Chelsea To Release Champions League Stars

Rumours are circulating that Chelsea are set to release two of their Champions League Final starters, Salamon Kalou, and Jose Bosingwa.

Kalou, who was signed in 2006, cost £8m from Feyenoord, and scored 60 goals from 254 appearances for the club.

He netted the vital goal away to Benfica in this seasons Champions League run, but has found first-team opportunities hard to come by under Andre Villas Boas, but of course was handed a spot in the CL final win against Bayern Munich.

Will a squad overhaul this summer, it was always very likely that Kalou would be let go, especially due to the fact Chelsea are in the market for Lucas Moura and Edin Hazard, after already signing the playmaker Marko Marin.

Along with Kalou, Bosingwa seems to be on his way also, just 3 and a half years after Filipe Scorali brought him to the club in a £16m move from Porto.

He never really settled at the club, and with Ivanovic making that spot his own, he has found opportunities hard to come by, although was given a golden one as Ivanovic became suspended for the Champions league final this month, which he did a superb job at stopping the influential winger Franck Ribery.

He has played 127 times for Chelsea, but it seems they will call time on that count, and rumours are that Chelsea may bid for another defender to possibly replace Ivanovic or at least challenge for the first-team spot.

There are several players that will be entering the last 12 months of their contract, most notadly Frank Lampard and Michael Essien, who will no doubt be agreeing new terms over the summer, as Abramovich sees both of the midfielders integral to the workings of the team.

Both of these players could be the first of a host of high profile names to leave Stamford Bridge, as it is rumoured Abramovich has set aside around £230m for new players.

By Brad Smith
Follow @BrummieBrad