Friday 8 April 2016 20:33, UK
We asked Phil Thompson to review the Chelsea squad and tell us which players incoming manager Antonio Conte should move on this summer.
The Soccer Saturday pundit believes Conte should let no less than six first-team players leave, while suggesting question marks surround several others.
Here are Thommo's thoughts on who should stay and who should go...
Thibaut Courtois - The most nailed on player in the squad to stay.
VERDICT: STAY
Asmir Begovic - Quality back-up for Courtois. The goalkeeping department is the least of Conte's concerns.
VERDICT: STAY
Cesar Azpilicueta - He's a manager's dream with his versatility and consistency.
VERDICT: STAY
Branislav Ivanovic - He had an extremely bad first half of the season and doesn't look focused. Age is against him so I'd suggest it's time to move him on.
VERDICT: GO
Gary Cahill - He's not had a good season and I'd say he's also a doubt to start for England. I'd personally have John Stones starting ahead of him alongside Chris Smalling and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Chelsea go back in for Stones in the summer.
VERDICT: OPEN TO OFFERS
John Terry - I would keep him in the squad and make him assistant manager and get control of the players.
VERDICT: STAY
Kurt Zouma - He's made a few mistakes but he's still young and Chelsea will be relying on him developing into a quality centre-back.
VERDICT: STAY
Baba Rahman - Another young defender that has made some mistakes but Chelsea are going to have to give these guys chances if they are to reap the rewards of their investment in youth.
VERDICT: STAY
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - He'll be hoping to get some more games in the final few games to prove what he can offer to Conte.
VERDICT: STAY
Nemanja Matic - He's had a tough season but he's still the best defensive midfielder at the club.
VERDICT: STAY
John Obi Mikel - He slows things down and from listening to what Conte is about he won't like that as he gets his team playing quick, high tempo attacking football.
VERDICT: GO
Oscar - I don't think he has the impact on games that he should have so if the interest is there I'd be tempted to let him go.
VERDICT: OPEN TO OFFERS
Eden Hazard - I think he wants to leave and I don't think Conte will be able to refocus him. If they have interest from PSG or Real Madrid then they should take advantage of it.
VERDICT: GO
Cesc Fabregas - He's probably been Chelsea's best player in the second half of the season and Conte will have been watching a lot of those games.
VERDICT: STAY
Pedro - He's had a better second half of the season and is somebody who will suit the way Conte likes to play with pace and dynamism.
VERDICT: STAY
Willian - Chelsea's best player of the season, for what it's worth.
VERDICT: STAY
Bertrand Traore - A lot of thought of him but I've not seen enough from him yet to suggest he's a future star.
VERDICT: STAY
Kenedy - We've seen him at left-back and on the left-wing so it will be interesting to see which position Conte sees as his best. Another youngster that I'd like to see more of before passing judgment.
VERDICT: STAY
Diego Costa - It's a strange one because there's so much talk of him moving you don't know where it's coming from. He's rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way and from first half of the season you'd have said he has to move but his form has improved.
VERDICT: OPEN TO OFFERS
Radamel Falcao - His injuries have obviously been a big problem and I'm not really sure why Chelsea gambled on him after what happened at Manchester United. He was a fantastic talent but you sense that friends in high places earned him the move.
VERDICT: GO
Alexandre Pato - The ridicule he was getting from their own fans last weekend was quite embarrassing and I wasn't sure we were ever going to see him. Has a lot to prove between now and the end of the season.
VERDICT: GO
Loic Remy - He's simply not of a high enough quality to play for Chelsea. You've got to think Conte will be looking at strikers and Edinson Cavani and Gonzalo Higuain, who has had a fantastic season at Napoli, are the two obvious names.
VERDICT: GO
