Trust counts for so much in football and when you lose Jose Mourinho‘s, you’re toast.

Just ask Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian is one of a long list of players who have failed to seize the opportunities the Chelsea boss has afforded them and within 12 months he has been sent packing from Stamford Bridge.

It may only be a loan move to Fiorentina, but his appearance against Bradford City in the FA Cup debacle last month is most certainly the last we’ll see of Salah in a Chelsea shirt.

Mourinho is a ruthless character. Football may be a team sport, but he is a manager who thinks about one thing: himself.

In some walks of life, that’s not a particularly endearing quality. In football, it can mean everything.

Behind the genius of Mourinho the coach is the burning desire for him to set records, to break records and, in the process, write his name into history.

He did it at Porto, at Chelsea, at Inter Milan and in Madrid. Now he’s back in west London, he’s on course to do it all again.

Without a playing career of any note, Mourinho‘s needed to use that desire to drive him. It’s been his greatest asset at times.

And when a player shows the slightest sign of weakness, he knows he can’t have him on board. The danger is too real that his ship will be blown off course.

Mourinho doesn’t do freeloaders and in the year he spent at Chelsea, Salah became one.

It’s not to suggest the Egyptian isn’t a talented player, it’s just that he isn’t a Mourinho player.

What the Chelsea manager often does is test those around him. He’ll put his goalkeepers under pressure to see how they react, for instance, like dropping Thibaut Courtois recently.

How has Courtois responded? By putting in one of his best performances in a Chelsea shirt when the Blues travelled to Parc des Princes to face Paris Saint-Germain last week.

The Belgian’s performance in the French capital told us plenty. We already knew he had the ability, but did he have the mettle to cope with Petr Cech breathing down his neck?

Mourinho got his answer.

With Cech hanging around this season, any doubts there may have been over Courtois have been lifted. Whether or not Cech remains a Chelsea player beyond the summer remains to be seen, but without playing frequently, his service has still been considerable to Mourinho this term.

It wasn’t about having two world-class goalkeepers; it was about Courtois‘ acid test.

When the same questions were put to Salah at Chelsea, he never answered them in the way his manager would have liked.

Indeed, he failed to live up to the challenge of competing with Eden Hazard and the rest of that vastly talented attacking midfield core that Chelsea possess.

That said plenty about his character, that when the big moments arrived, Salah couldn’t be depended on.

How can Mourinho build for success without knowing his players will deliver? It’s quite simple: he can’t.

Salah isn’t a winner and that’s at odds with what Mourinho is attempting to recreate at Chelsea.

If you’re of that ilk, you’re not worth much to Mourinho, not least the £11 million fee Chelsea paid FC Basel for Salah in January 2014.

It was a gamble for the club and player that has backfired.

Now, in the less intense and scrutinised surroundings of Florence, Salah seems to have got his mojo back. Just don’t ever expect it to return to Stamford Bridge.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report’s lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes

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Everton and Liverpool won their Europa League round of 32 clashes with relative ease on Thursday, while Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic only managed draws at home and face a real battle to advance to the next round in one week.

The Toffees beat Young Boys 4-1 in Switzerland and the Reds recorded a 1-0 win over Slaven Bilic’s Besiktas, but Celtic needed a late goal to secure a 3-3 draw against Inter Milan and Spurs were held by Fiorentina, 1-1.

Here are the full results for the first legs of the 2015 Europa League’s round of 32:

Mario Balotelli came off the bench to give Liverpool a 1-0 win over Besiktas, and while the clean sheet is a positive sign, the Reds dominated the Turks and should have given themselves more than a single-goal buffer.

As shared by Squawka football, Balotelli seems to favour the European competitions quite a bit:

Tottenham played out a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina, a fair result based on both teams’ performances. Spurs dominated the opening 30 minutes before the Italians restored balance, and the better chances late were certainly for the Viola.

