Chelsea look set to hand
David Moyes and Manchester
United another blow in the
transfer market with Inter star
Fredy Guarin ready to agree a
move to Stamford Bridge.
It emerged last week that the Premier League
champions had stepped up their pursuit of the
versatile Colombian midfielder and had sent
representatives to Italy to discuss a potential January
transfer.
Guarin,
however,
would
prefer a
move to
the west
London
club and
sees the
chance to
play under
Jose
Mourinho
as a
decisive
factor.
Chelsea
would be
prepared
to pay up
to €15
million for the former Porto player, an offer which is
being seriously considered by the Serie A club.
Inter directors Piero Ausilio and Marco Branca were in
London last week to discuss the deal but the club's
president Erick Thohir will have the final say as to
whether the transfer will be sanctioned.
Mourinho claimed earlier this month that he would not
be looking to add to his squad in January, claiming: "It
is my squad. For good and for bad, it is my squad. Of
course, it is not the perfect squad but it is my squad
and I work with them until the last day."
But with Frank Lampard struggling to contribute as
much as he has done in the past and ageing enforcer
Michael Essien reduced to a bit-part role this season,
the Portuguese may see the opportunity to add
Guarin's energy and industry too good to miss.
The 27-year-old's decision to snub United's interest
would represent another damaging blow to Moyes'
reputation in the transfer market following a
shambolic summer which saw moves for Cesc
Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara and Ander Herrera fail to
materialise.
Moyes is understood to be under growing pressure to
recruit well this winter having overspent significantly
on his one major signing thus far, Marouane Fellaini,
who has been far from an instant hit.
Guarin's contract at Inter runs until 2016 and his agent
recently declined to comment publicly on United's
efforts to sign him, except to state that "David Moyes
appreciates him".