Mourinho Confirms Chelsea's Desire to Land a Stable Number Nine This Summer

Jose Mourinho has revealed that he is looking for greater stability next season to spearhead his title charge.

Chelsea are on the verge of going trophyless this season after losing to Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League and Mourinho insists that he needs a striker who he can start on a regular basis next season.

The Portuguese manager also wants Nemanja Matic to provide Chelsea with the required stability in the Champions League and Ramires, who has served seven bans this season, to discipline himself.

The former Real Madrid man has a plethora of riches in attacking midfield with the likes of Oscar, Eden Hazard and Willian, all capable of playing in that position. The manager is also appreciative of Ashley Cole, who has not started in many games this season but put in a brilliant performance in the absence of Ivanovic against Atletico.

Chelsea are currently third in the table and a win against Norwich will see them go on top until Liverpool's game against Crystal Palace where a point for the Reds will shift the Blues to second.

"So the structure and the base are partially there. It was not possible to complete that puzzle due to different factors. If next season we have, for example, a number nine that we decide deserves to be the first choice, plus the stability that Matic can give by being always available, and with Ramires hopefully getting fewer bans - hopefully then we can have more stability," Mourinho told Chelsea's Official Website.

"I think Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry and Azpilicueta were a spine and a strength during the whole season. It's a pity that Ashley Cole didn't play so much because the player, the man, the Chelsea guy and the quality is there. It's also a pity the kid Kalas didn't have more chances.

"That's because it is not just that the defence's performance was so stable, it was also the fact they were almost never injured," he concluded.