Jose Mourinho might be about to deliver Chelsea their perfect Joao Felix transfer alternative as a summer of bargain deals awaits. Due to the now extremely likely prospect of having no European football whatsoever at Stamford Bridge next season it will a different market for the Blues.
As opposed to the summer, one in which they spent over £250m before following that up with over £300m in the winter as well, Chelsea will have to be wary of serious financial constraints. Their so-far unresolved sponsorship void as well as reduced revenue without the Champions League means a summer of sales is more likely than flashy buys.
This all means that when the new owners and their rejigged recruitment team come to plan for new players - which they undoubtedly will given the gaps in midfield and up-front specifically - it will have to be with care. Chelsea can no longer afford to keep making big-money mistakes.
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Enter Mourinho. It is reported that the former manager could be about to lose one of his star players this summer due to a contract clause. 90min say that there is an £18m release clause for Paulo Dybala to move to Serie A sides that becomes active at the end of the year and another for even less when selling abroad.
His potential availability, which could be for a low as £10m, has been expressed to Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham as well as Chelsea. The Argentine, who has 16 goals and eight assists in all competitions this season, could prove to be of most interest to Chelsea.
With Felix commanding a high-price heading into the summer, Dybala for a snip of the price may well be just the type of deal needed by the club, especially if Mauricio Pochettino is to make additions to his side. As a fellow countryman the connection is sure to be there.
The prospective new manager also admires goalscoring number 10s that can act as a shadow forward, the exact type of position and role that Dybala excels in. As for if he would fit, Mourinho himself certainly has no qualms about it.
"My feeling is that he was seeking the joy, he had lost more than confidence," Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia earlier this season. "He found it here.
"He has found a coach who understands him, a crowd that loves him and a space on the field in which to be a leader with his quality and personality.
"Dybala is a nice boy. He has the quality to play for the biggest clubs in the world, but he has found joy here."
For Chelsea the question will be whether or not, even for the bargain price, they can justify another squad slot on an attacking player that is far from a proven number nine.
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