Replacing the Blues Old-Guard
Chelsea: Five In, Five Out
Roman Abramovich seems very keen to usher in a new era at Stamford Bridge. Following on from finally clinching the prized capture of a Champions League title last term the Russian billionaire spent vast sums to bring in a bevvy of fine young talent and now there is a great deal of talk about a number of the clubs old guard nearing the end of their Blues careers.
With this in mind we look at five senior Chelsea players who the Chelsea owner may wish to replace and we earmark the five players who would best fill their spots as the West London side look to once again dominate both domestically and on the continent.
OUT
Petr Cech
IN
Thibaut Courtois
Clearly at the age of 30 Petr Cech is still relatively young in goalkeeping terms but the Czech Republic international is still very much a senior player at Stamford Bridge and if Belgian youngster Thiabaut Courtois is to have any future whatsoever at Chelsea then he needs to be given the chance to prove himself.
The 20 year old giant, standing at 6ft 6in, is into his second season at Atletico Madrid and has already proven a huge success at the Vicente Calderon side.
Last term the youngster amassed 23 clean sheets from 52 appearances and helped Diego Simeones side to a Europa League triupmh and has continued to impress during the current campaign where his efforts have helped Atletico split Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Atletico Madrid have conceded the second least goals in the division and Courtois is a player with a bright future and if Chelsea are looking to trust to youth then they may have to make the tough decision of bringing the former Genk man back to club so he can challenge Cech for the first team jersey, a challenge he would almost certainly, sooner rather than later, win.
OUT
Ashley Cole
IN
Leighton Baines
This is in many ways a self imposed decision. Chelsea do not look likely to change their policy of only offering one year extensions to players over 30 and as such Ashley Cole is likely to leave the club. That isnt to say that the 32 year old hasnt got plenty of years in him and the ability to be the clubs first choice left-back, but if he is to leave then he must be replaced.
The ideal man for that job is without doubt Everton defender Leighton Baines. The England international is perhaps the most consistent wide defender in Europe. The set piece specialist is as creative and direct going forward as he is capable on the back foot.
The Toffees man has four years on Cole and is a proven Premier League performer. Youngster Ryan Bertrand may seem the ready made replacement for the clubs first choice starter but arguably he is better suited to a role further up the flank and isnt a patch on Baines.
Should Everton fail to win their race to seal a Champions League berth this season, and David Moyess side are fighting a good fight on that front, then it will be perhaps all the more easy to convince Baines his future ambitions would be better served at Stamford Bridge.
OUT
John Terry
IN
Sergio Ramos
Forget about all the off-field issues, the racism allegations, and indeed and concerns you have about John Terry as a worthy role model for Chelsea Football Club, even in footballing terms it is time the club moved on.
Terry has served Chelsea with distinction but arguably if he was fully fit today he wouldnt automatically deserve a first team starting spot in Rafa Benitezs side. Yes David Luiz is prone to horrific positional errors, but he is still at this moment in time on his day a better fit for the club.
Gary Cahill has matured splendidly at Chelsea and is arguably already the man to replace John Terry but if Roman Abramovich is in a spending mood and feels he could manage it, then a move for Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos would be one to consider.
The talented adaptable customer is amazingly still only 26 years of age yet he has amassed almost 400 top tier club appearances and has 98 international caps to his name. Ramos is a World Cup and European Championship winner and perhaps most importantly, he is not happy at the Bernabeu.
Ramos fell out with Jose Mourinho some months back and there remains a bitter resentment between the pair and the former Chelsea boss has had no issue with dropping big-names, seemingly only because he can, as he did with icon Iker Casillas in recent weeks.
If Real Madrid fail to pick up either a Champions League or La Liga title and Mourinho remains at the club, then a move for Ramos may just bear fruit.
OUT
Frank Lampard
IN
Isco
Frank Lampard has re-ignited his Chelsea career since Benitez took over from Roberto Di Matteo but the 34 year old is still destined to leave the club in the summer. Therefore the Premier League side will be looking for a player who can fill the void he leaves.
One man perfectly fits the bill and thats Malaga youngster Isco, a player apparently already on the Chelsea radar, and a player who is comfortable on the ball, a constant menace going forward and able to pitch in with his fair share of goals whilst also being a wise distributor of the ball.
The 20 year old seems likely to consider a summer move away from La Rosaleda, not least because UEFA have banned Malaga from the Champions League next term.
Isco has performed wonderfully well in his maiden season in the showpiece trophy, helping Malaga into the last 16 without losing a game and he will want to be partaking in the competition against next season and perhaps a future in Chelsea blue awaits
OUT
Fernando Torres
IN
Radamel Falcao
Chelsea fans have on the whole stuck with Fernando Torres though thick and thin but last night Blues fans patience had worn down to the bone and the former Liverpool man was booed off the pitch.
The 28 year old was always going to struggle to justify the £50m fee that rests heavy on his shoulders but the Spaniard hasnt even come close to doing so.
Torres has now reached 100 appearances at Chelsea and has 26 goals to his name and that statistic is further diminished by the sheer weight of goals that came against weaker opposition. Enough is enough.
Demba Ba arrived at the club but arguably there is room for a marquee signing that is worthy of being the spearhead ahead of the mass of creative talents, one man seems to be the perfect fit to play in front of Messrs Hazard, Oscar and Mata, and that man is Radamel Falcao.
It may take an offer in excess of the £50m shelled out for Torres but at least Abramovich can be relatively certain that funds spent to sign the Colombian goal machine will be money well spent.
The 26 year old has struck 20 goals in 17 appearances last term and scored 36 in his first La Liga campaign and Atletico Madrid are all to well known for selling their prized assets as soon as they get a whiff of a big pay-day, with the likes of Torres, Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan and David de Gea making big money exits.
Falcao would surely be tempted by a move to the Premier League and if Chelsea can outbid Real Madrid or Barcelona, should the Spanish giants be considering moves for the former FC Porto man, then he could well be Stamford Bridge bound.
