World Cup Watch: Europa League winner can add to Chelsea attack
Published:Although the Premier League off-season is only in its embryonic stages, Chelsea have already done some transfer business in arranging the move of Diego Costa from potential double-winners Atletico Madrid to Stamford Bridge.
Just because the Brazilian-turned-Spaniard is west London-bound doesn’t mean the Blues’ scouts would be eagerly anticipating the World Cup, as a pool of untapped resources put themselves on show.
Here’s three men the 9/4 Premier League hopefuls should keep a close eye on:
Carlos Bacca – Colombia – Striker
Like Costa, the Sevilla striker recently collected some silverware having helped his club overcome Benfica on penalties in the Europa League final.
With Radamel Falcao’s participation in Rio still a doubt due to injury, Bacca could well be afforded more on-pitch time than originally anticipated and, with more La Liga goals than both Neymar and Gareth Bale this term, could increase his already rocketing stock.
Ivan Rakitic – Croatia – Midfielder
The time is creeping ever closer for Chelsea to replace their record-breaking goal-scoring midfielder, Frank Lampard.
A teammate of Bacca’s at Sevilla, Rakitic has scored 12 goals in La Liga this season as well as chipping in with 10 assists for his teammates over the course of the year too.
As last summer showed, Sevilla are a selling club and could jump at the chance to move the Croatian on should a hefty transfer offer come in.
Fabio Coentrao – Portugal – Defender
Like Lampard, Ashley Cole is becoming more of a bit-part player by the game at Stamford Bridge and the World Cup is the perfect chance for the club to source a replacement.
Coentrao has been linked with a west London switch in the past but Chelsea scouts would have had little opportunity to run the rule over him this season, having fallen out of favour of Carlo Ancelotti.
As Portugal’s starting left-back that will all change this summer.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.
