Nemanja Matic

Price tag aside, there can be no mistaking that Chelsea's new (old) boy fits the bill as to what Jose Mourinho looks for in a defensive midfielder. At Real Madrid Xabi Alonso was sometimes the pivot of the midfield, a natural playmaker from deep rather than a natural ball holder. Mourinho's sides have most often featured a strong powerful midfield presence, blessed with the ability to both read the game and the physical ability to dominate. His first spell at Chelsea allowed for the likes of Makalele, Essien and Obi Mikel to flourish. 

He has been back at Stamford Bridge for a few months and his side tactically looks a bit different from his first spell. His midfield shape has changed, he no longer features the pivot with two centrally midfielders in front of him, instead a bank of two in support of a number 10. Mikel and Essien are still present although the Ghanian has not featured much this campaign and looks to be heading for the Stamford Bridge exit. This is where old boy Nemanja Matic comes in.

At 6'4 he is a more dominating presence than Ramires, and at Benfica he has had practice at both playing in the pivot, and as a more defensive minded holder in a flat midfield two behind the number 10. He already sounds perfect for a Mourinho side. 

He cannot play for Chelsea in the Champions League having already played in it this season for Benfica, where some of his performances caught the eye. In particular in Benfica's opener. A two nil win over Belgian champions Anderlecht. His performance that night was particularly dominant, making 8 tackles succesfull completing 7 of them. 

He played centrally and to the left of the Benfica midfield, occasionally shuttling out to the flank to make tackles and stop opposition breaks. This will come in useful for a Chelsea side who's left full back wether it be Azpillacueta or Cole, likes to bomb on. Matic's cover would allow this without fear of counter.

In Benfica's last group stage game they managed a 2-1 victory over PSG. Without the ball for large periods of time they had to play on the counter, getting the ball forward with little build up. This again is much like how Jose Mourinho likes his sides to play.

Against Anderlecht Matic's passes forward where mostly short ones into the feet of Perez in the number 10 role, often no more than five or ten yards. Contrast this to his range of passing against PSG which was much more direct.

No question about it that Matic ticks all the right boxes, physically he is strong, he reads the game really well and has a range of passing that could help Chelsea against weaker opposition by feeding short passes to likes of Hazard, Oscar, Willian. Then he can influence games against the top sides snuffing out danger, getting the ball forward quickly and countering. Price tag aside, no doubt Cheslea have got themselves a talented prospect and at 25 he is no longer the inexperienced rookie that left Stamford Bridge a few years ago.