After a poor defense of their title, Stamford Bridge outfit Chelsea are going full throttle this season and are now in the middle of an 11-game winning streak in the Premier League. The new manager at the club, Antonio Conte, has made a huge difference to the squad and the players since his move to London and his side are genuine contenders and favorites for the Premier League title. The manager spent a fair amount of money in the summer and has added some quality to the squad but he is evidently unhappy with the options at his disposal which might see him dip into the transfer market in January. He might also be selling a few players away in the market and here two such players who the Blues should get rid of in January:
Branislav Ivanovic:
With the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill, cementing a place in the starting XI at the club, the Serbian international has found game time hard to come by this season. The likes of John Terry and Kurt Zouma are expected to play as backups for the back-3 at the club this season leaving Ivanovic with no real chance of a place in the starting XI. He is currently frozen out of the first-team and with no European football also to entertain, the 32-year old defender has no real place at the club and it would be best for both parties that they part ways in January. Conte is expected to add a defender to his side in January and has been linked with a number of European stars and this is more of a reason for Ivanovic to leave the club. At 32, his experience can be helpful but Conte just does not seem him helping the side this season, leaving the club with no other option but to sell.
John Obi Mikel:
Antonio Conte is a big fan of hard tackling defensive midfielders who love to prove cover for the back-line. N Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic are occupying those spots in the side this season with Cesc Fabregas acting as back up. This has left the Nigerian international John Obi Mikel with no place in the starting XI this season. Antonio Conte is yet to give him even a minute of action in any competition this season and Mikel seems to have no real place in the plans of the manager for years to come. He is a decent midfielder who can help the side in crunch games and at 29, has a few years left in him. But with Conte not prepared to try him this season, the January transfer window is the perfect opportunity for the duo to part ways. Surely, Mikel will leave the club when the transfer window is open.