According to reports from The Daily Star this morning, Chelsea are considering a January swoop for FC Porto star Yacine Brahimi.
The attacking midfielder was in excellent form in the Champions League last season, recording five goals and three assists in nine appearances whilst averaging 4.7 successful dribbles per-match – the fourth highest return throughout the competition, only bettered by Zenit star Hulk, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
The 25 year-old impressed during last summer’s World Cup too, grabbing one goal and one assist in three appearances as Algeria reached the tournament’s first knock-out round, where they unfortunately met eventual winners Germany.
The Star claim Brahimi was on the radars of Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur during the summer, whilst continuing to list him as an ‘Arsenal target’.
But citing reports from The Metro and TuttoMercatoWeb, they declare Chelsea are now ‘working hard to ready a deal’ to sign the ex-Granada man in January.
However, Brahimi’s rather seismic £44.1million release clause – which would make him Jose Mourinho’s most expensive signing as Blues boss – could stand in the way.
Interestingly, Chelsea take on FC Porto in the Champions League this evening. The west Londoners are currently top of Group G; Porto are two points behind in second place.
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