Chelsea FC transfer rumours: Mourinho ‘could do a lot worse than spend big on this versatile Bundesliga forward’ – WhoScored insight

Here, WhoScored.com offer analysis on a player linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

The main talking point from Tottenham’s monotonous 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Sunday was Diego Costa’s touchline antics. Jose Mourinho’s decision not to start his main striker naturally caught the attention of supporters, while a reluctance to introduce him to the fold resulted in the Spain international tossing his bib into the north London wind on the touchline. Narrative dictated that - as indeed was the case - said bib should end up falling in the direction of his manager.

Costa has since been strongly linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge and some suggest he has already played his final game for the club. 

Mourinho intimated that all was well following a half time spat between the two in the 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League, though that does not appear to be the case after the forward played no part in the London derby.

Despite scoring the winner in the 1-0 win over Norwich the previous week, it’s fair to say Costa’s form has nosedived since a stunning debut campaign last year that saw him score 20 league goals, with his WhoScored.com rating dropping from 7.43 to 6.77.

Now the Blues are supposedly ready to entertain offers for the feisty frontman, but they would need a player to come in and spearhead their attack.

Chelsea are rumoured to be monitoring the situation of numerous strikers across the Continent, the latest of which is Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller. The Germany international was heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United over the summer, though Bayern were naturally keen to rebuff any offers for the ‘Raumdeuter’.

Their understandable reluctance to sell was justified as Muller has enjoyed a wonderful campaign so far and his WhoScored.com rating (7.71) is the sixth best in the Bundesliga this season. The 26-year-old’s 13 league goals ranks behind only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (17) and Bayern team-mate Robert Lewandowksi (14) this term, as he continues to maximise his knack for finding space to hit the back of the net.

It isn’t his goalscoring ability alone that stands him in good stead, either. Only three players in the German top flight this season have played more key passes than Muller (30), accentuating his statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of ‘key passes’.

However, it’s his goalscoring qualities Chelsea understandably crave. The Blues have scored just 17 league goals this season, a far cry from the 33 they netted after the opening 14 games last term. Of the 43 players to score at least three Bundesliga goals thus far, Muller boasts the sixth best conversion rate (30.2 per cent) in the league. Furthermore, all 13 of his league goals have come inside the penalty area, 12 of which have been deemed clear-cut goalscoring opportunities.

While four of his 13 league goals have come from the penalty spot, Muller still has the nous to get into great goalscoring positions. Judging from his goal return already this season - he needs just one more to make this his most prolific in the last seven league campaigns - he maximises the chances presented to him.

Of course, Muller is not an out-and-out striker and instead operates better behind a frontman. Though that’s not to say he can’t fill the void on the frontline, but rather as a false-9, similar to Eden Hazard’s role in the goalless draw at Spurs.

At the 2014 World Cup, Muller started four of Germany’s seven games as the lead striker, further highlighting his versatility to spearhead the attack. Chelsea, though, are unlikely to convince Bayern to sell one of their star men, unless they offer a world record fee, much like United were supposedly prepared to do in the summer transfer window.

Nevertheless, if they are willing to spend big on a new frontman in the New Year, they could do a lot worse than move for Muller.