Chelsea defensive stalwart considering offers to leave either in January or at the end of the season.

Branislav Ivanovic will struggle to get back into this Chelsea team in my opinion and is now considering offers from Europe and the Far East at the end of the current season.

Without question a stalwart at right back since 2008 when he first signed for Chelsea, notably not in his favoured position, Ivanovic has played an instrumental part in the most successful period of our history. Premier League winner, Double winner, FA Cup, League Cup, Europa League and Champions League winner, Ivanovic has won it all. Unfortunately, as time has moved on, it’s become clear to me that his time at Chelsea is over.

Upon the announcement of a years extension to his rolling contract at Chelsea last summer, plenty of the Blues fans questioned that decision based on poor performances last year. As each game passed us by, it became clear that with the pace of the game being as it is now, Ivanovic could no longer perform at the levels we had become accustomed to through the previous seasons here.

His lack of pace, his inability to deliver good crosses on a regular basis down that right hand side and age has hampered him to a point where it’s now playing as one of our three center backs or nothing. The problem he faces now is that he has to battle with Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Kurt Zouma when fit, for a regular start and I just cannot see that happening.

Dropped by Antonio Conte after the Arsenal defeat, Ivanovic openly stated that the team comes first and he would be happy to take his place on the bench, almost as though he has had to accept defeat with the realisation that this season could be one too many in West London.

So to the summer or possibly even January, and there is to be plenty of interest in his services. According to this report, Ivanovic has been made aware of interest from China with the likes of Crystal Palace, West Ham, Marseille and Inter Milan all monitoring his situation.

I could never ever thank Branislav Ivanovic enough for what he has given to our club and the supporters. However, his time is up and I’ll expect him to leave either in January or at the end of the season.