Doubt has been cast over future of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, contributed to by his team’s stuttering start to the season and Chelsea’s failure to offer him a new deal at Stamford Bridge.
Ivanovic, 31, has entered his final season on his current contract at Chelsea.
The club has, as of yet, failed to offer the Serb the chance to sign for another year in SW6, raising questions over the future of the full-back.
Signed in 2008, he has been ever-present in Chelsea’s defence as managers have come and gone, and Mourinho’s second spell in West London has seen Ivanovic continue to be the Blues’ first choice right-back.
However, Chelsea slow start to the new campaign has with it seen a decline in Ivanovic’s form, with calls for Mourinho to drop him growing ever louder.
Chelsea’s policy of only offering one year extensions to players over the age of 30 has often come under criticism for distracting the players in question from performing, instead concerning themselves with their future at the club.
The recent arrival of Baba Rahman from Ausburg could also see Ivanovic forced out of Mourinho’s starting XI.
The Daily Mail report that, should Chelsea fail to offer Ivanovic a new deal, Premier League and European rivals will battle for his signature next summer.
