Chelsea set for summer clearout

European Champions Chelsea are set for a summer clearout, including some of the players that helped secure the Blues the Champions League trophy.

There is still doubt over whom the next Chelsea boss will be but whoever that might be will almost have to start from scratch.

Exit

Didier Drogba has already revealed that he will be leaving the club this summer but a host of his teammates will follow him through the Stamford Bridge exit door. Salomon Kalou and Jose Bosingwa haven’t been offered extensions to their contracts, so will be released.

The likes of Paulo Ferreira, Michael Essien and Florent Malouda could all follow the pair out of Chelsea. All these players have played a part in Chelsea’s rise to the top of the English game in the last decade.

Talent

The players that are leaving Chelsea are by no means has-beens. The likes of Salomon Kalou, Jose Bosingwa and Michael Essien will no doubt be snapped up very quickly. Essien was regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, before a series of injuries halted his career.

If he could get back to full fitness he would be a good signing for any top club. I don’t think Bosingwa is a terrible player either. The Portuguese full-back is definitely better at going forward than defending but he isn’t an awful defender.

Salomon Kalou’s problem is that he is inconsistent. He can be brilliant one game, then the next disappear from the game completely. He has never been able to really establish himself as a regular starter at Chelsea and it’s hampered his career. A move is what his career needs.

Clearout

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has wanted this sort of clearout of players for along time. He wanted Andre Villas-Boas to revolutionise the squad last summer. However the players were still under contract last summer and on massive wages, so they would have been hard to sell.

I wonder how different it would have been for Villas-Boas if he would have came in this summer and given a big transfer kitty. The next Chelsea manager will have to be given money to spend to replace the players that are leaving.

Arrivals

According to press reports this morning Chelsea is looking at bringing in Porto striker Hulk and Lille playmaker Eden Hazard. Both players would cost major fees and they will also be on big wages. It seems that once again Abramovich is willing to foot a big bill once again.

Hulk has a minimum fee release clause of 100million euros. However, it now seems he is ready to move on, which would mean the Brazilian striker pushing his club Porto into a move away and the fee lowered dramatically.

The 25 year-old has helped his club to three Portuguese league titles and a Europa League victory during his time in Portugal.

Hazard has been tracked by a host of European clubs since the age of 17. According to his agent he has three offers on the table, believed to be offers from Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. His agent also revealed that Hazard will make a decision on his future before 2nd June.

Chelsea appear to be frontrunners in the race for his signature, despite the fact that the club currently hasn’t got a manager.

Rebuild

I have to admit that most of the players set to be released by Chelsea aren’t a surprise. Although I feel the likes of Bosingwa, Essien and Kalou still have a lot to offer. This summer whoever the new Chelsea boss may be will have a major rebuilding job on his hands.

Despite winning the Champions League, Chelsea now have to re-assemble a squad of players capable of challenging in Europe and the Premier League next season. It’s going to be a big job and I really don’t envy the new Chelsea chief.

Would should Chelsea sign this summer?