Roberto Soldado opened the scoring just minutes into the contest, prompting social media to go crazy. Paddy Power joined in on the action:

Everton recorded a big 4-1 win over Young Boys in one of the early kickoffs, all but ensuring they’ll progress to the next round. Belgium international Romelu Lukaku bagged himself a hat-trick, putting together a fantastic performance, via Squawka:

The Toffees dominated the match from start to finish and deservedly walked away with the win, with the only downside to Thursday’s match being the red card and subsequent suspension for John Stones.

As shared by the club’s official Twitter feed, manager Roberto Mancini was proud of what his team accomplished on Thursday:

AS Roma only managed a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord in a highly entertaining contest the Giallorossi dominated for most of the night. Gervinho opened the scoring midway through the first half, but the Italians failed to build on their lead and will now have to overcome the away goal they conceded in Rotterdam.

Bas Dost has arguably been the most in-form striker of 2015 so far, and he added two more goals to his impressive collection in Wolfsburg’s 2-0 win over Sporting CP.

Per the club’s official Twitter feed, the Dutchman can do no wrong of late:

Napoli recorded a simple 4-0 win over Trabzonspor, who will need a miracle to qualify for the next round when they travel to Italy.

Celtic and Inter Milan played out a fantastic 3-3 draw, with John Guidetti saving the hosts with a late goal, setting up a fantastic scenario for the return leg at the San Siro.

The first half was a spectacle unlike any other, as Inter took a 2-0 lead in minutes before the hosts bridged the gap in no time. Fans had no time to breathe whatsoever, and Bleacher Report UK couldn’t help but feel for Celtic fans, who once again were pushed into the dumps when the Italians regained the lead before half-time:

The second half was less spectacular, but Guidetti‘s late equaliser means the Scots can advance with just a one-goal win in Italy.

Villarreal beat Salzburg 2-1, while Sevilla recorded a 1-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

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Summer is typically a busy period for Liverpool in terms of transfers, and manager Brendan Rodgers may well be looking to make considerable progress once more ahead of the 2015/16 season.

Nine players are likely to leave Liverpool in the summer, as The Telegraph‘s Chris Bascombe recently told AnfieldHQ (h/t This is Anfield).

As such, Rodgers will need to target several names once more.

Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert, Fabio Borini, Jose Enrique and Lucas Leiva could all be sold, while Glen Johnson, Kolo Toure, Brad Jones and Steven Gerrard are set to leave on the expiry of their contracts.

So how do Liverpool replace these departing names?

Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi tops our list, but who else makes our dream summer transfer window shopping list for Liverpool?

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Liverpool’s latest transfer rumours pose more questions than answers. Unless, that is, you already believe Micah Richards can revive his Premier League career, or Andre-Pierre Gignac can make the grade in England’s top flight.

Richards was once considered one of the country’s brightest young talents. But his fortunes soon stalled, and he’s now on loan at Serie A side Fiorentina.

The 26-year-old Manchester City flop is keen to return to English shores this summer, according to Mail Online writer Sami Mokbel. Liverpool are reportedly among five clubs interested in the one-time highly touted prospect, along with Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Everton and West Ham United.

Richards is still an intriguing player. He was brilliant as a precocious and athletic centre-back for City at the start of the 2007/08 campaign.

His bulky frame and pace seemed naturally at home in the middle. But rash decision-making and injury woes soon saw Richards pushed out wide to right-back.

While his inability to hold down one position may put many suitors off, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is likely to appreciate Richards’ versatility. The Anfield chief often changes his defensive structure from four at the back to a three-man line.

The latter formation requires centre-backs quick enough and comfortable on the ball to work in wide areas and build attacks from the back. Rodgers has struggled to find defenders fitting that mold.

Summer arrival Dejan Lovren has floundered. So has Mamadou Sakho. But Rodgers may be able to move on from both at a bargain price if he believes Richards will ever reach his potential.

Mokbel stated Richards will be keen on any move that grants him more playing time next season: “The right-back, currently on loan at Fiorentina, turned down a new five-year contract at Manchester City and will leave the club on a free transfer this summer as he seeks regular first-team football.”

Richards certainly needs a change of scenery. He’s made just 10 appearances in all competitions for La Viola this season, per WhoScored.com.

