By dixon9
February 19 2010
Yes, I know summer is a long way off but the media have seemed to single us out a bit with their presumed insider knowledge citing that Abramovich and Chelsea suits have decided to begin some substantial replenishment of what some call an aging squad. A budget of 80 odd million big ones they claim – I doubt that, but we can take a look at who Fleet Street has us signing next season.
First on the list is that old chestnut Sergio Aguero. The Atletico Madrid forward has been on our radar for some time now and after initial proclamations that he didn’t want to play in England his mind has been changed through a combination of a lack of success at his current club, a word in his shell-like from his father-in-law Diego Maradona - and of course that green stuff called money has probably got something to do with it.
Aguero is a target that many Chelsea fans have been baying for. Our current forwards of Anelka and Drogba aren’t getting any younger they say – true – but both seem to be in the form of their lives at the moment. Possibly a bit early to write them off just yet?! Nevertheless, besides his finishing ability, the flair and inventiveness of Aguero is certainly an ingredient that Abramovich would like to add.
Just how Drogba, Anelka, Sturridge, Kalou and Aguero would be catered for is another question. Kalou, presumably, would have to be sold and if Ancelotti wanted to keep the remainder happy he would probably have to play two up front regularly next season.

There is also a midfielder target that the media are claiming we are in negotiations with - Napoli's Marek Hamsik. We are a bit short in midfield aren’t we?! (A hem!) Anyway, according to the Mail (cough!) Chelsea will make a €30 million offer for Hamsik in the summer.
A former Chelsea scout Carlo Iacomuzzi is quoted with the following:
"I watched Hamsik many times on behalf of Chelsea and I know that scouts have come to see him this year to see how he is getting on,” Iacomuzzi told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli (sounds like a serious sporting radio station doesn’t it?!).
"How much is he worth? This depends on the requests. But I would say that €30m is not enough for him because he can improve and has potential.”
"He can improve playing in a team of champions which has players like Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard.
"Abramovich has a feeling for the deal and I am convinced Chelsea will make an official offer for Hamsik this year."
Sounds like Iacomuzzi could be helping the player’s agent out given that his current club is negotiating a new deal with the player at the moment.

Next up is a defender - Borussia Dortmund’s centre-back Neven Subotic. The 21-year-old central defender is also apparently targeted by Manchester City and AC Milan.
Subotic's agent Stephen Kelly reckons we will have to “break the bank” as the player has just agreed a lucrative four-year deal with Dortmund.
“It will take a hell of a lot of money to get Neven. He's happy with his new four-year contract. It's a bloody good one, too.”
Former Scolari target, youngster Angel Di Maria from Benfica is also claimed to be on his way to Stamford Bridge.
Di Maria is not the finished product yet but an incisive, talented winger is yearned for by many Chelsea fans given that we have never really replaced Robben or Duff. Indeed, it is this type of player that would give more power to Ancelotti in giving us this “personality” which we apparently need.

Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich is also on the cards – he would provide a more experienced, acclimatised version of Di Maria but despite possessing the dynamism I’m not so sure he has the flair (?).
Finally, Anderlect “superkid” Romelu Lukaku could also be packing his bags for London in the summer.
At just 16 though he would almost certainly be one for the academy and reserves – that said his father says his son will not be leaving Belgium until he is 18.
Lukaku is from the Democratic Republic of Congo is 6ft 3in and 14st and already a first-team regular.
A wholesale refurbishment for us in the summer then? Well, we could do with an injection of new blood? (In fact, we should almost constantly look to improve every season shouldn’t we?). Where the stories might have some credence is the fact that we do need to bring down our wages to turnover ratio – currently standing at around an almost unworkable 70% odd.

