Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is ready to axe up to six players at the club ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Portuguese manager is determined to stay well ahead of Chelsea’s rivals and retain the Premier League title, and will seek to get rid of the ‘deadwood’ within the squad as soon as possible.
Mourinho also confirmed yesterday that left-back Filipe Luis and midfielder Mohammed Salah are free to leave Stamford Bridge.
Luis has struggled to cement a regular starting spot in the side and had to suffer being back-up to Cesar Azpilicueta during last season’s campaign. However, it looks increasingly likely that the Brazilian will head back to Atletico Madrid as the two clubs are in advanced talks over the player.
Meanwhile, Salah is also expected to seek out where his future lies, with Mourinho suggesting that there simply isnt enough room for the player in the squad.
“If they want [Luis] back then they have to pay and we have to discuss the offer,” Mourinho said.
“Then we have to react and we have to go in the market.”
“I see Salah’s future elsewhere, either as a loan or an offer that we are happy to accept.”
“At the moment, with Hazard and Willian, Traore, Moses and Cuadrado, we have five players for these positions. It is better not to have so many.”
It is also understood that the likes of Juan Cuadrado, Oriol Romeu, Nathan Ake and Patrick Bamford could all be set for exits.
By Ollie Brown @olliebrowner_