A move to Liverpool, a club with a manager not afraid to give domestic players a chance, would be a smart choice at this stage in Richards’ career.

Signing Gignac would prompt a little more head scratching. The towering Marseille striker could find himself pushed toward the exit door this summer as the Ligue 1 club starts lining up a replacement.

Daily Express reporter Bruce Archer has stated Marseille want Juventus‘ target man Fernando Llorente. The move is apparently based on the Stade Velodrome club’s belief Gignac could leave this summer, either for Liverpool or Premier League rival Arsenal.

Liverpool have have been linked with the 29-year-old attacker for some time, per Daily Express writer Ben Jefferson. Those links make sense based on Gignac‘s current form. He’s netted 16 goals this season, per WhoScored.com.

Stylistically, though, it’s tough to see where he’d fit in Rodgers’ brand of football. The Merseyside gaffer favours a quick, possession-based game with passes played between lines at pace and along the ground.

That hardly takes advantage of Gignac‘s aerial power. However, Rodgers could be looking for a riff on the current formula, a different way for Liverpool to attack.

That thinking was undoubtedly behind the summer purchase of Rickie Lambert. But the ex-Southampton centre-forward has struggled to make the grade.

Lambert was even close to a winter transfer move and swift exit away from Anfield, according to Liverpool Echo reporter James Pearce:

Gignac‘s technical quality is underrated, but he doesn’t seem a natural fit for Liverpool’s fast-paced, on-the-deck style of play.

By contrast, Richards seems like a risk worth taking for a club that’s had its share of defensive problems in recent seasons. Rodgers could be the one manager who can turn his game around. But it’s not clear how Gignac would help.

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Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann has urged his former club, as well as Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal, to make a bid for Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski.

The Poland international is reportedly unsettled in Bavaria, and following a series of disappointing performances, transfer rumours are swirling. Per Metro‘s Hannah Duncan, Hamann told Sky Sports Premier League clubs should capitalise:

At the moment United, Liverpool and even Arsenal… Lewandowski is tailor-made for them. He came to Bayern Munich on a free last year but if there was an opportunity to get him out I’d break the bank for him because I think he’s the best No. 9 in the world.

It’ a big question mark. There’s a question mark about the manager. There are still no assurances that he will be there, even though he’s got a contract.

I think the same goes for Lewandowski because the way the team plays under Guardiola, I don’t think it suits him. He was tailor-made for Dortmund and I think he’s tailor-made for two or three English teams where he can play on the counter attack on big pitches where he can run in behind.

Lewandowski was Bayern‘s marquee arrival of the summer, replacing Mario Mandzukic in the squad as the Croatia international departed for Atletico Madrid.

The 26-year-old had a bright start in Munich but started falling down the pecking order as time went along, as it seemed manager Pep Guardiola appeared to prefer other players for his intricate system.

As shared by The New York Times‘ Stefan Bienkowski, it’s becoming more and more clear that Guardiola no longer has full confidence in the Pole:

Lewandowski was a smash hit in Borussia Dortmund‘s system based around pace, high press and the counter-attack, where he excelled at finding the open spaces and positioning himself in front of goal.

Bayern‘s philosophy is built around passing and ball retention, however, taking away some of Lewandowski‘s biggest strengths: his speed, vision and timing.

Hamann‘s comments will undoubtedly unleash a storm of transfer articles and rumours, but it’s far too early to start speculating about Lewandowski‘s future. The Pole is struggling in his first year under Guardiola—that doesn’t mean the Spaniard is about to give up on him, or has any interest in selling.

Liverpool have been linked with another forward in recent weeks, as Inter Milan‘s Mauro Icardi has been the subject of transfer rumours following reports his contract extension talks aren’t going swimmingly.

Speaking to Calcio Mercato (h/t Liverpool Echo‘s Peter Guy), the Argentinian declared himself flattered by the Reds’ reported interest, although he currently has no intention of leaving the Nerazzurri. He said: “If the rumours about Liverpool are real, I would be honoured, because they are a big club, but I’m already in a great team where I can win something important.”

