From Sky:

Benayoun edges towards exit

Blues midfielder reveals he is in talks with several clubs

Yossi Benayoun is closing on a move away from Chelsea and has confirmed that he is in talks with a number of clubs.

The Israeli midfielder has taken in just one minute of action for the Blues this season, with new boss Andre Villas-Boas favouring other options.

Benayoun has tumbled further down the pecking order following the arrival of Juan Mata from Valencia, with Stamford Bridge now well-stocked on creative talent.

Rumours were suggesting that Benayoun could be moved on before Villas-Boas dipped back into the transfer market, with it clear that he would find himself on the fringes of the first-team fold.

It was claimed that Chelsea were willing to use him as part of their efforts to lure Luka Modric away from Tottenham.

Newcastle are also said to hold an interest in Benayoun, who only moved to West London on a free transfer last summer.

He was, however, restricted to just 10 appearances in 2010/11, with an Achilles problem sidelining him for six months.

Benayoun accepts that he may be forced to move on once more and has revealed that discussions regarding a switch elsewhere have been opened.

He wrote on Twitter: "negotiating with several team (sic) ...news soon."

LINK

It's a shame, I like Yossi, he's good to have as a back-up but I suppose sometimes that isn't good enough for a player. Best of luck to him.

I'm a bit disappointed too. I think he would have been wonderful linking up with Mata. I would have been fine if he was being moved to give Josh more chances but that doesn't seem to be the case either. Can only assume we have someone coming in with AVB repeatedly stating how our midfield is thin in numbers.

It was only a matter of time I guess. Gentleman and a good player but he is Sidwell all over again. His quality is not enough and he doesn't fit into our pacey approach to the game.

I dont agree at all that Benayoun isn't good enough.

It was only a matter of time I guess. Gentleman and a good player but he is Sidwell all over again. His quality is not enough and he doesn't fit into our pacey approach to the game.

Absolutely agree and Malouda/ Anelka surely add that dimension to our game.

Only makes sense if we bring in another creative midfielder... Anyways if Benayoun even twittered (is that the right word for it or is it twitted or something like that?) that he is in talks with other teams its pretty certain he is on his way out. Would also explain why he gave #10 to Mata

I think it was the Guardian that said it was two teams, Liverpool and Lille...kinda odd.

Hope it's Lille, then I could have some misplaced, and frankly ridiculous hope that it somehow involves us getting Hazard. If it's Liverpool...well, it would make Liverpool look foolish (and they don't need him anyway), it might mean we could be getting Meireles. I know who I'd rather be linked with....

If he is in talks with serveral clubs does that rule out adding him to a modric deal?

If he is in talks with serveral clubs does that rule out adding him to a modric deal?

I'd say so for sure

If he is in talks with serveral clubs does that rule out adding him to a modric deal?

Unsure how, Tottenham could be one of the clubs.

Wouldn't suprise me if he ended up at Q.P.R under Neil,(glad we've lost)Warnock!,the poor sod.

If spuds do get him, can we blame 'arry for the Norwich goal??.

It's a shame the injury he suffered curtailed his chances last season,we needed him thats for sure.

I think Liverpool being in for Yossi is a complete joke and lazy writing. Right now the most plausible rumors seem £30m + Yossi for Modric or Yossi + Kalou to Lille for Hazard. I still can't make sense as to why Kalou was left out of the squad completely and we've heard nothing about it since.

Edited August 29, 201113 yr by Bez

Its a shame as I like the guy and wouldve loved to see him get a proper shot here. But if we can make a profit on him and free up bench space for a youngin, why not?

I dare not entertain the thought about him going to Lille with Kalou for Hazard. My brain would explode.

His injury last season stopped us from seeing exactly how good he is which was a massive shame, if we had him during our "bad moment" who knows if he could have been the player to give us renewed impetus.

If we assume that we're going to make one or more last minute signings, it could be that Benayoun is being sacrificed for the sake of the home grown rule. Maybe the same goes for Kalou. This is pure speculation, but would explain why he wasn't even in included in the squad against Norwich.

Shame. He grew on me, and I think was arguably our best player pre-season. This seems odd. Best of luck to the lad.

EDIT: Hutch just saw your post. I think that could be probable. But I shan't see the point of getting rid of a flexible forward player for Pereira if that is indeed the purpose of his exit. But this is all on AVB's head, he'll be the one out of a job if it doesn't work out.

Edited August 29, 201113 yr by Spiller86

Benayoun and Kalou out, Pereira and Modric (for the sake of argument) in, obviously doesn't work on a straightforward like for like basis. If home grown compliance is at all relevant, then it's purely a numbers game. Like I said, it's pure speculation.

It seems one of the clubs is Arsenal, Sky sports are reporting they have enquired about him. Seems a strange signing if true as Wenger rarely, if ever, signs a player of his age. But it would fit I suppose.

As I voiced on another thread I cant see the sense in getting rid of Yossi who is one of our more creative players. If we had a raft of others waiting in the wings then maybe i could understand it, but surely he offers more than some of our other squad players, especially when considering his track record in linking up with Torres.

When AVB came in we were told "I will give everyone a chance during pre season and assess from there". Yossi was one of our brightest players during pre season, and certainly played better than Lamps, Malouda and Kalou during the asian tour. So it doesn't really tie in with what AVB initially said...not sure what else he could have done to impress.

I presume him leaving is to free up space for an incoming player, we are at a point where our 25 is rapidly being filled and it might be one out one in.

wouldnt get rid of benny unless we knew another midfielder was coming in.

SSN saying Arsenal have made an enquiry

I'm a bit disappointed too. I think he would have been wonderful linking up with Mata. I would have been fine if he was being moved to give Josh more chances but that doesn't seem to be the case either. Can only assume we have someone coming in with AVB repeatedly stating how our midfield is thin in numbers.

I disagree, I think Josh being given more of a chance is the exact reason he's being moved on.

You only need one back up to Modric (or whoever we get for that position) and with Josh and Benayoun we'd have two. Benayoun moving on would most certainly give Josh more chances in the squad I reckon.

From the BBC:

Arsenal, Liverpool and Lille chase Yossi Benayoun

Arsenal, Liverpool and French club Lille have all approached Chelsea over the possibility of signing midfielder Yossi Benayoun, BBC Sport understands.

The 31-year-old Israeli posted on Twitter on Monday that he is on the verge of leaving Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal are looking to strengthen their midfield following the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Benayoun joined Chelsea from Liverpool for £5m in July 2010 but has seen just one minute of action this season.

It has been rumoured Benayoun would be included in an offer from Chelsea for Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric.

"Negotiating with several teams... news soon," wrote Benayoun on Twitter.

Newcastle have also been linked with the Israel captain, who was restricted to 10 appearances for the club last season due to an Achilles injury, which kept him out for six months.

Benayoun spent two years at West Ham before joining Liverpool in 2007.

He scored 29 goals in 134 games for the Reds.

LINK