Don’t be shocked if French giants Paris Saint-Germain make a move for his services. Laurent Blanc has been consistently unable to deliver European success, and if he fails to do so again in 2015-16, Mourinho would be the perfect candidate to replace him.

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Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic seems to have dropped a big hint that he’ll be moving to Liverpool with a post on his Facebook account.

Rumours have been swirling in recent weeks about the 19-year-old star and the prospect of a move to Anfield.

The following update from the youngster seems to suggest he’s close to making the switch to the Merseyside giants, per the Liverpool Echo:

As noted by Joe Rimmer of the Echo, the post contains a link to a Serbian story which reports that a transfer to the Reds is a “done deal.”

Grujic has previously revealed talks have been held with Liverpool, per Simon Jones of the MailOnline. According to that piece, Stuttgart and Inter Milan are also in the hunt for the teenager, with the Reds yet to agree a fee despite an offer of £4.3 million. By contrast, Serbian newspaper Mondo (h/t Metro’s Will Giles) had reported a fee had already been agreed.

Here’s a look at why Grujic is attracting so much interest from across the continent and why Liverpool fans should be excited at the prospect of him joining:

There’s a lot to like about this young player. Standing at an imposing 1.91 metres tall, he’s a massive presence in the middle of the park, offering an influence not dissimilar to his compatriot Nemanja Matic. 

In his young career, he’s already sampled some success too. Grujic was a central part of the Serbia team which won the Under-20 World Cup in the summer.

During that tournament, Grujic’s communication and leadership skills really shone through, as well as his ability to spoil opposition attacks and move possession on.

As BBC Sport’s Ben Smith noted earlier this month, the Reds have had representatives in situ to watch the youngster first hand:

Liverpool could definitely do with a player who can add a physicality to the middle of the park.

Lucas Leiva has done a decent job under manager Jurgen Klopp, but he’s not an elite holding player. Grujic, although he has a long way to go yet, has the potential to reach that kind of standard and will be keen to take over the Brazilian’s role should he join.

According to Jones, any deal for Grujic will likely see him move back to Red Star on loan for the time being, which makes sense in aiding the player’s growth. That way, when he does eventually return to Anfield, the midfielder will do so as a much more rounded footballer and someone ready to make an impact in the first team.

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Chelsea have reportedly made an offer for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, amid rumours Barcelona are also interested in the talented Italy international.  

According to Francesc Aguilar of Catalan-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo (h/t Metro‘s Mark Brus), PSG are still eyeing Juventus star Paul Pogba, and Chelsea and Barcelona are keen to add Verratti, as the Ligue 1 giants seek funds for a move.

Brus adds Verratti is reportedly not interested in a transfer to the Premier League, and given his tremendous success with Les Parisiens, a move seems unlikely at this point.

The 23-year-old moved to the French capital in 2012 and quickly settled into PSG’s squad, showcasing his fantastic passing range and high defensive work rate. While not the most physically imposing player, he loves to play rough in the midfield, and he tends to get booked so often it has become something of a running joke.

Bleacher Report UK’s Jonathan Johnson couldn’t help himself:

According to WhoScored.com, the former Pescara man was booked an incredible 11 times in Ligue 1 last season, but he also provided eight assists and completed well over 91 percent of his passes.

Verratti is a superb technician and has drawn praise from some illustrious names, including former Barcelona star Xavi, per Squawka News:

Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

There’s no doubt the Blues would love to add a player of his caliber, particularly given their current struggles in midfield. Cesc Fabregas, who was the main creative force in midfield last season, has failed to live up to his reputation in 2015-16, and Chelsea’s attack has stalled as a result.

But given his young age, his high standing with PSG and Les Parisiens’ strong financial backing from Qatar Sports Investments, Verratti seems close to untouchable on the transfer market. PSG have virtually unlimited funds―it’s hard to see why they should move a player in order to fund a transfer of Pogba.

