Chelsea coach Emenalo checks on Dinamo Zagreb defender Sime Vrsaljko

Chelsea are interested in Dinamo Zagreb defender Sime Vrsaljko.

Vrsaljko, 19, attracted enquiries from Arsenal during the January market.

The Telegraph says Blues assistant coach Michael Emenalo was in the Croatian capital on Saturday — before returning to sit on the bench for Sunday’s Premier League match at home to Manchester City — to watch Dinamo Zagreb face Hadjuk Split.

And the Nigerian confirmed to Sports Kenovsti that Vrsaljko was player he was watching.

 
Click here for the No1 coverage of all the gossip and transfer news around Chelsea.

Join the conversation on

Tribalfootball Store

Chelsea FC 10/11 SS Away Football Shirt Made By Adidas Sponsor Samsung Key Players - Frank Lampard, John Terry, Michael Essian, Didier Drogba Colour Black/Orange

£14.99 Buy

Manchester City 2011/12 Training Micro FleeceShirt Made by Umbro. Sponsor Etihad Airways. Colour Sky Blue

£24.99 Buy

Chelsea FC 11/12 Media Players Polo Shirt Made By Adidas Sponsor Samsung Colour Royal/White

£11.99 Buy

AdiNova IV TRX FG Football Boot, Made by Adidas.

£29.99 Buy

Total 90 Shoot III Kids FG Football Boots.

£19.99 Buy

F50 adizero TRX FG Football Boots Made By Adidas The Best selling Speed boot on the market. The adizero helps enhance players who want to quicken their footwork and accelerate with the ball.

£49.99 Buy

Manchester City 2011/12 Training Football Shirt Made by Umbro. Colour Sky Blue

£14.99 Buy

Chelase FC 11/12 Anthem Jacket Made By adidas Official Chelsea FC Anthem Jacket used by the Squad before match and traveling Colour New Navy/White

£49.99 Buy

Comments (1)

Good option to consider
-
Chelsea Transfer Manifesto 2011-2013
-
DEF:
-
Defensively we have a few concerning issues, a lack of options on the right, injuries to key centre backs and more talent than we can field in one team on the left.
-
On the right we have Bosingwa and possibly the oft muted signing Darijo Srna, who will both be 29 by mid season next year will be useful, but again succession for maturing players must be considered. There is also considerable talk about the future of Bosingwa at the club, and gioven his recent form, probably not unjustifiably so. Barcelona's Sergi Roberto may be available and is a more likely signing than City bound Dani Alves, though the later should not be ruled out without atleast the consideration of a bid.
-
Continually mentioned in the transfer pages, Gregory van Wiel could be an alternative for the future, too. What bothers me about him is, that he plays lower-than-average under pressure, which showed at the World Cup. Despite these concerns van der Weil should be the main target on winter transfer period, a very strong player, whose contract expires soon. Benfica s Maxi Pereira has potential, though his availability is in question. Micah Richards is apparently unhappy at Man City but this is pure conjecture.
-
On the left, we already have Cole, Zhirkov and van Anholt, an embarassment of riches already but given that Ashley is now 30 it is time to consider the succession. Juan Manuel Vargas and Fabio Coentrao need to be considered and hopefully Yuri Zhirkov may see more time as a left mid in future, leaving the left back to van Anholt and Vargas/Coentrao/Bale (hell the left side would be incredibly strong if one of them played left back, one left mid and one left wing ).
-
Gareth Bale is the complete wingback but will be horrendously overpriced, his signature will depend upon more than our wealthy benefactor, UCL success could help. I am a large Zhirkov fan but would be willing to see him go should it help us land Bale. A better solution would see an aging Malouda make way for Zhirkov and have Vargas/Coentrao/Bale sit between Cole and Zhirkov or on the bench.
-
MID:
-
Age, injuires and a lack of squad depth are all issues for our midfield despite the fact we have one of the finest in world football.
-
We need to stiffen up our defensive midfield our current combination of Mikel, Essien and Ramires works alright, but having Essien and Ramires capable of getting further forward is an asset (my Nigerian friends would at this point note that Mikel plays much further forward for them too). Oriel Romeu, Gueida Fofana, Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe and Kwadwo Asamoah are all youthful, strong exceedingly capable defensive mids, ideally I'd sign two and loan one out for a while.
-
An influential central midfielder like Axel Witsel, Josip Ilicic or Ivan Rakitic could be useful in Ballack type role. Ilicic is the favorite, but Rakitic would come cheaper and would blossom with the players around him at Chelsea (though that doesn't imply that Ilicic wouldn't)
-
Next season when Cesc hopefully returns and Barca youngster Thaigo Alcantara (and perhaps his younger brother Rafa) is suddenly pushed to the outer should be considered for a contract. Joao Moutinho is apparently also a Barcelona target, he would go some ways to cover our current midfield frailties, look for example at what Raul Meireles has done for Liverpool.
-
The young Shaktar Donetsk pair of Alex Teixeira and Douglas Costa would make fine additions. Teixeira was the star of the U 20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009, while Costa has been dubbed the next Ronaldinho. Another great prospect is Deportivo s new signing Uruguayan winger Urreta, young, fast and very creative, everything we need. One of them alongside Alexis Sanchez should be signed for the right.
-
Further on left Kakuta could be joined by Dimitri Payet, Antoine Griezmann, Balasz Dszudszak or Juan Mata. Despite this wealth of options Zhirkov playing more and further forward may be a simpler cheaper solution.
-
To properly replace Deco, Jacob Mellis just isn t good enough and with Alan Dzagoev, Paulo Henrique Ganso and Javier Pastore targets one of them may replace Mellis. Shaktar playermaker Fernandinho would be a valuable acquisition and at only 25 would be good for years to come.
-
FWD:
-
Up front I like all the regular names; Gervinho and Seydou Doumbia are all potential support strikers for a Chelsea after Anelka whom one of them could effectively replace. Doumbia's move to CSKA moves him into the orbit of a club with which we enjoy good relations and also has Tomas Necid, Igor Akinfeev, Keisuke Honda and Alan Dzagoev.
-
Romelu Lukaku is a must signing, but he needn t necessarily join the team yet, a loan back to Anderlecht would be ideal(his younger brother Jordan Lukaku should also be considered). Lacina Traore with his great height would make an ideal super sub in the mold of Tore Andre Flo, tall and dangerous near goal.
-
An emerging option is Sergio Canales given his bust up with Mourinho at Real. Edinson Cavani, Sergio Aguero or Pato would be the ideal long term 3rd forward alongside Torres and Lukaku.
-
Some have also been pushing for an Asian star for a while, namely Park Chu Young, Shinji Kagawa or Keisuke Honda, would be a great signing not just for Merchandising in Asia, but they are good players.
-
A final consideration needs to be given to the Mourinho factor, should the great man come home undoubtedly he would bring his well known preferences for his kind of players, and perhaps one or two current RM players may follow him. Could this mean Emmanuel Adebayor, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Yann M'vila, Samuel Eto'o, Wesley Sneijder or McDonald Mariga could end up at Chelsea. .possibly.