European champions want to recruit a proven wideman to allow Rafael Benitez to rotate his attacking options as a deal to secure Falcao next month hangs in the balance

The European champions want to sign a proven wideman to allow Rafael Benitez to rotate his attacking players.
Chelsea remain in pole position to sign Falcao from Atletico Madrid – although he might not join until next summer - but they also want a versatile attacker who can play anywhere across the front three.

Sources have told Goal.com that the Londoners have firm interest in Arsenal contract rebel Walcott, Shakhtar Donetsk forward Willian and Roma’s Pjanic.Sturridge wants to quit Stamford Bridge and is in talks to move to Liverpool next month for a fee of around £12 million.Walcott would prefer to stay in London if he cannot agree new terms with Arsenal, although Arsene Wenger insisted on Thursday that the England international will not be sold in the forthcoming window.

Willian, the Brazilian winger who caused Chelsea such problems in the Champions League group stages, remains on the radar of owner Roman Abramovich after a €25m bid (£20m) was rejected by Shakhtar in the summer.

Willian issued what was effectively a come-and-get-me plea this week, saying he wants to quit the Ukraine club and play in a more glamorous league.“If I tell you that I was happy [the Chelsea move fell through], I would be lying," Willian was quoted on Friday as saying.

"The club knows that I want to leave, everyone knows that. The president has told me that he’ll let me go for €30m and my intention is to sign for a big club.”

Chelsea’s other principal target is Pjanic, the 22-year-old Bosnian who plays wide right for Roma and began the season on the bench but has recently been in excellent form.Pjanic was the subject of strong interest from Tottenham in the summer but Roma have high hopes for the 2011 signing and it will take an offer beyond €15m (£12.2m) to capture him.

One player who seems destined to eventually wear a Chelsea shirt is the prolific Colombian Falcao, scorer of 17 league goals already this season, second in the Spanish league only to Lionel Messi, who has scored 25.

As revealed by Goal.com in November, Chelsea have already opened talks with Atletico Madrid about paying the £48m release clause in the striker’s contract.A deal to take the centre-forward to Stamford Bridge is close to being secured after Chelsea offered what sources say is a “staggering” salary to the 26-year-old.

But the timing of the possible move has yet to be decided and Falcao could stay in Spain until the end of the season rather than move next month.

I would honestly take Walcott and leave the rest. FFP is finally kicking in and we don't want to waste big money on Willian. Pjanic is also more of a CAM than a winger, and we already have tons of CAMs. The only upgrade I can see is sell Sturridge for a good price and buy Walcott as an upgrade over Sturridge.

I don't think Willian would cost us much money I would love to see him play with us I love brazilian players and their style and he would fit perfectly with our young players style.

AlexxBatak, it SAF, he can do anything, you just have to wait and see =)

Sturridge is not bad player. He need more games to play. 2nd thing : Hazard,Oscar,Mata,Marin,Moses,Ramires,maybe Pjanic,Walcott,Willian.... they are top players,but half of them would be on bench if they are all in Chelsea. 

@Mladen yes but I think if we got Willian he would play more upfront alongside a striker other than torres of course .

pjanic to replace sturridge? no the same position bro...

Willian! Theo Wallcot is too obsessed with playing as a CF.

@tdot2barca I think the same too Willian is a better fit with out players since most of them are brazilians & I'm afraid that Walcott got he same attitude as Sturridge.

It was Willian in the end then (but only in the last second before he could join Spurs).

“If I tell you that I was happy [the Chelsea move fell through], I would be lying," Willian was quoted on Friday as saying.

"The club knows that I want to leave, everyone knows that. The president has told me that he’ll let me go for €30m and my intention is to sign for a big club.”

And we finally signed him :)

^That looks an awful lot like Cavani.

@AlexBatak stare at that gif for a while his smile is so wierd.

I just did and It looks like he's saying "Bale" lol :))

He finally got his paycheck. O:)

^Every player for any team joins for the paycheck ;)

...except for the ones who don't.

^Those join for the glory and for medals.