Five fantastic French footballers for Chelsea to capture this summer

Chelsea stormed to a comprehensive Premier League title triumph this season, with four games still to spare, and the club’s attentions have now turned to securing their long-term success by tying up Jose Mourinho on a new deal and plotting a French transfer revolution.

The top flight champions are linked with a host of talented French stars from around Europe and will reportedly aim to revamp their squad this summer to sustain silverware success, while Portuguese boss Mourinho is tipped to sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

Here are five France senior and Under-21 internationals the Blues could aim to capture in the coming months.

Antoine Griezmann
Astute Atletico Madrid marksman Griezmann has become one of the hottest properties in European football, having struck 25 goals in all competitions this season, since his arrival from Real Sociedad last summer.

The France international forward effectively replaced current Blues frontman Diego Costa at the Vicente Calderon after his departure, and could soon be linking up with the former Rojiblancos striker in London.

Griezmann’s versatility is a quality that Mourinho loves in his forward players and he could utilise the talented Frenchman in the hole or from a wide right position if a deal was completed.

With a reported buy-out clause of around £43m, Chelsea (5/2 with Coral to topple Liverpool to nil) are more than capable of prising Diego Simeone’s star man away from the defending Spanish league champions.

Watch Griezmann slot home for Atletico in a thrashing over close city rivals Real Madrid.

Giannelli Imbula
Mourinho is believed to be a keen admirer of this France Under-21 international powerhouse, with the Marseille midfielder having become the youngest player in Ligue 2 history in 2009, when he featured for Guimgamp at 17 years of age.

With many European clubs being priced out of a move for Juventus maestro Paul Pogba, including Chelsea, Imbula would be a more financially beneficial option for the Blues in order to also acquire players in other positions.

Watch Imbula finish off a sublime team goal for Marseille in a Ligue 1 meeting with Saint-Etienne.

Layvin Kurzawa
If reports are to be believed, Blues boss Mourinho will look to offload current left back Filipe Luis this summer, or include him in a swap deal, with the former Atletico defender having struggled to make any impact in England this term.

A suitable French replacement could potentially be Monaco’s menacing full back Kurzawa, with the France international having also been previously linked with Manchester United and Inter Milan.

However, the 22-year-old’s performances at the Stade Louis II this current campaign have only boosted his admirers and possible summer suitors. The creative defender, who has made five assists this season from left back, is supposedly available for around €15m, a bargain considering his attacking and defensive talents.

Watch Kurzawa clinically strike past Lorient in a Ligue 1 clash for Monaco.

Alexandre Lacazette
Ferocious France international hitman Lacazette has dispatched an incredible 29 goals in 33 appearances this term and has attracted interest from all over Europe.

The Lyon sharpshooter’s instinctive eye for goal could see him become a threatening member of Mourinho’s squad next season, and a prolific partner for current Chelsea danger Costa.

Watch highlights of Lacazette’s deadly scoring abilities in France’s top-flight division.

Raphael Varane
At just 22 years of age, this dominant internationally capped centre back has become a vital first-team defender for Real Madrid both domestically and in Europe’s elite club competition.

This season, Varane has featured 43 times across all competitions for the Galacticos, as he hopes to help guide the European giants to retaining their Champions League crown. Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos are a 3/1 chance to become the first club to achieve this feat in Berlin this year.

Watch Varane make an exceptional burst of pace to create a golden chance for Real against Atleti.