Keen to rejuvenate his aging squad, the Russian billionaire has put several clubs on alert by only offering one year deals to players over 30. Lampard and Cole see their contracts expire this summer will they head elsewhere to get a longer term deal?
Chelsea battalion of older players lead them to the European Cup last season, but the clearest indication that they were still not likely to figure in the clubs plans for much longer was given when out of contract match-winner Didier Drogba was allowed to leave for Shanghai in the summer.
Abramovich has made it abundantly clear that he wants to restyle Chelsea as an attacking, skillful team, and the older guard of players at the club, who were intrinsic to Mourinho’s powerful side, don’t fit the bill. By only offering one year deals to players in the squad over 30, Abramovich is likely to see the remnants of this squad leave, with the next two exiting players being Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.
Both would have plenty of suitors for their signature. Lampard has already been extensively linked to LA Galaxy, and Cole is a target for Ancelotti’s PSG. Both of these clubs would be able to offer the players a longer term contract, something that they would probably accept if Chelsea did the same.
The England midfielder is 34, and Chelsea are now adequately stocked with attacking midfielders able to replace him, so letting Lampard go may be a good decision. However Ashley Cole is still only 31, and to let him leave would likely strengthen a European rival, whilst placing a lot of pressure on Ryan Bertrand to step up as his replacement. Cole is still a very good left back, and would surely be a reasonable candidate for a two year deal.
Abramovich would be unwise to allow attempts at a youthful, attacking philosophy override common sense decisions. The summer transfer window already contained some dubious calls from Chelsea in terms of the players they allowed to leave.
Letting Michael Essien and Raul Meireles depart has left them very short of defensive cover in their midfield. The decision to let Drogba leave was partly motivated by a desire to give Fernando Torres the room to succeed, but was still a huge risk, after all Drogba was integral to their two cup successes last year. If a two year deal would have been accepted by the Ivorian, then it may have be the best result all round.
Chelsea have started strongly this year, and the young players they have brought in have looked incredibly exciting. There is always a need to move older players on as their talent wanes, but there’s no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Players in their early thirties can still be a vital influence in a side, and a two year deal for someone like Ashley Cole wouldn’t represent anything other than a good decision for the team.
image: © Ben Sutherland
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