Star Chelsea Defender To Set Off Bidding War On Deadline Day
Jan 30, 2017 at 3:42 PM
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea are the in-form side in the Premier League as they stand at the top of the points table, 8 points off Arsenal in the 2nd place.
The manager will know that his team will have to be at their best to continue winning and lift the title but Conte has also been active in the transfer market to get deals done.
Though Conte is yet to spend in January, he has called back a couple of players out on loan to add depth to the squad and this might see the manager let a few players leave before the deadline day.
One such player who is now extensively linked with an exit is Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic.
The 32-year old played in important role in the side under Guus Hiddink in the previous season but has not been able to get into the first team at the Bridge under Antonio Conte this season.
He has been frozen out of the first-team as Conte has stuck to the likes of Azpilicueta, Luiz and Cahill as his first choice centre-back partnership this season.
So Conte has put him up for sale this month and there are a number of clubs who are ready to pounce on him.
According to reports today, West Brom’s Tony Pulis was in the stands at the Stamford Bridge for the game against Brentford as the manager is eyeing a move for Ivanovic before deadline day.
Having signed for Chelsea back in 2008, Ivanovic will be without a contract at the end of the season and Chelsea have no plans of extending the deal. So they are adamant to let him go this month and not risk letting him walk on a free at the end of the season.
But West Brom are not the only club interested in his signature.
Ronald Koeman’s Everton are also interested in his signature but are outsiders in this deal with Zenit St Petersburg also plotting a move.
The Serbian defender has enough experience in the league to walk into the smaller sides and at just 32, he has enough time under his belt to help his new club to some important victories.
With less than 6 months left on his deal, he is not expected to cost on the high and reports from the Sun suggest that the three aforementioned clubs are set to battle it out for his signature on deadline day.
Where do you think Ivanovic should move this January?