According to sources in England and Brazil, after missing out on Falcao and Cavani, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is now eyeing Brazilian striker Hulk who is currently plying his trade at Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg. The player has remained missing during Zenit’s pre-season training camp, which has led to presumptions that the unsettled forward could be on his way out.
Mourinho is keen to have a striker in Stamford Bridge, after he helplessly saw PSG lure Naples forward Edinson Cavani away from the London club.
Though Hulk had only managed to score 11 goals in his 30 appearances last season for the Russian side, Mourinho is hopeful of extracting the best from him. Spending several years in Portugal for Porto, he helped them clinch the Europa League and national championship scoring 78 goals in 5 seasons during his time there.
Chelsea will have to face competition from fellow Londoners Tottenham who are in pursuit of a striker as well, and having lost their primary target David Villa to Atletico Madrid, Villas Boas is determined to land Hulk with whom he has already worked when he was managing Porto. However, Zenit’s demands of £35-£40m for Hulk is a figure that can only be matched by Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich.
While Mourinho is keeping a close eye on Hulk, one of his young and talented midfielder, Eden Hazard has other ideas. The Belgian has endorsed for the United star Wayne Rooney, a rumoured target from the start of the transfer season as he voted his displeasure in staying at Old Trafford. Though Moyes has declined the possibilities of the England International leaving the club, Chelsea are still hoping to get him and Hazard wording for him is a no wonder.
Quoted by Skysports, Hazard said:
“Rooney, Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, [Daniele] De Rossi [at Roma]. We’ve heard all the names. It’s not up to us who comes in, but it’s exciting. Rooney would be a brilliant signing. He’s a great player who has the experience, and he’s still only young, at 27. He’s got a few years left to play. But it’s not up to me. It’s not my decision.”
Hazard being one of the blue-eyed boy at the London-based club, after last season’s marquee signing at £32m, was shortlisted for the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year award, scoring 13 goals and 26 assists in his 62 appearances for the Blues on the very first season.