The Frenchman is a remarkable talent, but so is Verratti. PSG are probably dreaming of pairing the two in midfield, not moving the Italian just so they can replace him with Pogba.

Marcelo Brozovic to Leave Inter Milan?

According to Calciomercato.com’s Federico Zanon and Edo Dalmonte, Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic could leave the Nerazzurri in January, and Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly interested in his services.

The Croatian is enjoying a fine season with Inter, but given the complicated nature of his loan move to Italy, the Nerazzurri would still need to pay former club Dinamo Zagreb €5 million of the €8 million deal the two parties agreed on if he’s still with the club in June.

That opens the door for a January move, where the 23-year-old would reportedly be available for less than €20 million.

As shared by Daniele Mari of FCInter1902.it, that’s a remarkably low fee for a player capable of doing things like this:

Inter are enjoying a fine season in Serie A after years of struggling, and Brozovic is just starting to find his best form. As things stand, the club’s clause to buy him at the end of the season looks like a steal, and it’s hard to believe the Nerazzurri would balk at paying €5 million for such a talented young player.

The suggestion sounds almost as odd as the fact he could be available for just €20 million, as someone will still have to pay Dinamo the €5 million when his loan deal expires.

Inter are finally starting to find some success again after years of disappointment―the last thing they’ll be thinking of right now is selling some of the young talent responsible for this.

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The Coppa Italia treats football to an extra edition of the Derby della Mole in the Round of 16

Date: Wednesday, December 16

Time: 8:45 local time, 7:45 UK time, 2:45 EST

Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin

TV Info: No live U.S. or UK feeds

Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect

Juventus are back.

After a horrific start to the season saw them lose more games in 10 weeks than they did throughout the entirety of last season, the Bianconeri are rocketing their way up the table.  A 1-0 loss to Sassuolo saw the team’s leaders call out the rest of the players to pick up their game—especially captain Gianluigi Buffon, speaking to the club website (via Sky Sports).

Their next league game happened to be the season’s first Turin derby.  Although they took the lead through a Paul Pogba screamer 20 minutes in, Cesare Bovo equalized just after halftime, and the game turned into an uninspiring slog that didn’t look like it was going to end with a win for either team.

Then Juve’s season turned around in the blink of an eye.  Alex Sandro’s cross looked to have missed everyone in the box, only to bounce off of Juan Cuadrado’s rear end and trickle into the net.  It was an eerie copy of last season’s game between the two at the Juventus Stadium, when Andrea Pirlo’s long-range screamer gave Juve a 2-1 victory with only four seconds left in the match.

The win kicked off a run that turned the Serie A title race on it’s head.  Sunday’s 3-1 win over Fiorentina was the team’s sixth straight in the league.  They were in 12th place at the beginning of that streak, 11 points behind then-leaders Roma.  They have now nearly halved that deficit, having climbed to fourth place, only six points behind leaders Inter Milan.

Torino’s season has been the inverse.  They started the season with a 4-1-1 record and were in third place after their 2-1 victory over Palermo at the end of September.  But they spent the next six games without a win, losing four of those matches.

The run dumped them to mid-table, currently sitting in 11th place. However, they have a game in hand, after their match with Sassuolo was postponed due to fog, and could vault as high as seventh if they win the rescheduled match.

Now, though, the two teams’ focus turns to each other.  Torino have shown over the last two seasons that they can hang with their neighbors again.  They forced miracle finishes from the Bianconeri on their last two visits to the Juventus Stadium and finally beat them in the return match last year for the first time since they did the double over them in the 1994-95.

Juve will have to be on their guard, but expect both teams to rotate a bit midweek, especially Juve, who have finally completed a grueling group-stage campaign in the Champions League.  History isn’t on their side here.  In spite of their general dominance of the Derby della Mole as a whole, Juve have never directly eliminated Torino from this tournament.

Form Lines

*UEFA Champions League match.

