By DAN KARELL
With the signing of Didier Drogba late last week, Chelsea are left with a conundrum.
The club is only allowed to register 17 foreign players over the age of 21 and the club currently has 18 players vying for a spot. As such, manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he will look to sell one of his foreign players, with forward Fernando Torres at the top of the list.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Torres would be available for a £20 million transfer fee but his age (30) and wages (reportedly £175,000 per week) have made other teams shy away from trying to sign the Spanish international. If Chelsea can’t offload Torres this summer, they may have to part ways with either John Obi Mikel or starting goalkeeper Petr Cech.
“From the group you are expecting us to have as a squad, I have to send one away because we have one extra foreign player,” Mourinho told the Telegraph. “So from all these players, if you think all of them have to stay, you are wrong. One of them has to go.”
Here are some more stories to kick off your Tuesday:
NAPOLI IN DISCUSSIONS WITH MAN UNITED OVER FELLAINI
Marouane Fellaini’s disastrous spell at Manchester United could be over less than 12 months after he arrived.
According to reports in England, Napoli is in talks with Man United to acquire Fellaini, with a bid in the region of £15 million expected to be enough for Man United to part with the Belgian international. Former manager David Moyes signed Fellaini on deadline day last summer for £27.5 million, but Fellaini never truly settled at Old Trafford and struggled with back and wrist injuries during the season.
Napoli have to hope that Fellaini will consider taking a pay cut, as he is reportedly earning around £100,000 per week at Man United.
In addition, Shinji Kagawa could be on his way out of Man United, with a potential move back to Borussia Dortmund being rumored in the English press.
QUICK KICKS
FC Schalke will be without World Cup players Bendikt Howedes, Julian Draxler, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for their Bundesliga opener on Aug. 23. (REPORT)
Barcelona announced that they’ve recorded a club record income of 530 million euros ($711 million) with profits of 41 million euros over the last fiscal year. (REPORT)
The Argentine FA has offered Alejandro Sabella a contract extension to remain as the national team manager. If he doesn’t accept, the FA may try to rehire Jose Pekerman. (REPORT)
Man United head coach Louis Van Gaal has put Luke Shaw on an individual training schedule to get his fitness up to par with the rest of the squad. (REPORT)
Everton have wrapped up the signing of Bosnia and Herzegovina international midfielder Muhamed Besic on a five-year contract. (REPORT)
Ghanian forward Jordan Ayew has signed for FC Lorient. (REPORT)
With their stadium being renovated for Euro 2016, RC Lens will play this season’s matches at Amiens SC’s 12,097-capacity Stade de la Licorne. (REPORT)
The Serbian FA has officially appointed Dutch coach Dick Advocaat to be their next national team head coach. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Chelsea selling Torres? Think Cech is most likely to go? Do you expect Fellaini to leave Old Trafford?
Share your thoughts below.