The rumours surrounding Icardi have gathered pace at an exceptional rate in the past week, and it’s difficult to see why. The 21-year-old has given no indication he plans on leaving, and Inter remain determined to keep him at the club.

It’s easy to see why they want to keep him—Icardi is having quite the season in Serie A, via Squawka football:

The forward is a fantastic player plying his trade for a young, talented side that has underperformed the past two years but looks to be headed for a bright future.

Inter would have no intention of selling their star striker unless he specifically asked for a transfer. As long as that doesn’t happen, it’s hard to see where these rumours keep coming from. Expect him to sign a new deal shortly, not demand a move to the Premier League.

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Speculation surrounding Chelsea‘s potential transfer move for West Ham United‘s Enner Valencia continues to increase, with the latest reports indicating the Blues are monitoring the Ecuador international’s situation ahead of a summer bid.

The Daily Star‘s Jonathan Green believes the 25-year-old’s contract contains a £20 million buyout clause:

The Ecuadorian was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge towards the end of the January transfer window but no move materialised.

But reports in Spain claim Blues boss Jose Mourinho is still monitoring the 25-year-old’s progress as he looks to strengthen his forward line this summer.

[…]It was reported earlier this month that Valencia has a £20m buy-out clause in his contract which the Blues could look to activate this summer.

Valencia is not the only striker Chelsea have been watching, with Inter’s Mauro Icardi, Palermo‘s Paulo Dybala and Bournemouth‘s Callum Wilson possible alternatives.

The report has to be taken with a grain of salt—Spanish reports of an English team expressing an interest in a player plying his trade for another English team always do—but the link isn’t new and has been reported in the British press before, via the Metro (h/t Daily Mirror‘s Aaron Flanagan).

The striker hasn’t been particularly productive during the 2014-15 season, with just three Premier League goals so far, per WhoScored.com. But the Ecuadorian does all the little things well playing up front, and he has been pivotal in the Hammers’ excellent campaign.

According to MailSport (h/t West Ham Central), West Ham are already eyeing a potential replacement, someone fans of the Blues are quite familiar with:

While it would make sense for Jose Mourinho to prioritise the striker position during the summer transfer window, given the advanced age of Didier Drogba and Loic Remy’s early struggles at Stamford Bridge, Valencia’s proposed transfer seems unlikely at this point in time.

A £20 million buyout clause is a stupendous amount of money for a limited forward who doesn’t score with regularity, and if West Ham are serious about replacing him with Romelu Lukaku—which comes across as even more unlikely—they wouldn’t budge on that price tag too much.

Green mentioned the link with Inter Milan‘s Mauro Icardi, and while the Argentinian seems destined to stay at the San Siro, he would be the type of target who fits the profile of a club like Chelsea more than Valencia, who seems to be in the perfect situation in east London.

Another option is Brazilian wunderkind Robert Kenedy, but according to the Daily Express’ David Wright, Manchester United are positioning themselves to strike first. The Blues have an advantage, however:

However, the Red Devils could miss out on Kenedy, with the 19-year-old previously revealing his desire to play for Chelsea.

The youngster appreciates compatriots Oscar and Ramires at the club, with Filipe Luis, Willian and Diego Costa joining since.

“Of course I am happy to play for Fluminense but it is my ambition to one day play in Europe”, he said. “I like Chelsea because of players like Oscar and Ramires. I like the whole team.”

The Fluminense man is already being called “the next Neymar,” although all he shares with the Barcelona forward is his nationality and the fact he plays as a wide man. In terms of style and build, he reminds more of Hulk. Selecao Brasileira also doesn’t understand the comparisons to Neymar:

Kenedy is a bright talent, combining excellent athleticism with solid technique and a very powerful left foot. He’s raw and inconsistent, and he was disappointing during the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship, where he managed just one goal.

The teenager still has lots of developing to do, and a move across the pond would be ill-advised at this point. He’s a regular starter at Fluminense, and it will greatly aid his development if he stays in his native Brazil for another season or two.

Chelsea like to deal for young starlets and stash them out on loan for a couple of years, but usually, those players don’t return to the club and have a real impact. Delaying a move for Kenedy seems like the wiser option.