**Last scheduled match at Sampdoria postponed due to fog, rescheduled match reportedly will be in January.

***Coppa Italia match

Projected Lineups

Key Players

Alvaro Morata has been playing from the bench for the better part of a month now.  Part of that stems from the fact that Mario Mandzukic has been scoring with regularity; part of it stems from the fact that his hot start to the season has fallen off.

Morata started in last week’s Champions League group-stage finale against Sevilla when Mandzukic was struck down by the flu, and it was obvious that the lack of playing time had eroded his sharpness.  He missed several good chances, including at least one where it was harder to miss than score.

To be fair to the young Spaniard, Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico turned in one of the best performances in recent Champions League history that night, and the fact that Morata was in dangerous positions and missing the target by fractions was better than him being anonymous.

Morata needs to be allowed to play himself back into form, and judging from his performance last week, he probably isn’t that far off.  Fortunately, the Coppa tends to trigger a good amount of squad rotation, especially in deeper squads like Juve’s.  Morata will likely be given the majority of the game and may be able to make the kind of statement that will put him back in the conversation for the starting lineup.

On the other end, look for Bruno Peres to continue tormenting Juve’s left flank.  His stunning solo goal last year at the Juventus Stadium looked good enough for a point before Pirlo’s heroics, and his continued marauding down the flank has given the Bianconeri problems every time he has started against them.

The Brazilian wing-back could end up in a one-on-one duel with Alex Sandro for possession of that side of the field—and the winner of that battle could go a long way toward winning his team the war.

Key Matchup

Win the midfield battle and you almost always win the game.  For the men who will likely be playing in front of their respective defenses on Wednesday, winning that battle will be the imperative.

If anyone doubted how important Claudio Marchisio is to Juventus, those doubts should be dispelled now.  The midfielder has been a part of the club since joining their academy at the age of eight and has lived this derby as both a fan and a player his entire life.

Juve’s terrible form at the start of the season coincided directly with Marchisio’s absence due to a leg injury.  The midfield ended up seriously unbalanced, and without him there, Paul Pogba tried to do too much to compensate.

Now that Marchisio is back, the entire team has a calmness that they lacked at the beginning of the year.  Il Principino doesn’t play the regista system the same way Pirlo did, but his method still works.  While the team may occasionally miss the devastating channel-runs he made when he played box-to-box with Pirlo in front of the defense, it’s now clear that without where he is now, they’re a shell of themselves.

The man he’s likely to face is Giuseppe Vives.  The 35-year-old midfielder has been a top performer this year.  According to WhoScored.com, he’s completed 85.7 percent of his passes and averaged 3.3 tackles and 2.2 interceptions.

Giampiero Ventura isn’t the kind of coach to pack and defend, especially not in a derby.  Vives will be a key factor in whether Torino can keep the midfield under control.  If he succeeds in stopping up the middle of the park and forcing Juve’s attack wide, the Granata will take a major step toward neutralizing their rivals.

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Chelsea legend Frank Lampard believes changes need to be made at Stamford Bridge if the Blues are to recover their disastrous 2015-16 season.

The defending Premier League champions fell to their ninth defeat of the term at Leicester City on Monday and they now sit in 16th place, just a point above the relegation zone.

Lampard is unsure whether Jose Mourinho will be relieved of his position as manager following Chelsea’s latest humbling, but he is adamant that something has to change, per Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (via ESPN FC’s Liam Twomey):

Chelsea, in a bad year, should be top six, still there or thereabouts. Where they are at the moment is impossible. I don’t know whether [Mourinho]’s lost them but something has to change right now, whether it’s the attitude or the performance. 

That’s only one man’s decision [to change the manager], and that will be Roman Abramovich. He’s probably looking at it very closely. 

We’ve been here before at Chelsea where managers change in the middle of the season. I don’t know how many times you can do that. We had some good results from doing it before but we had a different set of players at that point.

A two-time Premier League winner under Mourinho at Chelsea, Lampard, 37, ruled out any possibility of Chelsea finishing in the top six this season, but he indicated that a rash change in manager may not be beneficial in the long term.

