Chelsea Transfer News: Marouane Fellaini Signing Will Inspire Great Play
Josh Schoch@JoshSchoch
Analyst IIIJanuary 11, 2013
Marouane Fellaini is the top priority on Chelsea's transfer wish list, and would spark great play for the Blues should they acquire him from Everton.
According to the £22 million buyout clause in his contract, which has teams in England sniffing around.
England's top clubs are on alert after reports emerged that Marouane Fellaini has a £22million buyout clause in his contract.
The Everton midfielder is interesting a number of teams but the clause, inserted in a five-year contract in 2011, can only be triggered by a club who play in the Champions League.
Holders Chelsea are at the front of the queue, along with Arsenal, who are considering loosening their purse strings.
The Blues appear to be willing to fight for the midfielder, but they are far from alone. Manchester United could "rival Chelsea" for his services (L'Equipe via Sports Mole).
However, it is Chelsea that need Fellaini the most. While the team does have a lot of talent in the midfield after Eden Hazard, Oscar, Marko Marin and Victor Moses all joined the club over the summer, it isn't enough.
Chelsea has had problems trying to get the midfield to work well with the attacking front, and that certainly won't get better if Frank Lampard leaves as expected (per Goal.com).
Yet, if Fellaini joins, the Blues will be rejuvenated.
The Belgian has evolved from a defensive midfielder into a versatile player who will help his club in a number of ways. Everton has played him at DM, CM and CAM this season, and he has excelled in each position.
His rapid development has been nothing short of incredible. He remains a force on defense, but now he can also create for others and even attack himself. If this is any indication of things to come, he could become the best midfielder at Chelsea very quickly.
Fellaini's tactical versatility would be exactly what Rafa Benitez wants. He could be used in many different ways, and you can bet that Chelsea's mastermind of an interim manager could use Fellaini to his advantage.
If the Blues make the move to snag Everton's Belgian talent, he would step in and be an immediate contributor. By helping the team in so many different aspects, he would spark a streak of great football, and the Blues would surely be a much better team with him.