Date: 8th July 2014 at 12:20pm
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4368236The 2013-14 season was surely a frustrating one for Chelsea fans.

Beginning with a draw against West Brom, the Blues then pulled off an impressive 14 wins and four draws from their next 19 matches.

Yet the club were unable to hold onto top spot for much longer, ending the season with three losses in their last nine matches eventually finishing in third place behind both Manchester City and Liverpool.

Jose Mourinho vowed that there would be changes to his squad, and he’s already started that by adding Spaniards Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas for nearly a combined £60m.

But it wouldn’t be surprising if Mourinho had more moves up his sleeve, and one of the most glaring gaps for Chelsea is a central midfielder who can keep hold of the ball and control the game.

One target that has been rumoured to be interested in life at Stamford Bridge is Costa’s former teammate at Atletico, Koke. A reunion with Costa would make a lot of sense for the 22-year-old, but the Spanish midfielder recently signed a five-year extension to remain at the Spanish club until 2019.

Another reported target that Mourinho has been watching closely is Paul Pogba, the 21-year-old Juventus midfielder who starred for France during their run to the quarter finals at the World Cup.

Both players would represent significant upgrades to Mourinho’s midfield and provide the club with a long-term replacement for the departed Frank Lampard.

Given that Atletico just inked an extension with Koke, Pogba would seem to be the more likely target. But the Spanish starlet was rumoured to be going to Chelsea before signing the extension, and it only extended his contract one additional season. Besides, when has Mourinho ever cared about someone’s contract when negotiating a transfer?

With all of that in mind, which player would be the better fit for Chelsea? It’s an intriguing question, as they boast vastly different styles of play that could shift how Chelsea attack the opposition.

Pogba’s game is dictated on power, while Koke is more of a finesse player. Pogba will charge through the midfield looking to let fly with a powerful right boot, while Koke would prefer playing an attacker through and setting them up for a goal.

But the real deal-breaker for Mourinho could come down to what he already has in his squad at Stamford Bridge.

The likes of Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Oscar, and Willian are all expected to play a prominent role in Chelsea’s attack, but none are taller than 6′. At 6’1, Pogba offers a more physically imposing presence than Koke, who stands at 5’10.

While Koke isn’t a slouch in his own right, his skill is just too similar to what Mourinho already has at his disposal. There’s a reason why diminutive players have neglected to join the Premier League over time, and that’s due largely to the physicality of the English top flight.

With Pogba, that wouldn’t be an issue. His work rate is off the charts and while he may be a handful off the pitch at times, Mourinho is the kind of manager who gets the most out of his players, especially when they’re this talented.

Mourinho could certainly do worse than snagging a player of Koke’s talents, but his aren’t needed as much given the squad the Blues already have in place. Therefore, Pogba’s pace, physicality, and work rate would be the better fit right now, and the Frenchman could well become a mainstay in Chelsea’s midfield for years if Jose takes the plunge.

 

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