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Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has urged Paul Pogba to dismiss the reported interest of Manchester United and join the Blues from Juventus.

Anelka, who won four trophies with Chelsea between 2008-12, believes Pogba can play in any division, but has told the starlet to join one of his two former clubs, per France Football (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Express):

Paul technically knows everything and he has the qualities to play anywhere. My preference is for him to join Chelsea, who have very strong players and the financial power of [Roman] Abramovich. Also Real Madrid, who are one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the greatest. He would grow a lot under Carlo Ancelotti.

Pogba is currently the subject of fierce speculation. As noted by Chapman, the likes of Chelsea and United are suggested to be front-runners for his signature, while Ben Jefferson of the same publication suggests Paris Saint-Germain could also be in the mix.

Mino Raiola, Pogba‘s agent, previously suggested any suitors will need to stump up in excess of £85 million to convince Juve to sell.

“If the right time comes this summer, then it will happen,” said Raiola, reported by Telefoot (h/t Kieran Gill of the MailOnline). “If it is not the right time, he could stay for another year or two. He will beat the transfer record. If there is one Mona Lisa in the world, and she is for sale, it will be a record price.”

B/R UK’s Ryan Bailey and Jonathan Johnson recently discussed whether Pogba could become football’s first £100 million player:

Jose Mourinho has proven himself conscious of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules in recent times. Juan Cuadrado’s arrival was met with Andre Schurrle’s departure, while Juan Mata and Kevin De Bruyne were pushed through the door in January 2014 to make way for Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah.

Let’s not forget the £50 million exit of David Luiz, which helped fund Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas‘ arrivals in the summer.

As such, it could be difficult to raise in excess of £85 million without significantly impacting the squad. Pogba is a terrific young player—a current superstar and future legend if he continues to improve—but a world-record transfer could be problematic for the west London club.

Mourinho may be better off focusing on another Serie A target in Mauro Icardi. Constantly linked to a host of teams in recent weeks, per the Mirror, the Argentinian striker recently hinted he would be willing to move to the Premier League.

His comments were reported by Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News: “I’m not interested in rumours, what counts is winning with Inter,” said Icardi. “If the ones about United, Chelsea and Liverpool were real, I would be honoured, because they are big clubs, but I’m already in a great team where I can win something important.”

Icardi is currently one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe after bagging himself 15 goals with Inter Milan this season, per WhoScored.com. Football writer Adam Digby recently commented on Icardi‘s quality during Inter’s win over Atalanta, which the 21-year-old missed through illness:

Mourinho has built a physical, well-rounded squad which possesses depth in every area. Pogba and Icardi would slot in well, but there’s no doubt major outgoings would have to follow. The Portuguese manager is always itching to improve, so he will monitor his players closely as the business end of the season approaches.

Pogba‘s departure from Juve would likely be the biggest, most expensive transfer of the summer if it goes ahead. With over a decade of top-level football left in him, Pogba is likely to reach his peak at his next club.

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Arsene Wenger is reportedly “ready” to act on Arsenal’s interest in Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons, a player who “has been watched by Arsenal scouts on various occasions in the last two years,” according to Spanish publication Fichajes (translated by Jamie Sanderson of the Metro).

Sanderson suggested Gonalons is “expected to leave” in the summer. The 25-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season with Lyon, who are currently two points clear atop Ligue 1. Gonalons averages 4.1 tackles and 2.8 interceptions per match across 24 appearances in the domestic division, as recorded by WhoScored.com.

He has largely been deployed in defensive midfield this campaign—an area Arsenal desperately need to galvanise—and could represent a cheaper alternative to the likes of Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin. Sanderson indicates Gonalons will set suitors back £14.8 million.

The 25-year-old could be brought in as a potential replacement for Santi Cazorla, who continues to be linked with a switch to Atletico Madrid.

Sky Sports’ Guillem Balague recently confirmed the Spanish club are looking to secure Cazorla‘s future, telling Revista de La Liga: “Atletico are convinced that they can persuade the player to join them. Then they just have to pay the money.”

