Antonio Conte confirms defender is talking with other clubs - Deal to be completed today.

Antonio Conte has albeit confirmed that Branislav Ivanovic is talking with other clubs as he prepares to leave Chelsea before the transfer window closes at 11pm this evening.

Zenit St Petersburg are reportedly in advanced talks with the player after Chelsea gave the Serbian defender permission to speak to them but as with any window, there are others that will also make their interest known. The likes of Crystal Palace and West Brom are being touted to make a last ditch attempt to keep the 32-year-old in the Premier League.

Saturday should have been the perfect send off for Iva, to come on and score on what seems to be his final appearance, it's what players that have been here for a number of years would dream of before saying goodbye. However, for one reason or another, he looked pretty pissed off and fed up which is disappointing.

I have said it before and would like to state on record that Branislav Ivanovic has been a massive success story at our club having signed for £9.7m and has made such an important contribution to the all the success we have had here since he joined us nine years ago. Big performances, big goals and someone who was solid as a rock in our back line, he made the right back position his own, so much so that he forced the manager to play Cesar Azpilicueta at left back.

Unfortunately, with anything in life, time doesn't stand still and catches up with you at some stage. Everyone knows what happened in that first game last season against Swansea and it's fair so say he never recovered from that.

If you were to ask any Chelsea fan of thoughts of Iva leaving us today it would be with a heavy heart because of the contribution he has made in the past. Now we simply have to move forward.

Branna in his time with Chelsea has won - two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the League Cup, the Europa League and the Champions League

Good Luck to you and thank you Iva, for everything!