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Chelsea go for Ghana’s Christian Atsu

BLUES TARGET: Christian Atsu celebrates scoring for Porto (PA)

GHANA INTERNATIONAL Christian Atsu is expected to join Europa League champions Chelsea from Porto.

The two clubs have reported agreed upon a fee of about £3.5m that will see the 21-year-old move to the west London team.

All that is left for the deal to be completed is for the winger to pass his medical and agree personal terms.

Atsu’s arrival at Stamford Bridge will mean Jose Mourinho’s squad has a plethora of attacking options, particularly from midfield with the likes of Willian, Eden Hazard, Oscar, Juan Mata, Victor Moses, Kevin De Bruyne.

Furthermore, it is understood that Atsu was a target for league rivals Tottenham and Liverpool – again, the clubs have been beaten to their man as they were when the Blues trumped them to sign Willian last week from Anzhi Makhachkala for about £30m.

Chelsea are still hunting for a striker to spearhead their abundant options of midfield and wing attack. Mourinho left all his recognised forwards on the bench against Manchester United for their 0-0 bank holiday Monday draw.

Wayne Rooney appears to remain the club’s first choice, but with the ex-Evertonian unlikely to force a move by handing in a transfer request, Mourinho may have to ask owner Roman Abramovich to fund a move for Anzhi’s Samuel Eto’o.

The 32-year-old Cameroon international would be relatively inexpensive, not factoring in wages, and would represent excellent experience at European level, having played for Barcelona and Inter, winning Champions League titles at both.

Willian and Atsu’s signings indicate other Chelsea players may be on their way out, with Moses and Demba Ba likely casualties who would leave on permanent or loan deals.

However, it is believed Atsu will be shipped out on loan before he gets a chance to play for the Blues – exactly what happened to Belgian De Bruyne.

Also, there has been speculation that Mourinho could use Mata as a makeweight to secure Rooney – a rumour that the Portuguese manager has flatly denied.

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