Gonalons is a different type of player—he’s a destroyer—but possesses the passing quality to fit in with Wenger‘s side. He has completed 89.3 percent of his passes this season, per WhoScored.com, executing an average of seven long balls per game. Although the Frenchman rarely offers a goal threat, he is extremely useful around the halfway line and can also play in defence.

Wenger may also be in the market for a prolific striker. Tancredi Palmeri of beIN Sports recently suggested the club are working on a deal for Palermo’s Paulo Dybala, citing Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport:

The same publication suggests Inter Milan will step into the Dybala conversation, per 101 Great Goals:

This could make things difficult for Arsenal. Inter owner Erick Thohir continues to invest in quality players, signing the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Marcelo Brozovic during the winter transfer window, not to mention Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski on loan.

Dybala would be costly—Metro (h/t James Whaling of the Mirror) believe he could cost £29.5 million—but a powerful owner can make such a deal happen. Fellow Serie A side Napoli have also been linked with the Argentinian, but Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini believes no Italian club can afford to pay his fee, as reported by talkSPORT:

His future? The problem is not the boy but his agents. I am sorry for this. I’ve been to London and I have received calls from all over Europe. I would be happy Napoli bought him, but I don’t think he is within their reach. Dybala is out of reach of all Italian companies.

Dybala‘s likely exit is destined to be among the summer’s most interesting transfer stories. B/R UK’s Ryan Bailey and Matteo Bonetti recently discussed a handful of other potential moves:

It’s been years since Arsenal possessed a squad which could legitimately challenge for the Premier League title, so supporters may wish to see the likes of Gonalons added without losing a key player. Wenger needs to hold onto his stars, players such as Cazorla, to give the Gunners an excellent chance of success.

He has spent lavishly over the previous two summers—signing Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez—and can be expected to splash the cash once again at the end of the season.

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Juventus are reportedly “keen” on signing Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, a player who is said to have triggered the interest of Chelsea and Manchester United in recent weeks.

Bruce Archer of the Daily Express suggests the Serie A champions are “plotting a summer move” to lure Icardi to Turin. The 21-year-old is currently the division’s No. 2 scorer this season with 13 goals, eclipsed only by Juve frontman Carlos Tevez, per WhoScored.com. 

Archer suggests Icardi is being eyed as a replacement for Didier Drogba and potentially Loic Remy. It’s difficult to decipher how Jose Mourinho would flit between four strikers when he rarely deploys more than one at any given time, so any attacking arrival is likely to be met with someone being pushed out.

Drogba‘s age and diminishing effectiveness make him a prime candidate to depart, while it may be smart for Remy to move on in search of first-team football. The Frenchman has started just three Premier League matches this season, per WhoScored.com, all of which have been out of necessity when Diego Costa was either injured or suspended.

Icardi recently sat out of Inter’s 4-1 win over Atalanta due to illness. Despite the heavy victory, football writer Adam Digby noted how noticeable his absence was:

Mourinho will likely have to work extremely hard to land the player and satisfy UEFA’s financial fair play rules. Archer indicates Icardi will cost in the region of £30 million and that Manchester United are following his progress.

United could also stand in the way of Mourinho finally signing Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane, per the Daily Mirror, via Uche Amako of the Daily Express.

Amaka reports Varane is becoming “increasingly unsettled” with his bit-part role at the Bernabeu. He suggests United boss Louis van Gaal has identified the centre-back as an “attainable target,” particularly because a bid of £25 million “could tempt” Los Blancos to sell.

It seems unlikely such a little fee would capture a player of Varane‘s quality, though. Mourinho knows exactly what Varane is about—having signed him for Madrid—and previously suggested he is among the best young defenders in the world, alongside Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma. 

Ben Jefferson of the Express reported Mourinho‘s comments:

I think the French Federation should write me a letter to thank me because I think they have now the best two young central defenders in the world. I’m not saying the best because there are young, there are obviously end products, mature players 24, 25, 28, 30 years old.

But as young defenders can you imagine what Varane and Zouma can represent in football in a couple of years.

