Mourinho moves for Barcelona target Andriy Yarmolenko
Jose Mourinho was at the Olympic Stadium to watch Andriy Yarmolenko in person. The Dynamo Kiev forward is one of the players that Barcelona are considering moving for in the winter transfer window.
Yarmolenko, who can play in any attacking position, is a player Mourinho has been tracking since he was coach of Real Madrid and it was not a surprise to see Aitor Karanka and Rui Faria "spying" on the player who is touted as the successor to Andrei Shevchenko. However, the player's youth meant he didn't make a move.
After the interest of Barcelona, Mourinho had stepped up his own interest and attended in person to watch a player who might be able to help solve Chelsea's problems.
Mourinho, provocative as always, didn't even attempt to make his visit subtle. He stayed in the Hotel Hilton, the same as where the Spanish team and press were staying. To watch and be near Azpilizueta, Cesc and Pedro didn't come into it - his intention was to be seen.
His target was none other than Yarmolenko, on whom Dynamo Kiev have put a price of no less than 20 million euros. Several Premier League clubs such as Everton and Arsenal, have approached the players' people to find hiswillingness to leave the country. So far no one has succeeded.
But we know that when Mourinho insists on a player he will not rest until it is successful. And money will not be the problem, with Roman Abramovich on the scene.
The match did not allow Yarmolenko to shine. The Dinamo striker, left footed, moved to the right side of the attack and only showed flashes of his best form. After a first half in which he could hardly get into the play thanks to the greater possession of the Spanish side, he woke up after the break and was a nuisance to Azpilicueta. Del Bosque ushered Jordi Alba into the final stretch of the game to help keep him quiet.
