Jose Mourinho: I want to sign a striker this summer

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that he is planning to make just two crucial signings this summer as he looks to strengthen the west Londoners’ squad and challenge for silverware next season.

The Blues are still in the Premier League title race but must rely on their rivals dropping points if they are to be successful, while their European dream was ended in midweek courtesy of defeat to Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge.

When the Portuguese manager arrived for his second stint at the club last summer, he was widely expected to guide Roman Abramovich’s outfit to a trophy during his first season in charge, but the campaign will widely be deemed to be unsuccessful if they fail to add to their prestigious list of honours.

Rumours have circulated that Mourinho is plotting to make several new additions to his squad, but he has revealed that he is aiming to bring in a pair of players, with the emphasis on quality rather than quality.

“The only thing I can say is that the market is closed. Chelsea will be calm and quiet during that period. We are not going to be the noisy team buying and selling and selling and buying. We are going to do, I would say, a couple of critical signings,” Mourinho told reporters.

Mohamed Salah, Kurt Zouma and Nemanja Matic were all purchased in January so it is unsurprising that there will not be a flurry of confirmed signatures given the extensive amount of money spent at the halfway stage of the season.

However, one area of the squad that was not strengthened may well have cost the Blues dearly this season, with Mourinho adamant that a striker remains the priority, although he was coy on suggestions Chelsea have agreed a deal for Diego Costa.

“Is a striker a target for us? Yes. We never deny that. Is Diego a good player? He is, but he’s an Atletico Madrid player so I can’t say much,” he insisted.