Juan Cuadrado deal can be another Mourinho masterstroke, Arsenal pursue Ignacio Camacho
To suggest that there's a weak link in what has clearly become Jose Mourinho's favoured starting XI may be a stretch, particularly following their recent 5-0 thumping of Swansea, but a straw poll of the fan base would probably highlight the right side of their attack as an area in which they could conceivably improve. The industrious Willian is cherished by the Chelsea boss but his profligacy in front of goal - netting with just 1 of 38 shots in the league this season - could yet see his place in the side come under threat.
The latest reports have seen the Blues linked with long-time United target Juan Guillermo Cuadrado to add to their attacking options and the versatile Colombian certainly has the quality to do just that. The Fiorentina flyer has 4 goals and 4 assists to his name in Serie A this season, with a direct contribution to 8 of the Viola's league strikes in 16 appearances, where fellow South American Willian has had a hand in just 2 from 21 Premier League appearances for the Blues.
If Chelsea can, as reported, offload Andre Schurrle to bankroll a move for the 26-year-old then it may just be another Mourinho masterstroke. Cuadrado can play across the front line but also offers an alternative further back having been a right wing-back early on in his career, and he ranks fifth in WhoScored's Serie A ratings this season (7.58), having led the way in Italy's top-flight with a score of 7.71 in 2013/14, completing 19 more dribbles than any other player (118).
Arsenal look for heavier touch in midfield
After Arsenal's unfamiliarly disciplined display at the Etihad at the weekend Francis Coquelin has been lavished with praise for his part in an increase in the Gunners' defensive solidity of late. It has led some to believe that the Frenchman could yet establish himself at the club but the Gunners are still likely to be on the lookout for reinforcements in that position. The latest reports have linked the Londoners, along with Liverpool, with an interest in Malaga's Ignacio Camacho.
On the evidence of this season's performances it's little surprise that the Malaga midfielder is deemed to be in high demand at present, with the Andalucian outfit likely to dig their heels in over any transfer bids. The 24-year-old has been a regular in the side for the last three years and his WhoScored rating has gone from strength to strength in that time, culminating in a score of 7.49 this season - enough to rank 13th of all players in La Liga.
The fact that Arsenal and Liverpool, prior to Lucas' reintroduction to the team, have both been criticised for being something of a soft touch in the middle of the pitch could be remedied by a move for the Malaga man. With an average of 3.2 tackles and 2.9 interceptions per game he has picked up corresponding strengths from WhoScored in turn, though a weakness of 'discipline', having amassed 7 yellow cards and averaged 2 fouls per game, would arguably need to be tempered.
