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Chelsea transfer news and rumours: Raphael Varane available for £20m; Andrej Kramaric flying to London; Petr Cech going nowhere

A look at today's transfer speculation for the Premier League leaders

Monday 05 January 2015 13:06 GMT

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CHELSEA BOUND...

Jose Mourinho has been told that long-term target Raphael Varane is available for £20million, but they will face a battle for the Real Madrid centre-back.

The classy French defender, 21, was brought to the Bernabeu by Madrid in 2011 and Mourinho remains a great admirer of Varane, having been linked with him in the summer; Manchester United are also interested.

With John Terry approaching the end of his career, the Portuguese sees Varane as the perfect replacement. Reports in Spain say Real Madrid would be willing to sell the defender, who has been second-choice under Carlo Ancelotti.

Reports in Italy say Chelsea have beaten Juventus to prolific Croation striker Andrej Kramaric, who is on a flight to London. The striker, who has 28 goals in 30 matches for Rijeka this season, could be loaned to Leicester City if a deal goes through.

The Daily Express, somewhat optimistically, report that Chelsea will lodge a Financial Fair Play-busting £277m double move for Lionel Messi and Paul Pogba.

Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

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1/12Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)

Newspapers in Spain report that Chelsea had a mammoth £102m bid rejected for Real Madrid's Welsh winger. It seems unlikely given the Blues' adherence to FFP, while Los Blancos claim they do not want to sell.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Andrej Kramaric (Rijeka)

The Croatian striker is attracting interest from across the Premier League with Tottenham and Leicester also interested in his services. The Foxes even had a bid accepted but the 23-year-old rejected a move to the King Power Stadium. Kramaric has 28 goals in just 30 matches for Rijeka this season.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Paul Pogba (Juventus)

The former Manchester United midfielder has become one of the most sought-after players in world football during his spell at Juventus. Still only 21, the Frenchman, who has drawn comparisons with Patrick Vieira, has helped Juventus to titles in both his seasons in Serie A, while he impressed the world at the World Cup. Could cost upwards of £40m, but Juventus have claimed that he won't be leaving during the current transfer window as they want to build 'a team of champions'.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus)

The Ghanaian utility man can play on the left wing, central midfield, left-back and as a wing back and has become a crucial part of Juve's recent success. The Blues are linked with a £24m move for a player who would bolster their squad.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Kevin Strootman (Roma)

Manchester United and Chelsea are both believed to be interested in the Dutch midfielder, 24, who has played only three matches this season as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury he suffered in January. At his best, Strootman is a brilliant box-to-box threat.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)

Just about every top club in Europe is chasing the German star, who looks destined to leave struggling Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. But with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich potential suitors, it may take a lot to convince the 25-year-old to come to Stamford Bridge.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

A long-term target and personal favourite of Jose Mourinho's, Varane is already one of the world's best defenders. Classy in possession, a gifted athlete and smart reader of the game, Real Madrid would be foolish to allow the 21-year-old to depart.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Karim Bellarabi (Bayer Leverkusen)

The German international is one of two Bayer Leverkusen players Chelsea scouts watched in the Champions League in midweek. Bellarabi, 24, is a pacey winger who has scored an impressive seven goals and added five assists for Leverkusen this season. With Mohamed Salah failing to get into the first team, Bellarabi might be seen as a perfect replacement for the Egyptian.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Hakan Calhanoglu (Bayer Leverkusen)

The other Leverkusen player Chelsea scouts watched is a Turkish international born in Germany; the 20-year-old playmaker has also impressed for Roger Schmidt's team with six goals and four assists this season. Like Bellarabi, he would be considered one for the future rather than a first-team regular straight away.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Anderson Talisca (Benfica)

Chelsea were interested in the 20-year-old Brazilian in the summer but would not have been able to get a work permit for the former Bahia forward. He has flourished at Benfica, with nine goals this season with the club six points clear at the top of the Prineira Liga. Unlikely to move in January but a long-term target.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Munir El Haddadi (Barcelona)

The brilliant teenager is unlikely to be allowed to leave Barcelona as he likely has a bright future ahead. At just 19 has become a regular on the bench and in the first team for Luis Enrique.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina)

One of the hits of the 2014 World Cup, Cuadrado has put himself firmly on the radar of a number of clubs including Chelsea. Wolfsburg's reported interest in Andre Schurrle could lead to the Blues moving for Cuadrado to replace the German, but if Schurrle stays then any deal in January is unlikely.

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Italian newspaper Tuttosport also say Chelsea will battle Arsenal and Liverpool for Roma striker Mattia Destro.

EXITS...

Chelsea flop Mohamed Salah, who has played just 13 Premier League matches since an £11m move last January, is linked with various clubs around Europe with David Moyes' Real Sociedad and Roberto Mancini's Inter Milan among the interested parties.

Talented teenage striker Islam Feruz, who is yet to play a first-team game, could have a loan spell in the Championship with Cardiff City.

Mark Schwarzer, 42, will continue his long career at Leicester City - that move has been completed. Jamal Blackman returns from his loan spell at Middlesbrough to act as third-choice.

THE DEAL'S OFF...

Sergio Busquets is set to sign a new deal at Barcelona, ending speculation about the midfielder, while Jose Mourinho says there is no chance of Petr Cech leaving the club this January after Schwarzer's exit.

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