Mourinho recently tied up the future of another young worldbeater in the shape of Eden Hazard. The Belgian’s new five-and-a-half-year contract hasn’t stopped admiration pouring in from Paris Saint-Germain.

Colin Harvey of the Daily Star reports comments from Brazilian defender Thiago Silva. “He [Hazard] is not just good, he is very good,” said Silva. “If he really comes, [he] will be very welcome.”

Hazard recently confirmed he has never considered moving to the Parc des Princes. “Personally, there has never been anything with PSG,” he revealed to French television station TF1, per Ian Holyman of ESPN FC. “I knew from the start I wanted to stay (at Chelsea). I don’t want to move, I’m good here.”

WhoScored.com highlighted exactly why Hazard is important to Chelsea’s chances of success:

B/R UK’s Garry Hayes also believes the former Lille star is untouchable for elite clubs:

Chelsea and PSG come head-to-head on Tuesday night when the English side travel to France for the Champions League round-of-16 first leg. Both sides won their home ties when the pair met in last season’s quarter-finals, but a Hazard-inspired Chelsea have massively improved since then.

With players such as Icardi and Varane linked to a summer switch to Stamford Bridge, it’s not outlandish to suggest Mourinho‘s squad will keep improving across the next year too.

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Fresh from qualifying for the FA Cup quarter-final, Manchester United appears ready to put some summer-transfer plans into action. Chief among those plans is a potential move for Real Madrid‘s touted young centre-back Raphael Varane.

The Red Devils will also target precocious Brazilian forward Kenedy. He’s been dubbed the “new Neymar” by some.

But it’s interest in Varane that should have United fans most excited. He’s reportedly “unsettled” as he struggles for playing time in the Spanish capital, according to Daily Mirror reporter John Cross, who notes both United and Chelsea are watching the situation.

As a combative and ultra-athletic young defender, he’s exactly the kind of star presence at the back United need. Varane is widely considered one of the brightest talents at his position in Europe.

Oddly enough though, one man who doesn’t seem to share that view is Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach still prefers to trust veteran pairing Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

It doesn’t help that whenever Varane has seen the pitch, he’s hardly done much to change Ancelotti’s mind. His latest woes came during Los Merengues’ 4-0 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Varane’s place as a regular on the bench naturally has some of Europe’s best maintaining an interest. But it’s United’s Premier League rival Chelsea who could have the inside track.

After all, it was Blues boss Jose Mourinho who gave Varane his chance in Madrid. The Stamford Bridge outfit has recently been linked with a £35 million summer bid for the 21-year-old, per Daily Express reporter Tony Banks.

United can certainly compete with that level of fiscal outlay. But manager Louis van Gaal would also have to be able to offer the lure of UEFA Champions League football.

As a budding young star, Varane fits the template for the kind of players Van Gaal wants to build his new-look United squad around.

So does youthful South American ace Kenedy. United are eager to beat Serie A side Inter Milan to a deal worth as much as £5 million for the Fluminense sensation, per Daily Star reporter Jonathan Green.

He notes how United already have the inside track with the Rio de Janeiro club, thanks to the deal to sign Fabio and Rafael Da Silva back in 2007. But United’s connection may be deeper still.

A Sport Witness report traced the original source of the Kenedy rumour to a Sambafoot article by Frederic Fausser, citing an unnamed Fluminense Youth trainer. Sport Witness also claims the presence of Marcelo Teixeira, who still works with United’s Brazilian delegation, as a key factor in this deal.

Van Gaal has made giving young talent a chance a focus of his rebuilding project at Old Trafford. He’s offered opportunities to defenders Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett, along with striker James Wilson.

United also signed 20-year-old Sadiq El Fitouri and 21-year-old Andy Kellett during the winter-transfer window. Adding Kenedy to the ranks would give Van Gaal another enticing prospect to develop.

But it’s Varane who’d have more immediate value. United have failed to adequately replace Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence.

Varane could be the building block the Red Devils need. Playing at a club with more belief in his overall ability would surely help the Frenchman reach his undoubted potential.

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