Back to “FIVE Chelsea players set for a January departure”

Demba Ba

Demba Ba only signed for the Blues in January this year, but the Senegal international has failed to live up to his prolific reputation at Stamford Bridge, with just two goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

Jose Mourinho has included the 6 foot 2 forward in his plans this season, rotating him in and out of the first team along with Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o.

But Ba nearly left for Arsenal in the summer on a season-long loan, until the Chelsea gaffer pulled the plug on the deal, and he’s undoubtedly the most expendable member of Chelsea’s strike force.

Therefore, if the Blues make moves for a new front man in January as reported in the tabloids, with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa and Galatasaray’s Burak Yilmaz the most heavily linked, the Senegal international remains the likeliest candidate to go the other way.

Arsenal are still in need of added options up front, and may be able to convince the Blues to sell if they make a permanent offer.
But the Chelsea forward netted 36 times in 66 appearances during spells with Newcastle and West Ham combined, and most Premier League clubs would happily snap up the 28 year-old in January if the price is right.

Ryan Bertrand

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Ryan Bertrand’s heroic Champions League final appearance appears to be a case of the right man in the right place at the right time.\

Since his vital contribution to Chelsea’s European title in 2012, the Blues left-back, supposedly ‘the next Ashley Cole’ has hardly lived up to his glowing reputation, despite ample opportunities to impress when filling in for the England centurion.

It seems Jose Mourinho is also unconvinced regarding Bertrand’s capabilities, opting to field Cesar Azpilicueta out of position to face Schalke last night rather than trusting the Englishman in a crucial Champions League encounter.

The 24 year-old is too old to still be living under the ‘promising youngster’ tag, and if Chelsea can find an adequate replacement they should ditch Bertrand in January.

The twice-capped England man was linked with a move to Liverpool in the summer, and the Anfield outfit could re-ignite their interest at Christmas, whilst many have speculated the Blues will make a mid-season bid for Southampton prodigy and childhood Chelsea fan Luke Shaw.

Kevin De Bruyne (on loan)

Kevin De Bruyne returned to Stamford Bridge this summer eager to impress and make a name for himself in West London on the back of an incredibly productive season-long loan at Werder Bremen, that saw him net 10 goals in 32 Bundesliga appearances.

At the start of the year, the Belgium international seemed to be a part of Jose Mourinho’s first team plans, with promising Premier League outings against Hull and Manchester United.

But the late arrival of Willian has confused the situation at Stamford Bridge slightly, and the 22 year old now has a wealth of senior talent to try and contend with for a slot in the starting XI, including Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Oscar, Willian and Andre Schurrle.

It seems another loan spell could be on the cards for the Blues youngster, considering he’s already proved that he’s well above adopting a bit-part role for the Blues, and would undoubtedly benefit from more exposure to regular first team football.\

Bayer Leverkusen were keen on De Bruyne in the summer in a bid to sweeten up the Andre Schurrle deal, but a lot of English clubs will be interested in his temporary services as well.
The promising midfielder has netted four times in 17 appearances for Belgium.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Cesar Azpilicueta emerged as a valuable member of the first team under Rafa Benitez last season, but the Spaniard has failed to have the same effect under Jose Mourinho, having made just three substitute appearances in the Premier League since the Portuguese’s return to Stamford Bridge.

The attacking full-back mould doesn’t appear to be the Chelsea gaffer’s cup of tea, and it’s quite clear at this point that he much prefers the safe-and-sturdy styles of Branislav Ivanovic.

No doubt, Azpilicueta is a talented prospect that the Blues would happily keep a hold of, but he’s also a Spain international, and must be concerned about his place in the squad ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
The 24 year-old has turned out four times for his country already this year, and he could force a move in the coming transfer window if he’s still not seeing the light of day in West London.

Azpilicueta has plied his trade in three of Europe’s leading top flights and on the international scene however, and should command a decent fee if he were to move on.

Juan Mata

A controversial inclusion by all means, but there is a chance that Juan Mata will leave Chelsea in the next transfer window.

Jose Mourinho has insisted the Spaniard isn’t for sale, but actions speak louder than words and Mata has made just four Premier League starts so far this season, and is yet to play a full 90 minutes of any fixture.

The Portuguese has charged his playmaking midfielder with picking up his defensive work-rate, but as a result, Mata has been a long way shy of the form that’s seen him win back-to-back Player of the Year awards at Stamford Bridge.

Letting the 25 year-old leave in January seems like a poorly thought-out move on Chelsea’s part, but he has a wealth of potential suitors throughout Europe, most notably in the Premier League and La Liga, and the Spaniard must have one eye on the 2014 World Cup, with no places guaranteed in Vincente Del Bosque’s Spain squad.

No doubt, Mata would come with a price-tag of at least £30million – not that the Blues have ever been in the market to sell.