adminLONDON. — Jose Mourinho has ruled out a move for Paul Pogba, comparing the midfielder to the Eiffel Tower. As recently reported, Mourinho is understood to be frustrated by Chelsea’s lack of signings in the transfer window so far, especially when compared to the free-flowing spending of their title rivals.
However, despite admitting to being an admirer of the Juventus starlet, Mourinho has insisted he won’t be making a move for the midfielder.
“Pogba is one of the top players in the world. Pogba goes to any team and improves that team automatically.
“I think everybody has an interest in Pogba. But there are things you can do and things you cannot do. I love the Eiffel Tower but I can’t have the Eiffel Tower in my garden. I can’t even have the Eiffel Tower of Las Vegas.”
However, the Chelsea manager did not rule out a move for Everton defender John Stones.
When questioned on the young English central defender, Mourinho admitted he’d like to have some more youthful defensive options.
“We have two who are more than 30-years-old. We would like to have two less than 25-years-old, which would give us the next 10 years. But as you can imagine it’s no something urgent, it is not something we are desperate for.”
Mourinho says Chelsea are looking to make one more signing this summer, but are not interested in Barcelona forward Pedro.
The Blues have bid for Everton defender John Stones but Sky sources understand their offer of £20m was rejected.
It is thought the Engtlish Premier League champions will go back with an improved bid, and Mourinho has confirmed he wants to strengthen a backline that conceded the fewest goals in the league last season.
“I am looking for a defender to finish this balance in our squad and after that we are ready to answer anything that can happen to our players,” he told Sky Sports.
“If one of our players in a specific position wants to leave, we agree a deal for a player to leave and we have to answer immediately and bring in somebody else, because at the moment we have balance in the squad and we cannot lose that.” As well as a defender, the Blues have been linked with a move for Pedro, who found his opportunities limited at Barcelona last season.
However, Mourinho said: “I have five wingers, if I lose one maybe I am interested in another but at this moment I have balance and quality and numbers.
“It’s a big challenge for us to go through the season with basically the same team and squad from last season.”
One player who will not be at Stamford Bridge next season is Mohamed Salah as he looks set to leave on loan.
The Egyptian joined in January 2014 but struggled to cement a first-team spot and spent last season with Fiorentina.
“I see his future elsewhere,” said Mourinho. “Either on loan or sold with an offer we are happy to accept. We have five wingers and it is better not to have Salah back.”
The Chelsea manager also responded to reports linking Filipe Luis with a return to Atletico Madrid, saying: “If they want him back they have to pay, they have to pay and then we have to react and go to the market to keep our balance.” Meanwhile, Mourinho knew Radamel Falcao was the man for Chelsea — after getting the seal of approval from John Terry and Gary Cahill.
The Colombian hitman joins up with his new team-mates today ahead of the first game of their US tour on Thursday morning against New York Red Bulls. — Sky Sports.
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