Hilario
It’s difficult to pick up on what’s good and what’s bad about Hilario because in six years we’ve seen so little of him. A perennial number 3 during his time in West London, he last had a steady run of games during Petr Cech’s recovery from a fractured skull in 2006. It’s hard to see who would buy him at this stage of his career so a coaching role, either at Chelsea or elsewhere, could be on the cards for the one cap Portuguese ‘keeper.
Michael Essien
Like Malouda, he is a player who was once so crucial to Chelsea’s success. He had it all; power, pace, strong tacking, and an eye for goal. However, his injury problems have limited in input and his impact. Currently on loan at Real Madrid where he’s linked up with former boss, Jose Mourinho, Chelsea would do well to cash in on the 30-year-old and replace him with a younger model.