We
asked Phil Thompson to review the Chelsea squad and tell us which players
incoming manager Antonio Conte should move on this summer.
The Soccer Saturday pundit believes Conte should let no less than six
first-team players leave, while suggesting question marks surround several
others.
Here are Thommo's thoughts on who should stay and who should go...
Thibaut Courtois - The most nailed on player in the squad to stay.
VERDICT: STAY
Asmir Begovic - Quality back-up for Courtois. The goalkeeping department is
the least of Conte's concerns.
VERDICT: STAY
Cesar Azpilicueta - He's a manager's dream with his versatility and
consistency.
VERDICT: STAY
Branislav Ivanovic - He had an extremely bad first half of the season and
doesn't look focused. Age is against him so I'd suggest it's time to move
him on.
VERDICT: GO
Gary Cahill - He's not had a good season and I'd say he's also a doubt to
start for England. I'd personally have John Stones starting ahead of him
alongside Chris Smalling and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Chelsea go
back in for Stones in the summer.
VERDICT: OPEN TO OFFERS
John Terry - I would keep him in the squad and make him assistant manager
and get control of the players.
VERDICT: STAY
Kurt Zouma - He's made a few mistakes but he's still young and Chelsea will
be relying on him developing into a quality centre-back.
VERDICT: STAY
Baba Rahman - Another young defender that has made some mistakes but Chelsea
are going to have to give these guys chances if they are to reap the rewards
of their investment in youth.
VERDICT: STAY
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - He'll be hoping to get some more games in the final few
games to prove what he can offer to Conte.
VERDICT: STAY
Nemanja Matic - He's had a tough season but he's still the best defensive
midfielder at the club.
VERDICT: STAY
John Obi Mikel - He slows things down and from listening to what Conte is
about he won't like that as he gets his team playing quick, high tempo
attacking football.
VERDICT: GO
Oscar - I don't think he has the impact on games that he should have so if
the interest is there I'd be tempted to let him go.
VERDICT: OPEN TO OFFERS
Eden Hazard - I think he wants to leave and I don't think Conte will be able
to refocus him. If they have interest from PSG or Real Madrid then they
should take advantage of it.
VERDICT: GO
Cesc Fabregas - He's probably been Chelsea's best player in the second half
of the season and Conte will have been watching a lot of those games.
VERDICT: STAY
Pedro - He's had a better second half of the season and is somebody who will
suit the way Conte likes to play with pace and dynamism.
VERDICT: STAY
Willian - Chelsea's best player of the season, for what it's worth.
VERDICT: STAY
Bertrand Traore - A lot of thought of him but I've not seen enough from him
yet to suggest he's a future star.
VERDICT: STAY
Kenedy - We've seen him at left-back and on the left-wing so it will be
interesting to see which position Conte sees as his best. Another youngster
that I'd like to see more of before passing judgment.
VERDICT: STAY
Diego Costa - It's a strange one because there's so much talk of him moving
you don't know where it's coming from. He's rubbed a lot of people up the
wrong way and from first half of the season you'd have said he has to move
but his form has improved.
VERDICT: OPEN TO OFFERS
Radamel Falcao - His injuries have obviously been a big problem and I'm not
really sure why Chelsea gambled on him after what happened at Manchester
United. He was a fantastic talent but you sense that friends in high places
earned him the move.
VERDICT: GO
Alexandre Pato - The ridicule he was getting from their own fans last
weekend was quite embarrassing and I wasn't sure we were ever going to see
him. Has a lot to prove between now and the end of the season.
VERDICT: GO
Loic Remy - He's simply not of a high enough quality to play for Chelsea.
You've got to think Conte will be looking at strikers and Edinson Cavani and
Gonzalo Higuain, who has had a fantastic season at Napoli, are the two
obvious names.
VERDICT: GO
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