After bringing back Nemanja Matic who replaced Essien, Mourinho looks keen on signing another midfielder who will apparently take John Obi-Mikel’s place. According to Metro, the 26 year old Nigerian who has made 19 appearances this season, is now free to leave regardless of how low the offers for his signature are.

Allowing a player like Mikel to leave without asking for money can only mean that Mourinho is set on bringing in someone new. With Essien gone and with Lampard being only a few months shy of 36, Matic is the only player Mourinho wants to use in the holding role from his current options. With that in mind, the Blues have directed their attention to France where Marseille’s Gianelli Imbula has really managed to make an impression over the past few months.

This is not the 21 year olds’ first contact with Chelsea. He was strongly linked to Mourinho’s side at the beginning of last summer but failed to reach an agreement with the Blues.

Because of some financial disagreements Guingamp decided to stop negotiations with Chelsea and close a deal with Marseille.

Imbula perfectly fits the Stamford Bridge club’s preferred player profile which is mostly focused on Europe’s youngest and most talented players. The Frenchman would be a great long term replacement for Mikel who has been with Chelsea since 2006. It is currently thought that he would set the Blues back £15million which is not that much for someone who could be a long-term signing.

So if if the Nigerian midfielder does leave he will do so while still having much to offer Mourinho’s side. Mikel has been a solid if not spectacular Chelsea player who has done little wrong in his time with the Blues- winning one Premier League title, four FA Cups, The Champions League once, The Europa League once, The League Cup once as well as the Community Shield once – a pretty impressive haul by anyone’s standards