Blues set to clear the decks.
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Chelsea are set to embark on a massive summer clear out with no less than 13 star players heading for the exit in a massive rebuilding project to be undertaken by boss Jose Mourinho.
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CaughtOffside understands that Ashley Cole, John Obi Mikel, Marko Marin, Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku, Demba Ba, Hilario, Samuel Eto’o, Victor Moses, Oriol Romeu, Gael Kakuta, Ryan Bertrand and Thibaut Courtois are all on the chopping block and expected to make an exit at the end of the season.
Veteran full-back Cole has been earmarked for a move to the United States in order to wind his career down, however, he will pocket a big sum in the process, whilst John Obi Mikel is wanted at Inter Milan.
Mourinho is hoping to retool his forward line, and hopes to clear space for either Diego Costa or Radamel Falcao, both of whom have been eyed by the Blues at separate times since the the summer.
That means that Demba Ba has come to the end of the line and Romelu Lukaku is thought to be wanted by a number of top Premier League sides after two successful loans away from the club. Samuel Eto’o only signed a one year deal in August and it is not expected to be renewed. Torres could be offered to Atletico Madrid in part exchange for Costa, but they are hoping to keep hold of Thibaut Courtois, who has just spent the past three seasons on loan with the club.
Moses, Romeu, Kakuta and Bertrand are all currently on loan and not believed to be ready to penetrate the Blues first team anytime soon and are all said to be wanted by the club’s they are currently with, and Mourinho is willing to let them stay for cut price fees if all terms can be agreed.
However, Chelsea will be looking for a buyer for winger Marko Marin, who hasn’t made the sort of impact they had been hoping he would and may have to take a considerable loss if they want to offload him permanently.