Chelsea beat Benfica last night thanks to a vital goal from Salomon Kalou. What does his future hold?
It is no secret Chelsea are heading for major personnel changes in the summer, and Kalou is one star whose future is up in the air.
His contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and he has been linked with moves to Arsenal, and even West Ham United.
He really has been the definition of a fringe player this season, making just seven Premier League appearances.
Under Roberto Di Matteo he has come back into favour a little more, playing 90 minutes against Stoke a fortnight ago, and being a surprise starter against Benfica last night.
He got on the end of Fernando Torres’ second half cross to net the winner, and a crucial away goal to take into the second leg.
Could his goal have saved his Chelsea career?
That is to be determined still, but it is certainly a step in the right direction if he wants to stay.
Whether he should want to stay is another matter. He had reported at one stage to have been offered a new contract, but was said to be reluctant to sign without guarantees over playing time, and last night was unwilling to discuss his future.
Ever since arriving at the club in 2006, he has never really ever been a first choice starter on a regular basis, and despite last night, there are no real indications that will change anytime soon.
He is now 26 and entering the stage of his career where it is essential for him to be playing week-in week-out.
Whether a move to Arsenal will give him any better fortune is equally doubtful, as he would have to compete with Gervinho, Walcott, and Oxlade-Chamberlain for a place out wide. Perhaps the best solution would be a move to another European club.
It had seemed that Andre Villas-Boas had planned on moving him on, stating in an interview shortly before his sacking that he, along with Florent Malouda, he was a player who would make way for the potential summer signing of Porto star Hulk.
Whichever route Chelsea choose with Kalou, or is chosen by the Ivorian, last night’s winning goal will be a career highlight, and will have given all player, club, and manager, food for thought.
Do Chelsea fans want Kalou to stay or go, what is the best move for him?
image: © Ben Sutherland
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