Chelsea Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of May 5
Chelsea played their last home game of the season on Sunday, and the lap of appreciation from the players for the fans threw up plenty of questions.
How many of those players will still be there next season? Which new faces will be joining the stars next year? Did Gary Cahill manage to separate his daughter from Bridget the Lioness?
Click through for the answers to those questions and more.
---UPDATED FRIDAY MAY 9---
Inter Milan to Try Before They Buy Torres
1 of 8
Friday
ESPN UK have reported that Inter Milan want to bring Fernando Torres to the San Siro next season. However, having learned from Chelsea's mistakes, they want him on loan for a year before deciding whether to spend £10 million on the striker.
Both Manchester Clubs, Monaco Want Ashley Cole
2 of 8
Friday
According to The Mirror's John Cross and Liam Prenderville respectively, Manchester City, Manchester United, Monaco and Liverpool all want to sign Ashley Cole. The smart money is on a club beginning with "M."
Ashley Cole to Liverpool?
3 of 8
Wednesday
James Dickensen at The Express has reported that Ashley Cole could eschew the chance to challenge himself in La Liga with Real Madrid or the MLS with the New York Red Bulls and opt to stay in the Premier League. With Liverpool.
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Demba Ba Back to West Ham
4 of 8
Wednesday
The Sun (subscription required) have reported that Sam Allardyce wants to bring Demba Ba back to West Ham.
Raphael Varane to Replace John Terry
5 of 8
Wednesday
Ben Jefferson at The Express has dug out a very complicated three-way transfer story which could see Raphael Varane reunited with Jose Mourinho. For that to happen, Laurent Koscielny would have to move to Madrid, while Pep would have to turn down any advances from Manchester City.
Throw in Varane's £165 million buyout clause and dodgy knees, and we can probably file this under "i" for "insane, but not impossible."
John Obi Mikel Talking to Inter Milan
6 of 8
Tuesday
Despite having three years left on his current Chelsea contract, Simon Johnson at The Standard has reported that John Obi Mikel is in negotiations with Inter Milan over a summer transfer. The Blues would apparently expect a fee in excess of £10 million for the midfielder, who has been sidelined by the arrival of Nemanja Matic.
Ashley Cole Is Probably Leaving in the Summer
7 of 8
Monday
Elliott Bretland at the Daily Mail picked up on Ashley Cole's tears during the lap of appreciation on Sunday. The left-back was applauded round Stamford Bridge to a chorus of "Ashley Cole has won the European Cup" and appeared emotionally overwhelmed.
If that was his last appearance in Blue at Stamford Bridge, one Twitter user suggested it would have been nice for the club to let people know beforehand.
Jose Is Looking for His New 'Untouchables'
8 of 8
Monday
Jason Burt at The Telegraph has reported that Jose Mourinho expects more from his players, and that he is willing to shake the squad up this summer to produce a new spine of "untouchables."
According to Burt, Eden Hazard, David Luiz and Oscar could all make way after Mourinho has been underwhelmed by their efforts at different points in the season.
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