Jack the lad: Everton star Rodwell is a target
for Chelsea
Andre Villas-Boas has identified Jack Rodwell as the first
major brick in rebuilding his Chelsea team and is confident he will
land the Everton midfielder next month.
The Chelsea manager needs to add youth as well as quality
to his ageing side and, Sportsmail understands, he sees the
20-year-old England international as a key part of the
process.
While Everton are sure to demand around £20million for a
player who recently made his breakthrough on the international
stage, Chelsea are expected to start the bidding nearer
£12m.
Sources at Goodison Park already believe Rodwell is
Stamford Bridge-bound and question whether he will appear in an
Everton shirt again, given his latest injury setback.
Since impressing for England against Spain and
Sweden last month, he has played only 27 minutes of Barclays
Premier League football.
He will miss Everton’s Christmas fixtures against Swansea
and Sunderland after suffering fresh damage to a recently
sustained hamstring problem. He was on the bench for
Everton’s 1-1 draw with Norwich on Saturday but aggravated his
injury in the warm-up.
International class: Rodwell recently made his
breakthrough with Fabio Capello's England
Everton manager David Moyes said: ‘I got told just before
kick-off that even if I needed Jack he wouldn’t be able to go on
because he felt it in the warm-up. If he felt it against Norwich, I
would think he wouldn’t be available for Wednesday
night.’
The problem is not expected to deter Villas-Boas, however.
Despite a difficult first half of the season, the Portuguese
appears to have the backing of Roman Abramovich in making some
important changes next month.
As Sportsmail
revealed last month, Bolton’s Gary Cahill is another player on his
shopping list and someone who would certainly be a useful addition
to the Chelsea squad given the defensive problems they have endured
and the fact that Alex has been told he is no longer
required.
Poster boy: Rodwell wants to compete at the London
Olympics
Rodwell is perhaps more interesting. Fabio Capello seems
to think he has a bright future with England and he would provide
Villas-Boas with a useful option at a time when the Chelsea team,
and in particular the midfield, is in transition.
A new midfield has developed in recent weeks, with Oriol
Romeu, Ramires and Raul Meireles forming a decent
unit.
But beyond those three Villas-Boas clearly has
concerns. Frank Lampard is 33 and no longer able to command a
first-team place. The feeling is that he could soon be heading
elsewhere if Chelsea are reluctant to offer him a new
contract.
Michael Essien is 30 next year but his career is in danger
of being cut short by a series of serious knee injuries, his last
being a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season
training.
John Mikel Obi was once described by Jose Mourinho as
‘gold’ and the battle Chelsea had with Manchester United for his
services suggested he would develop into a world-beater. This
season, though, he has lost his place to the 20-year-old
Romeu.
Overcoming: The midfielder has faced some difficulties
this season with form and fitness
Rodwell would not be a direct replacement for any of them.
But he is an elegant ball player with the athleticism to get
from box to box with ease. For England he showed some
great touches as well as genuine pace and an eye for
goal.
It remains to be seen, however, if he would be more suited
to a defensive role or whether he could develop into another
Lampard. But the feeling is that Rodwell would thrive in the
company of the top international footballers Chelsea already
possess.
