Chelsea looking to add Sergio Ramos in January
(Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
Chelsea have gotten off to a great start in the 2012-13 English Premier League and see themselves occupying the top spot as they go into their game this afternoon. Some of their early season success can be attributed to new acquisitions, especially Eden Hazard. If spending just over 100 million euros in a single transfer window wasn’t enough, Chelsea are looking to bring in one of the best defenders in the world- Sergio Ramos.
Ramos seems to have had a falling out with Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, as Mourinho dropped him from their hugely important Champion’s League clash against Manchester City. During the broadcast of the game, the commentators mentioned that he had “a locker room scuffle” with multiple teammates earlier in the week.Always keen to drum up tantalizing transfer buzz, the Daily Mail is reporting that Chelsea is poised to make a bid for the Spanish international in January.
Should Chelsea be able to sign Ramos, it would be a huge coup for the club. He was one of the best right backs in the world before being converted to center back where he also excelled and established himself as a top-flight center half. He reads the game very well, has a great mix of pace and strength that makes it very difficult for opposing attackers to get around him. During his time on the right flank, he would frequently join the attack but after changing positions, his time in the attacking third has been drastically limited. However, the position change has not altered his ability to be a major target on corners where he’s frequently seen climbing high over the defense and nodding the ball home.
Chelsea were in the market for a right back all summer with numerous names being tossed around as potential signings, until the London side signed Cesar Azpilicueta from Marseille. At 23, Azpilicueta has a long career in front of him and showed tons of ability while playing in France. Ramos possesses the type of versatility that is invaluable as he’s able to hold down a starting right back or center back role depending on what coach Roberto Di Matteo would envision. Azpilicueta looks to be a player but not one that can be compared to the likes of Sergio Ramos, at least at this point in his career.
It seems as though the Real Madrid man has been playing forever as he achieved his first international cap for the senior side at the tender age of 18. He played remarkably for Sevilla in the 2004-05 season before sealing a 27 million euro move to the Madrid side, the most ever spent on a teenage Spaniard. Should his apparent discontent actually be true, Chelsea could find themselves in pole position to sign one of the best overall defenders in the world.
David Luiz and Ramos would be awesome! Any other transfer ideas for January Jason?
Thanks for reading Hans and yes, once Luiz gets his positional sense down, which will come with time, he'll be world class. I could see Chelsea trying to bring in another striker in January as they've been mentioned with Edinson Cavani for some time now. Whether Napoli will sell the Uruguayan is another thing, but they sold Ezequiel Lavezzi over the summer so we can think that should the right offer come in, Napoli will sell. Aside from that, Di Matteo seems to rate John Obi Mikel which rules out a move for a defensive midfielder, even though there are holding midfielders out there that are better than the Nigerian.