If the latest report from Mirror Football is to be believed then the future of Branislav Ivanovic at Chelsea is under serious threat after a string of poor defensive performances for Antonio Conte’s side.
The 32-year-old veteran star has featured in every minute of the Blues’ Premier League campaign so far, filling his regular slot at right-back.
Ivanovic also wore the captain’s armband during the absence of John Terry vs Liverpool last week, but it was a difficult evening for the experienced defender as Jurgen Klopp’s side came away from Stamford Bridge with a 2-1 victory.
Chelsea has conceded over than a goal-per-game during the first Premier League campaign of Antonio Conte and now, the same sources claim that the Italian manager is seriously considering a defensive reshuffle.
Conte was concerned about the options he had had available on taking over in July and pushed the club to purchase a centre-half, which they eventually did in David Luiz, while Alonso fulfilled his desires for a full back.
The Italian originally wanted only a centre-back to boost his defence but, after a few weeks working with his Chelsea squad, he changed his mind. And that’s how former Bolton and Sunderland defender Marcos Alonso was suddenly a £23m Chelsea left-back.
The plan is simple: Bring in Alonso, move over Cesar Azpilicueta and send Ivanovic to the bench, where his almighty arse can sit until Conte needs a fourth-choice centre-half or a second-choice right-back.
Against Liverpool on Friday night, Ivanovic looked like a desperate man losing any remaining grip on his status as a Premier League footballer.
He blundered awkwardly into needless fouls, spitefully stood on Adam Lallana, moved his legs slower than any elephant in any room and watched helplessly as Liverpool selfishly passed and moved around him as if conspiring with Conte to underline his point. See…he can’t work with this.
Perhaps John Terry’s absence prolonged Ivanovic’s stay of execution on Friday night. Perhaps Conte was waiting for the kind of evidence that even a good friend cannot ignore.
This was sure that evidence and a League Cup clash with Leicester on Tuesday gave Conte the opportunity to field a defence that will face Arsenal without trepidation on Saturday.
With the current contract deal of the Serbian star is set to expire in the summer, that would put the 32-year-old’s entire Chelsea career under threat.
Since joining the Stamford Bridge side from Lokomotiv Moscow back in 2008, the Serbia international has won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a Champions League title and a Europa League title with the west Londoners.