Chelsea to rescue World Cup star from Real Madrid wilderness
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Apart from managing one of the biggest clubs on the planet, who are expected to win every match they play and every competition they enter, one of the biggest challenges for any Real Madrid boss is finding a spot in the side for all the supreme talent.
In his first season in charge of Los Blancos, Rafa Benitez is finding out just how tough that is, as World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez grows increasingly disgruntled with his situation in Spain.
The Colombian, who has been hampered by injury so far this term, has started only six games for the former Liverpool boss and is unhappy with his role for the Spanish tactician.
As a result, rumour mongers are beginning to link the former Monaco star with a switch to the Premier League, and struggling defending champions Chelsea are the supposed destination.
The Daily Express suggests the Blues are poised to make a bid for the unhappy midfielder, although their belief that Rodriguez would arrive to pressure Cesc Fabregas’ place in the team looks a little off.
If anything, it would be Brazilian number 10 Oscar that is placed most at threat by James’ arrival, as the 24-year-old tends to operate in an advanced midfield position rather than the deeper-lying one occupied by Fabregas.
Whether the Stamford Bridge outfit make a move for the 40-cap international in January remains to be seen, but having endured a nightmare opening to the campaign are certainly in need of some inspiration to turn things around.
Having lost eight of their opening 15 top-flight matches, the Blues lie in 14th place in the table and are rated 17/2 to finish the season in the Champions League places.
Should they fail to finish in the top four, luring talent of Rodriguez’s magnitude to the club could prove difficult, so an audacious January bid could be their best chance of landing the playmaker.
Jose Mourinho’s strugglers face league-leading Leicester on Monday night, priced at 13/10 to get an away win.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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