Chelsea look to Fernando Torres after Inter Milan defeat
Chelsea to hold overdue squad clearout this summer after Champions League exit with Fernando Torres, pictured with Branislav Ivanovic, top transfer target
Thursday, 18, Mar 2010 11:10
By Matthew Champion.
Chelsea will hold an overdue squad clearout this summer following a humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Inter Milan, with Fernando Torres top of their list of transfer targets.
Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to guide his side to a 3-1 aggregate win against a disappointing Chelsea XI containing eight players synonymous with his three-year reign.
Owner Roman Abramovich is said to have seen the defeat as the final nail in the coffin for 'Mourinho's Chelsea', with Carlo Ancelotti set to be handed a £150 million transfer war chest this summer.
Liverpool striker Torres, whose side are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, leads the list of targets, followed by Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero and Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.
Everton's promising midfielder Jack Rodwell and Atletico's goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo are also reportedly on Ancelotti's wish-list.
Heading in the opposite direction will be a host of stars, including Henrique Hilario, Ricardo Carvalho, Deco, Paulo Ferreira and Juliano Belletti.
The futures of Nicolas Anelka, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack are all also in doubt unless they accept new one-year deals on reduced pay in a strategy that would see younger players such as Gael Kakuta and Daniel Sturridge given more opportunities in the first team.
Chelsea winger Florent Malouda revealed that Abramovich visited the home dressing room after Wednesday's defeat but "didn't speak".
"Everyone was quiet in the dressing room because we were really disappointed," the Frenchman said.
"He came in because when we lose we lose together. You don't have to blame anyone in particular, we lost together. Now we have to raise it and we will analyse the way we played and then win together."