RAMIRES is close to a £25million move to China and Alexandre Pato is set to sign for Chelsea on loan as Guus Hiddink begins his overhaul of the team he inherited from Jose Mourinho.
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| One in one out. Ramires departs for China while Alexandre Pato joins Chelsea from Corinthians |
Midfielder Ramires, 28, only signed a new four-year contract in October but has started only seven games this season despite Chelsea's poor results - and none since Hiddink took charge in December.
Former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu is manager of Chinese Cup holders Jiangsu Suning and is willing to accepts add-ons to the deal which could potentially take the transfer way beyond the £17m the London club paid to Benfica in 2010.
At the same time, Hiddink seems to have settled on the worth of Pato - for the time being at least - after a deal was struck initially for the player between Mourinho and Corinthians.
The 26-year-old's poor injury record is a bone of contention but a loan deal would give the Chelsea manager a chance to assess whether the Brazil striker can cut it in the Premier League, after he scored 63 goals in 150 Serie A appearances with AC Milan, before committing to a permanent deal.
According to Branislav Ivanovic, part of the team which beat Arsenal 1-0 on Sunday, it is not about individuals but the "team spirit" which he credited for Chelsea stealing the bragging rights in what has been a miserable season.
The defender was one who particularly seemed to suffer in the final stages of the Mourinho reign and he was quick to praise the more collective approach Hiddink appears to have achieved.
"We have started playing as a team, which is very important," he said. "In every season, there are always periods where you can be up and down, bad or good. This season there have been a lot of times where we were down, so we have to change.
"After half a season has been down, we have to try to make the second half positive. This is what we are looking for. We need to be like what we were against Arsenal - a team from the first to the last minute.
"I think all of us were in a difficult moment and that was hard for us as individuals and as a team. Now we are starting to get something positive, things are starting to happen for us. We have a little bit of luck as well, so with all of these things, we try to change the situation."
Key players underperformed but already Ivanovic feels Hiddink is two-thirds of the way to resolving the situation.
"Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa are playing really well," he said. "When you have these kind of guys in attack, with the special things they both have, you get results.
"We have had a week between games and we have been working very hard. We have improved our physical condition and the result of that is showing on the pitch.
"Against Arsenal and the last few matches, they have given a lot for the team. It's always the guys in attack that make the difference. For us it's very important for Diego to score, for Cesc to assist with great passes because it gives a lot for the team.
"We are starting to do our puzzle again and these are two important pieces for us to have a good end to the season."
The final hole will be filled when Eden Hazard - a substitute at the Emirates after injury compounded miserable form at the start of the season - rediscovers the touch which made him the player of the year last season.
"Hazard is the one piece what we really need and miss," said Ivanovic. "He is also working very hard the last couple of weeks after getting an injury. He is physically in good shape and for sure he will be there in the next couple of games."
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