Chelsea have been very strongly linked with the Portuguese midfielder for the past couple of years, with him believed to have been on the verge of signing both in 2012 and 2013, despite the player deciding to first join and then stay with French side AS Monaco. With Chelsea having missed out on signing Tottenham's Luka Modric in 2011, the appointment of Andre Villas-Boas the following year led the club's search for a creative midfield force to the Portuguese manager's former charge, who had spoken of his desire to leave Porto and try a different league. With Tottenham also in the frame, the £25 million asking price was eventually deemed too high and the player opted to stay in Portugal before signing for Monaco a year later. Chelsea instead signed the young Brazilian Oscar from Internacional for £19.35 million. The Blues are thought to have gone back for Moutinho six months ago, with the player disillusioned with the small crowds attracted by his new club. The asking price was again £25 million and even with Chelsea in desperate need of a new playmaker following the departure of Juan Mata to Manchester United, Jose Mourinho opted against approving a bid. With Chelsea having since signed the vastly more versatile and dangerous Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona for only £2 million more, you have to say that Mourinho made the right call.
28-year old English writer with a borderline obsessive passion for films, videogames, Chelsea FC, incomprehensible words and indefensible puns. Follow me on Twitter if you like infrequent outbursts of absolute drivel.