However, the relationship between Mourinho and his players seems to be souring further after the Portuguese admitted to feeling “betrayed” by Monday’s performance in which Chelsea lost 2-1 to the league-leading Foxes, per the Times‘ Oliver Kay:

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, also speaking on Monday Night Football, said either the manger needs to go or sweeping squad changes have to be made if Chelsea are to get back on track, via MailOnline’s Matt Morlidge:

There’s obviously a big divide between the players and the manager and it’s up to Roman Abramovich. Whose side does he pick? They can’t come back together now and make Chelsea a great team and win things. I’d be very, very surprised if that happens next season. Either the manager won’t be there, or they’ll have to completely change the players because I don’t think there’s any way these players and manager can work together for a long period of time.

Any chance of the west London outfit finishing the season in the top four is seemingly now gone—Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe believed as much even before Monday’s defeat:

Therefore, unless the Blues can win this season’s Champions League, they are likely to spend at least a term absent from Europe’s premier club competition.

The Europa League may also be out of reach for them now, and this could play into Mourinho’s hands.

Given a season to focus only on domestic competition, the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss could have the time and space to return Chelsea to the top of the Premier League again.

Major changes will need to be made and Mourinho does not have a history of staying in the same role for a long time, but he could yet turn things around at Chelsea if given time.

While Blues owner Abramovich has not been historically patient with under-performing managers, Mourinho’s contract until 2019 may prevent the Russian from swinging the axe just yet.

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Barcelona’s attempts to bolster their already lethal attacking line have gathered pace, with Paris Saint-Germain star Ezequiel Lavezzi reportedly edging closer to making the switch to the Camp Nou.

The Argentina forward’s contract in the French capital runs out at the end of the 2015/16 campaign, and according to Sky Sport Italia, Lavezzi’s agent Alejandro Mazzoni met up with Barca sporting director Roberto Fernandez to mull over a free transfer—via Goal.

Where exactly he fits in at Barcelona will have fans scratching their heads, though.

It’s fair to say that no player in world football would get into Barcelona’s starting 11 ahead of the dynamic attacking trio of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi right now. Would Cristiano Ronaldo even get a place in the team?

So, it’s a life on the substitutes’ bench that would await Lavezzi if he headed for Catalonia. Manager Luis Enrique’s rotation policy could give the Argentinian a few chances in domestic cups and in Europe, yet he wouldn’t exactly be the first name on the teamsheet.

That much is difficult for any player to take. And as Goal reported, both Juventus and Inter Milan are also keen on landing the 30-year-old, who would likely offer a lot more regular first-team football back in Italy.

Besides, Lavezzi is still good enough to be starting for a top European side despite chances being few and far between for PSG. Here’s a reminder of what the forward can bring to the table:

It seems that Enrique and Co. will have to get to work quickly if they’re to land Lavezzi, too, as Mazzoni told Gazzetta TV that he’s in contact with two Serie A giants—via Football Italia:

Juventus and Inter? I’m in contact with their directors, I know them well but there’s no hurry. I’m in Rome at the moment, but there’s nothing new. It’s normal that a player like Lavezzi, out of contract in June, is attractive to many, there are a lot of clubs who are looking at him to understand the situation. A renewal with PSG? No, I don’t think so, but in football you never know. He has a contract with PSG until the end of the season, and he should see it out. Then we’ll see.

It’s true that Lavezzi is a, sort of, upgrade on the so far unconvincing back-up duo of Munir and Sandro, but unless first-team football is assured, the Argentinian may look away from the Camp Nou.

One player who reportedly would happily play the understudy role at Barcelona, however, is Alexandre Pato, per reports in Brazil, via Spanish outlet Marca.

The report stated that Pato would be prepared to act as a stand-in choice for one of Messi, Suarez or Neymar, and Barca are now said to be preparing a bid of €10-15 million to get the 26-year-old on their books.

Barcelona look destined for domestic and European glory this term, yet there are still a few holes in their squad that need to be plugged if such success is to continue.

