Chelsea may need to act quickly to land La Liga duo

Chelsea have wrapped up the signing of Brazilian youngster Nathan, but could be priced out of moves for Koke and Antoine Griezmann.

Last summer Jose Mourinho addressed the weaknesses in his side and acted quickly in the transfer window, signing Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas and taking both Diego Costa and Felipe Luis from Atletico Madrid, who also surrendered the loan of Thibaut Courtois to the Blues. And this reaped dividends for the Stamford Bridge club, who have won a first league title since 2010.

Mourinho is keen to once more enter negotiations with Atletico in the coming weeks, as he has set his sights on midfielder Koke and forward Griezmann. Both players are key members of Diego Simeone’s first team plans, having featured 45 and 49 times respectively in all competitions this season, and each carry a release clause of £43million in their existing contracts at the club.

Whilst such a fee is large enough to deter interest from the majority of clubs, the Vicente Calderon outfit know Chelsea are one of a handful able to trigger these sections should they firm up their interest. For that reason, it has been widely reported that the La Liga club are eager to negotiate new deals for the pair, which would include revised clauses of £100million each.

Atletico will be confident of keeping Koke, the 23-year-old local who has been at the club since 2000, but could face a difficult situation with Griezmann. The France international, who has scored 25 goals in his debut season with Los Rojiblancos, is taking advice from Jorge Mendes, the super-agent who also represents Mourinho and encouraged Costa to move to London 12 months ago.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have announced the signing of Nathan from Atletico Paranaense after the talented Brazilian agreed personal terms and passed a medical at the club. The 19-year-old is believed to have cost a fee of around £4.5million, and a statement on the official club website has described him as an attacking midfielder with impressive pace and an eye for goal.

Should Chelsea move quickly for Koke and Antoine Griezmann before their release clauses are increased, or should they look elsewhere for reinforcements?

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