Chelsea Transfer Rumours: Why Marouane Fellaini Is Not a Logical Target

The Times have suggested Chelsea are about to step up their interest in Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

The article denotes a £22 million release clause should a UEFA Champions League club come calling—which doesn't make too much sense since the Blues are now in the UEFA Europa League and are not nailed on certainties to secure fourth place or higher this season.

But, is Fellaini the answer?

The Belgian's stock soared in 2012 after David Moyes moved him further up the field.

In Euro 2012, we saw Mario Mandzukic initiate a mini-trend of advanced destroyers, or "suffocos" as I call them, as the Croatian played in the No. 10 role but focussed all his energies on closing down Andrea Pirlo and stopping him from dictating the game from deep.

We then saw Ivan Rakitic do a similar thing for Sevilla against Real Madrid, straight after Fellaini gave Manchester United a hellish opening night in the English Premier League.

It's no coincidence that Moyes began testing Fellaini in the attacking midfield role shortly after Tim Cahill departed, as having a player that is able to bring the ball down in that position is vital to his strategy.

Take this position—what Fellaini does—and slot it into Chelsea's side. Does it fit? No, no it doesn't.

The Times label the potential signing as a "replacement for Frank Lampard," but never have two midfielders been more different. Why don't we liken Branislav Ivanovic to Marko Marin while we're at it?

Imagine a midfield of David Luiz and Fellaini.

@stighefootball Demba Ba would never get the ball, the two of them would have all the shots!

— Rowanne Westhenry (@agirlintheshed) January 8, 2013

B/R's Rowanne Westhenry has it spot on—Chelsea have just made a significant addition to their side in Ba who changes they way they are able to play.

Before Luiz's transition to central midfield, the signing of Fellaini may have made a little sense, but now he can't fit. If he did sign, we might be at risk of seeing Luiz back in defence; oxygen masks at the ready!

The system Rafa Benitez has inherited is predicated on quick movement across an advanced midfield line and the interchanging of positions—Fellaini would slow this down as a No. 10, unbalance the side as a No. 6 alongside Luiz or force "Bob" back into defence.

A lose-lose-lose situation for Chelsea, no matter how talented the big Belgian is.

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