Having a willing back-up to the club’s three striking amigos would be a great place to start for Fernandez and Enrique, and landing one of Pato or Lavezzi would certainly be good business.

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Manchester United hope to solve their plummet in form with the January transfer window capture of Valencia midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, exploiting Gary Neville’s appointment as manager of the La Liga giants.

The Red Devils lost once again on Saturday, folding against Bournemouth in the Premier League, and the pressure is on coach Louis van Gaal to find a new direction after the Christmas period. 

James Gray of the Express, relaying reports in Italy, claimed the Red Devils will focus efforts to capture the Algeria international and will use former player Neville’s new status at the Mestalla to their benefit. 

Italian publication Tuttosport (h/t talkSPORT) claimed Inter Milan will rival United for the signature of the winger, whose deal with Valencia runs out at the end of the current campaign. Fenerbahce are also thought to be preparing a January bid for Feghouli.

However, with Neville installed as the boss at one of Spain’s biggest clubs, United have a unique connection to their transfer target. 

Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t Metro’s Jamie Sanderson) reported United will offer a strong wage package to the Algerian as Chelsea wait in the wings to also approach the player.

Here is a video of the player’s best moments of 2015:

Van Gaal admitted he needs to add pace and creativity to his team, but has been forced to turn to other options within his squad to balance his starting XI, as quoted by the Express‘ Joe Short:

I have said already in my first year many times we need speed and creativity on the wings.

You have seen that now we play with Jesse Lingard and he is not the most speedy winger in the world and [Juan] Mata is also not the most speedy winger in the world.

So first we must first finish that problem and then we can see how we have to play and how we are in balance with playing with speedy wingers.

Short suggested United could opt to move for Leicester City attacker Riyad Mahrez and said the “temptations of playing European football may be too much for the ace.” But the player’s agent, Kamel Bengougam, declared Mahrez will remain with the Foxes for now, per Short.

Feghouli would be a cost-effective signing for United, and his contract situation means clubs will be able to approach him with offers in the new year. Valencia will not want to lose the winger for free in the summer, and as LvG is desperate to add creativity, the stars seem aligned for the player to move to Old Trafford. 

The attacking midfielder has been restricted in his appearances this season, suffering with a foot injury, per Gray. He has made 15 appearances in La Liga and Europe combined this season but has only provided three goals as Valencia crashed out of the Champions League, according to WhoScored.com.

These statistics will not impress United fans, but his availability will be the driving factor behind any deal, not his current form. 

In other news, United full-back Guillermo Varela could leave the club in January after reports suggested Napoli will bid for the young defender.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport (h/t Sean Kearns of Metro) said the Serie A club are interested in signing the 22-year-old, who has only just broken into the United first team after arriving in June 2013 during David Moyes’ failed tenure as manager.

Varela has impressed in a United shirt—despite the team’s crash in form—but the Naples club could offer the player increased playing time.

The Uruguayan is unlikely to remain in the starting XI at Old Trafford when Van Gaal’s first-choice defence recovers its collective health, pushing the player out of the matchday squad.

Feghouli is an exciting talent, but it is questionable whether he is the answer to United’s issues.

He is widely respected in Spain as a dangerous attacking player, but to have a midseason impact at a huge club such as United would be a hard task for the Algerian. 

The player would fit LvG’s favoured formations and would offer the work rate the manager demands of his players.

Juan Mata has been given the job on the right side of the attack this season, but Feghouli is a more natural winger who would hug the touchline, worrying opposition full-backs.

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Napoli midfielder Dries Mertens is said to be frustrated at his club and has delayed renewing his contract with the Serie A team, opening the door for Liverpool. 

Calciomercato claim Partenopei manager Maurizio Sarri has upset the apple cart in Naples, with Mertens feeling he “doesn’t want to be a third wheel anymore,” and “wants a bigger role.”

Liverpool were recently linked with a move for the Belgium international, but the claims were quickly denied by the player’s representatives. 

