Esteban Cambiasso is another midfield maestro who is available on a free transfer in the summer. The Argentine is struggling to agree a deal with current club, Inter Milan, who seem reluctant to meet his wage demands. Cambiasso has been with the Italian giants for a decade, but the stalemate between him and Inter's hierarchy looks as though it will force him to break ties with the club. Unsurprisingly, this has placed Europe's top teams on red alert. The 33-year-old is refusing to lower his demands from his current £3.7million-a-year deal, which conflicts with new owner Erick Thohir's stringent wage policy. Thohir is apparently shocked at the club's inflated wage bill and will not pay any player over £2million per season. Cambiasso will also undoubtedly be eager to play in the Champions League again, with Inter participating in the Europa League for the past two campaigns. The defensive midfielder won the competition back in 2010 with his current employers. The Argentine will be attracting the interest of numerous clubs due to his fantastic positional play and passing. Best situated in front of the back four, Cambiasso provides protection to the defence whilst also being the source of counter attacks. Jose Mourinho, who managed Cambiasso when Inter won the Champions League, is believed to be keen to bring the midfielder to Stamford Bridge. During Mourinho's first spell in London, his side's success was greatly dependent on the efforts of Claude Makelele. Without such a player in their team this season, Chelsea would surely benefit from Cambiasso's arrival. David Moyes and Manchester United are also in the market for a central midfielder and, given Cambiasso's price and experience, they should be interested. The Argentine maybe 33, but he could play a pivotal role for any side in Europe.
Simon is an NCTJ qualified sports journalist. He has conducted interviews with Tony Adams and Peter Shilton, while also having work published in The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. Follow him on Twitter via @sr_collings.
