Luiz Felipe Scolari has promised a massive overhaul of Chelsea's bloated first-team squad that is likely to see around ten players leave before the start of the new season.
While Scolari's assurances during his introductory press conference that Frank Lampard would remain at the club have seemingly rebounded to the extent of making the midfielder's departure inevitable, a host of other established names are expected to be told they can leave after Scolari indicated he wanted to radically trim the size of his squad.
"I want to work with 23, 24, or a maximum of 25 players," the new Chelsea boss confirmed. "Now I have 32 players. But now is the time to change the team. If I have 30 players I can't bring them in from the youth side, which is what I have always done and always will do.
"The players know this. When I spoke to them, I said this: 'There will be 23, 24 or 25 who will stay with me. That is the maximum I will need'."
Scolari is not short of candidates for the cull. Among those set to depart in the next few weeks are Steve Sidwell and Shaun Wright-Phillips, as well as Lampard. However, his remarks could also signal the exit of Andriy Shevchenko, Juliano Belletti, Carlo Cudicini and Claudio Pizarro. Claude Makelele, meanwhile, is thought to be interested in a switch to Paris St Germain.
Your Comments
superjtlamps
"Sidwell-gone Ben Haim -useless Anelka--sulks Drogs-Moody SWP-ugly Malouda-useless & ugly Lamps-greedy Pizzaro-crap Boularouz-dreadful all these to go Bring in Deco(arrived) Robinho,Huntelaar,Villa,Silva"
dean66683
"as i have said all along, 9/10 out and 6 in. pizzaro, anleka, drogba, sheva, malouda, swp, sidwell, makelele, benhaim and belletti out. in etoo, villa, ronaldinho, robinho, (deco), and 1 other attacking cm (pos vandervart). that would give us a 22man squad with hilario and 2 youth players making it 25. you read it hear 1st."
Dr_Thaksin_Who
"a Chelsea manager moaning about the size of the squad is most amusing, it's not as if they are bringing through loads of talented youngsters is it? Like ex-Bristol Rovers Scott 'don't unpack your bags son' Sinclair."
rubken
"dodgy players on stupid salaries must be hard to shift. Perhaps SWP can get a move back to Man C. they have a few bob now."
mattygoal
"I hear this every year but for some reason fringe players on £90,000 a week never seem to want to leave. I just can't imagine why......"
danny1987uk
"As a Chelsea fan it's a shame that the players they bring in are "Highly Rated" at the time and then end up leaving the club for little fees and just a "Plain Reputation" Theres: Shaun Wright Phillips. Damien Duff. I've always thought of them two as "Qaulity" Right & Left wingers. Once they get to chelsea they sit on the bench and only get started once every 4-5 games. If they were consistanly started then they would of shined."
Mutid
"Big Phil added "Youth has always been important to me and so I will be replacing them with Year 7 students who respect authority and understand discipline. They call me Mr Scolari Sir and put their hands up when they have questions, want to pass the ball or need to go to the toilet. Roman has helpfully pinpointed some Year 7 students from his old gulag-school in Siberia and I wholeheartedly concur with his vision, though I am overall responsible for the selection of the players and the team.""
clockendgooner
"10 leaving the squad, hey? Be interesting to see what happens when they go through a little injury crises then! Look how much Moaninho banged on about his injuires, when he had a squad of 30 odd! "
Stavros
"About time, a manager who does want he wants for the benefit of the club (and probably to justify his wages)."
fallon
"I'd get rid of Ben Haim (rubbish), Kalou (not prem clas), Anelka (lazy), Drogba (wants out), SWP (not good enough), Ivanovic (always injured), Sidwell (going) and Boularouz (not good enough)."
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