Mertens’ agent Soren Lerby spoke to FCInterNews (h/t Mirror‘s James Whaling), and he said his client will not complete a move away from Napoli this January: “I have heard these rumours but there is absolutely nothing concrete. We are not talking about these rumours. Dries is not leaving Napoli in January.”

However, news of the player’s contract delay will enthuse Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, as he runs the rule over the former PSV Eindhoven operator. 

Inter Milan are also interested in Mertens’ services, as are a number of Premier League clubs, per Calciomercato.

Mertens has in the past had success as a No. 10, but Belgian football expert John Chapman suggested the player’s optimal position is out wide:

The attacker can play across the midfield and will fulfil different functions within a team.

The 28-year-old has been in fine fettle in front of goal this season, scoring six times in 14 appearances in Serie A and Europe, according to WhoScored.com.

However, Mertens has started from the bench during eight of his appearances in the Italian league. 

Here is video of the player’s recent best moments in a Napoli shirt:

In other news, Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland is “attracting attention” from Liverpool and Manchester United, as the England international proves to be one of Europe’s burgeoning talents.

Former Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen told Omnisport (h/t FourFourTwo) he is “unsure” if Butland is prepared or ready to leave the Potters:

It’s hard to judge [if Butland will join a bigger club].

I talked to him a couple of years ago when he joined Stoke. He was third choice and very frustrated.

He is young and eager and wanted to play. I told him to wait your time, work hard, which he has done and he is now reaping the benefits.

It was the right thing. He went and got some experience at Championship clubs and waited his time. He has been tremendous for them this season.

Butland has arguably been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season, and his displays have matched the likes of David De Gea and Co. 

He is in line to become England’s first choice in the years ahead, and possesses a credible threat to Joe Hart’s status as No. 1. 

However, current goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has been described by Klopp as “one of the smartest keepers I’ve ever had,” as quoted by the Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce. 

Mignolet’s form will dictate if the Reds search for a new entity between the sticks for next season, but Klopp is sure to keep his eye on Butland and his outstanding development as it continues.

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Chelsea have been named as one of a clutch of clubs reportedly chasing Monaco’s midfield starlet, Bernardo Silva, although he could cost a whopping £21.7 million in the January transfer window.

According to Tuttosport (h/t Tom Coast of Sport Witness), the Blues, Juventus and Inter Milan are all keeping an eye on the Portugal international. The 21-year-old has been superb since signing for Monaco and is rated as one of the finest young playmakers in the game. However, it’s claimed there’s a €30 million (£21.7 million) valuation of the youngster.

There’s definitely an argument to suggest Silva would be worth that kind of money, though. Here’s a look at the kind of talent the young man possesses:

Anyone who tuned into the European Under-21 Championships during the summer will recall just how impressive a player Silva is. He has an understanding of the game that belies his tender years, is technically tremendous and can fulfill a variety of different tactical roles in the team, whether playing centrally or floating in from the flanks.

As WhoScored.com showcase here, during that competition, he was devastating with the ball at his feet:

Chelsea could certainly do with a player who would add that kind of guile to their forward forays. At the moment, Jose Mourinho’s side are looking blunt up top, with Diego Costa ponderous and the players who supplied the bullets so frequently last season completely out of sync with him.

Indeed, even Eden Hazard, Chelsea’s standout performer in a wonderful 2014-15 campaign, has been badly out of form. Squawka Football illustrates just how poor the Belgian has been lately when compared to his usual high standards:

Even so, spending big to bring in Silva wouldn’t be the answer for the Blues midseason. The Portuguese would surely jump at the chance to play for an established elite side like Chelsea and under the tutelage of his compatriot, Mourinho. But after some patchy showings in Ligue 1 so far this term, it’s clear he’s still rough around the edges.

The Premier League would be far too steep of a learning curve for Silva to come in and make the immediate impact Chelsea require at this point. Nonetheless, in the future, he’s definitely a player to keep a close eye on.

