It’s official, Anelka and Alex will be leaving Chelsea in January. The Duo have become srplus to needs at Stamford Bridge and Coach Villas-Boas has confirmed that the club had received their offers to leave the club in January.
I would not quite call this a loss for Chelsea, but rather a step in the right direction as both players are indeed past their prime. The good news for Villas-Boas, is that this news eases his selection problem.
Speaking after Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Newcastle United, Villas-Boas said that the decision reached was one based on conversation with the players.
“The conversation was fair, and very frontal and direct with the players. They have shown their interest in leaving the club and have put in a transfer request for quite some time.
However, Villas Boas maintained that though the request were received, it was not definite that they would happen.
“The players were fantastic in assuming it and the rest of the group was informed and they took on board the decision. The transfer request was accepted but it doesn’t mean it will happen and if it doesn’t happen the players will return to full training.”
Meanwhile former Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has urged his former team AC Milan to move for Anelka. According to Ancelotti, Anelka would be a perfect replacement for Cassano who is out for the season.
With Tevez and Drogba also being linked with a move to the Italian giants, it will be amazing to see how the January transfer window will play out. Anelka and Alex are not the only players who could soon be on their way out of London.
Also out of contract at the end of the season is Ivorian Salomon Kalou. This is one player i would not like to see leave Chelsea. The 26 year old is yet to sign a new deal offered to him by the club after falling down the pecking order in Villas-Boas line up.
When recently asked about his future at Stamford Bridge, Kalou did not rule out a move.
‘I have nothing to comment on the rumours. Olympiakos were interested, but I’m not interested in Greece. I want to play more and more’.
At the moment French club Olympipique Marseille are the front runners to land Kalou and could move to France as early as January. So as things stand, Anelka, Kalou, Drogba and Alex are all very likely to leave the club, it will be interestin g to see how Chelsea build for the future.
Photo Credit © Laura_nz
