Blue murder

Will Drogba be a Blue next season?

The Blues failed to nab three points at home to Wigan on Monday and its blue murder at the Bridge. One little slip and the knives are out for Chelsea boss Avram Grant.

There have been rumblings of discontent for some time now in west London with rumours that Grant has ‘lost’ the dressing room and the players looking toward assistant coach Steve Clarke for leadership from the bench.

Tal Ben Haim has been the first player to publically speak out - and about his fellow countryman to boot.

‘Jose Mourinho is the reason I came to Chelsea and if I knew Avram Grant was going to be the coach then I would have signed for another club, said the Israeli defender.

‘It was Jose who brought me here and no one except he and I know the conversation we had when he tried to sign me the first time a year ago last January.

‘The fact is while Jose was the coach I played most of the games and people who know me know that I would not have come here to be a reserve.

‘I knew that nothing good would come with Grant as Chelsea coach.’

Strong words indeed, according to The Times Chelsea are going to have a fire sale come the end of the season and ditch many of their stars – up to 10.

It looks like Tal Ben Haim is almost a certainty to be on the list after his comments. Three others likely to be shown the door include Andriy Shevchenko, Claudio Pizzaro and Steve Sidwell.

Florent Malouda, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Carlo Cudicini and Juliano Belletti may have to pack their Gucci man-bags, despite regular first team shows.

But what of the big guns? If the unsettled Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Wayne Bridge jump ship the cull could reach double figures.

One person who is likely to be safe is Grant; The Times believe he is to be given the vote of confidence by Roman Abramovich who has been impressed at the way he has picked up the pieces after the departure of Jose Mourinho.

It looks like a Chelsea exodus could be the spring board Grant needs to get his feet firmly under the table – his life will be a lot easier if he can pip Manchester United to the title or give Roman a party in Moscow come Champions League final night.

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