Chinese Super League Want John Terry

According to Sami Mokbel of the Mail Online, John Terry is a target for Chinese Super League teams, as the division seeks to grow its brand. Mokbel writes Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney is the league’s primary aim, citing a potential £75 million deal from Shanghai SIPG. However, their interest in the Chelsea captain is also noted.

Terry, who has been in and out of the Blues team this season, could sign for a new club as early as January, with his contract to expire at Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign.

It’d be a big blow for Chelsea if they were to lose their captain, even if he is now 35 years old. As noted by the Premier League Twitter feed, he’s long been a brilliant player for the Blues:

It’s his influence around the club that will be tough to replicate, too. Terry has been at the heart of many successful Chelsea teams and knows exactly what it means to don the all-blue strip. Should he leave, players with a connection to the supporters and emotive ties to the club, like he has, will be scarce.

That’s something every team needs if they’re to be a success over time. As we can see here courtesy of OptaJoe, Chelsea are lacking in English players, which will be a worry for some supporters:

However, from Terry’s perspective, it’d be wise to consider options. While he may not be able to play at the elite level for much longer, should he move abroad to a league like the CSL or Major League Soccer in the United States, he could still be a useful player. He’d get paid handsomely for it, too.

Chelsea would be wise to keep the defender on board in some capacity. Mourinho’s side is lacking in leaders beyond their current figurehead. And with no new candidates for the captaincy emerging this season, another year around the club would be preferable. Doing so would make the transition easier once Terry does eventually decide to call it a day with the Blues.

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Chelsea are set to face significant competition from Manchester United this summer in the race to sign John Stones, as the Red Devils are reportedly preparing to break the bank to land the Everton defender.

According to the Independent‘s Mark Ogden, United are ready to offer £50 million for the centre-back—a world-record fee for a defender—and with Chelsea struggling, believe they are in the driving seat to prise him away from Goodison Park.

The news of their determination to get their man will come as a serious blow to Chelsea, who sorely need defensive reinforcement to help them get back to their best.

Their back line is still capable of producing impressive performances, per Squawka Football:

However, such displays have been the exception rather than the rule in this campaign, and the results are there for all to see:

Indeed, the Blues have conceded 24 goals in 15 Premier League games and have already lost eight games—just one fewer than Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City’s combined total of nine.

Stones would be an exceptional candidate to revamp their back line.

BBC Sport’s Ryan Evans believes the 21-year-old should be a key fixture for England:

The Times‘ Henry Winter noted his comfort on the ball:

Indeed, his composure in possession is more reminiscent of a continental defender than an English player, but the youngster is also capable of using his physicality well, having won 55 percent of his tackles and 58 percent of his headed duels in the Premier League, according to Squawka.

United have slightly less need for Stones having been solid at the back this season with just 10 goals conceded in the league.

However, as Ogden also noted, Stones’ capture would fit in with United’s wider pattern of recruiting top young talent—including the likes of Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay and Luke Shaw—to prepare for the future and long-term success.

Further, they’d be remiss not to pursue one of the brightest young stars in English and indeed European football when they have a realistic chance of acquiring him, and Stones would make an excellent candidate to partner Chris Smalling.

Chelsea’s crisis isn’t likely to last more than one season, though, so even if they miss out on the Champions League next year it’s not likely to have a large impact on Stones’ decision when he’s inevitably offered long-term deals by both clubs.

The Blues have been dealt a further blow in the transfer market as they seek to capture Boca Juniors forward Jonathan Calleri in January.

According to David Amoyal, translator for Gianlucadimarzio.com, Inter Milan and Bologna will “collaborate” to sign the 22-year-old, while Chelsea are “having issues getting the work permit” and don’t “seem able to close the deal.”

The striker, who bagged 21 goals and 11 assists in 2015, is one of the hottest properties in South America and could be the answer to the Blues’ other problem area—up front. 

However, it seems Chelsea could be set to miss out on the promising youngster, so they would be wise to line up other targets in case they’re unsuccessful in landing Calleri.

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