BREAKING NEWS: TWO CHELSEA PLAYERS ASK TO LEAVE.

Breaking news today on Official Chelsea. Nicolas Anelka and Alex have handed in transfer requests to the club and these have both been accepted!

To be honest it comes as no surprise as both players have been the subject of rumour and speculation lately.

Alex has been talking of moving to Italy since back in the summer and hasn't featured a great deal this season so far.

Nico Anelka approaching the end of his contract has been the subject of reported interest. I posted a tribute to Anelka on my site a short time ago so make sure you check it out!

I would imagine now that both will leave in January and Chelsea will need to sign replacements asap in order to keep competition for places in the squad.

The official statement on the Chelsea website says:

Speaking immediately after the win over Newcastle, Andre Villas-Boas confirmed that two players who were not in the squad for the game, Nicolas Anelka and Alex, have handed in transfer requests.

The manager said the requests have been accepted so the players will be allowed to leave in January.

'The conversation was fair and direct with the players,' Villas-Boas said.

They are top professionals and their professionalism and integrity is never in question but on recent results and form we have decided to try to get the group together and we have decided to assign different training times for them.

The transfer requests were accepted but it doesn't mean it will happen and if it doesn't happen they will return to full training.'

For me, they are leaving at the right time. AVB needs to stamp his authority on the club and put "his squad" of players together.

What do you people think of the news?

KTBFFH

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