The players in and out of Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
It’s been a solid first season back at Chelsea for manager Jose Mourinho, with the side still in the Premier League title race and through to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Despite that the 51-year-old has some noticeable weak points in his squad and it’s highly likely that this summer will be busy for the west London club with transfers in and current players sold.
So here are the five in and five out for the Blues at the end of the campaign.
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Out
Ashley Cole
With the England international’s current contract at Stamford Bridge up at the end of this term it looks like the end of a highly successful eight years with the team for Cole.
The 33-year-old has lost his place in the starting XI to usual right-back Cesar Azpilicueta and several clubs have been linked with the left-back, including Liverpool, Real Madrid and New York Red Bulls.
Due to Cole’s age and wage demands Mourinho is unlikely to be desperate to keep the defender on.
Source: Mirror.
Demba Ba
Despite scoring the goal against Paris Saint-Germain that sent the west Londoners through in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season, Ba has cut a disillusioned figure for much of this campaign.
That is because although there has been some woeful performances from the club’s strikers in 2013/14, the Senegal international has hardly been given any game time by Mourinho.
Ba nearly moved away from the English capital in the January transfer window and is unlikely to want to hang around much longer at the Bridge.
Source: Sky Sports.
Frank Lampard
After almost 13 years of success with the club Lampard’s time with Chelsea looks to finally be coming to an end as the midfielder quickly approaches 36-years-old.
Last season the Englishman showed he could still cut it, but now the veteran is slowing and is down the pecking order for a place in the team.
Although Lampard fills part of the much needed homegrown quota, Mourinho is likely to want to start building for the future.
Source: Metro.
John Obi Mikel
Another who has generally found game time hard to come by under the Portuguese boss is this Nigeria international – particularly after the £20.75m January arrival of Nemanja Matic.
There are also apparently a host of clubs waiting to snap up Mikel and if the Blues can receive a decent fee for the 26-year-old, Mourinho is likely to sell.
After the hassle the side went through to sign the African in 2006 it now hardly seems worth it after nearly eight years of mediocrity.
Source: Goal.
Fernando Torres
Someone who seems absolutely certain to leave the Bridge is Torres, bringing to an end what has been a fairly disappointing three-and-a-half years after what remains a club record £50m transfer from Liverpool.
The Spaniard has never found the scoring form with Chelsea that shot the striker to stardom at Anfield and Mourinho appears to have grown impatient with the 30-year-old.
Inter Milan are strongly linked with the forward and whilst his club will make a significant loss, having Torres off the wage bill will be a bonus.
Source: Sky Sports.
In
Ross Barkley
With the west London side needing midfield support if both Lampard and Mikel leave then this Everton ace could be the perfect signing – especially as he would also meet the homegrown quota as well.
Under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, Barkley has really impressed this season and looks set for a great future both domestically and with the England national team.
However, with the Toffees likely to be unwilling to sell it will take a hefty bid from Chelsea if they are to acquire the 20-year-old.
Source: Mirror.
Diego Costa
The man that has been constantly linked with the Blues as Mourinho looks to overhaul his strikers this summer after a disappointing year in front of goal.
That has certainly not be the case for Costa however, with the 25-year-old having netted an impressive 33 goals in 43 matches in all competitions, including starring in Europe’s top tier.
The Blues will get a decent view of the attacker when they face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals and can decide whether meeting his £32m release clause is worthwhile.
Source: Metro.
Thibaut Courtois
If one player has to return to London this summer to prove that the club’s loan policy has at least some credibility is this world-class goalkeeper – who has been brilliant with Atletico over the past three years.
Still only 21-years-old Courtois is already considered to be one of the best stoppers currently playing the game and the decline of Petr Cech should mean a change in No.1s.
Courtois has already publicly stated that he is not prepared for another temporary move away and therefore Mourinho has a big decision to make regarding who is ‘keeper will be.
Source: Sky Sports.
Luke Shaw
If Cole is, as expected, leaving the club in the summer then in Southampton’s Shaw there is seemingly a readymade replacement that could realistically be a first team player for the next 15 years.
The 18-year-old has been greatly impressing at St Mary’s over the past two years and as a result is an outside shot to make Roy Hodgson’s 23-man England squad for the 2014 World Cup.
Having only recently signed a five-year professional contract with the Saints, it will take a large bid to acquire Shaw though.
Source: Telegraph.
Hulk
With new strikers the priority for Mourinho and Zenit St. Petersburg in a transition period since the sacking of Luciano Spalletti and the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas, Hulk could finally make the move to England.
The Brazil international has been linked with the Premier League for a number of years, but with the Russians having forked out the best part of £40m for the 27-year-old, the forward will not be cheap.
However, Hulk may be worth it as he would represent the sort of exciting signing the fans at the Bridge want.
Source: Metro.
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