Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho is targeting Sevilla's Yevhen Konoplyanka, according
to the Shakhtar Donetsk manager.
The Blues boss was in Kiev on Monday for Spain's 1-0 win over Ukraine in the
European Qualifiers and winger Konoplyanka is said to have been one of three
potential signings he was watching.
Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu says he spoke to Mourinho and stated
that 26-year-old Konoplyanka, along with Andriy Yarmolenko and Alex
Teixeira, were all being considered as options for Stamford Bridge.
"Mourinho is interested in Yevhen Konoplyanka," Lucescu said. "I was at
Ukraine versus Spain with Mourinho and he is interested in some players.
"Perhaps it is Yarmolenko or Teixeira, if not, then it is Konoplyanka."
Konoplyanka moved from Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to Spain during the summer.
Mourinho has come under close scrutiny after a lacklustre start to the
season with defeats in the Champions League and securing just three wins in
their opening nine Premier League games.
The Portuguese boss showed on Saturday his determination to shake up his
squad after dropping Eden Hazard to the bench and warning the Belgian to
improve his work-rate.
A move during the January transfer window for Konoplyanka may prove unlikely
with the Ukrainian cup-tied for the Champions League.
The Chelsea manager will return to Ukraine on Monday as he prepares his side
for a Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev.
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