Chelsea effectively getting midfield target for free if selling KDB

The one area of the pitch where Chelsea are oversubscribed at present is in the attacking midfield positions, with six players effectively battling over three starting spots and Ramires also able to do a job on the right side if required.

Whereas in the more taxing central midfield roles, Jose Mourinho can only really call upon Ramires, an ageing Frank Lampard, a limited John Obi Mikel, a past-it Michael Essien and converted defender David Luiz.

With Lampard also injured for a month, youngster Marco Van Ginkel not expected back any time soon and Oriol Romeu on loan at Valencia, it is a lack of options in the middle of the park that could ultimately cost Chelsea.

At present, Chelsea’s odds are 10/3 to win the Premier League this season.

There is a growing feeling that Fredy Guarin will arrive from Inter Milan for somewhere in the region of £17m and this would prove a solid acquisition.

Guarin and Ramires could form a solid partnership as they are both adept at bursting forward with the ball at speed, have good box-to-box energy and an ability to drive the team forward from deeper positions.

And if Roman Abramovich wanted to recoup the majority of this outlay, it wouldn’t hurt Chelsea too much to move on Kevin De Bruyne.

The 22-year-old Belgian has made just five starts and one substitute appearance in all competitions for Chelsea this season and a return to Germany could be on the cards.

Borussia Dortmund may be interested if Ilkay Gundogan leaves for Real Madrid, although it is Wolfsburg that may be at the front of the queue, as they would be willing to pay £17m to aid their pursuit of a top-four finish in the Bundesliga.