Reports in the twitter verse are that Mikel is off to Anzhi as their transfer window is still open. At least he already has some gloves

Football news on twitter is a load of sh*te

Why would we weaken our already sh*t team when we can't then bring in a replacement? (It's not as if we're going to use a youth player is it..this is Chelsea, that's laughable..)

Football news on twitter is a load of sh*te

Usually, yes. But this came from the Chelsea Stats group, so potentially more credible. It's not like I am posting from notw which is even less reliable

Good lord. Mikel off. How much for?

We should under no circumstances let this happen. Our midfield's passing ability is poor enough without losing Mikel. He is also young and capable enough to be part of the next Chelsea squad; we have a few midfielders whose time to leave will come before Mikel's.

Apart from the unfathomable title (which I have amended), and it being in the wrong forum, I see this as an exemplary post!

Likely a nonsense rumor.

But for the sake of argument, let's say it's not. Mikel isn't playing much, we're all aware of his limitations. Romeu and Essien can play the position.

If the money were right, do it. 10 milliion (dreaming, aren't I?) would make a nice counterweight against Chelsea's next purchase. FFP is watching.

Likely a nonsense rumor.

But for the sake of argument, let's say it's not. Mikel isn't playing much, we're all aware of his limitations. Romeu and Essien can play the position.

If the money were right, do it. 10 milliion (dreaming, aren't I?) would make a nice counterweight against Chelsea's next purchase. FFP is watching.

Some of us are more aware than others.

And yes, I think £10m is stuff dreams are made of!

We should under no circumstances let this happen. Our midfield's passing ability is poor enough without losing Mikel. He is also young and capable enough to be part of the next Chelsea squad; we have a few midfielders whose time to leave will come before Mikel's.

Just because he's young doesn't necessarily mean we should keep him

This would be great, he had masses of potential but we ruined him and should sell him.

anything between 5-10m would be a treat.

This is not sh*t news though, even sky reporting it and quotes from Mikel saying he hasnt given Anzhi his words yet.

Think the fee would be around 7,5m euros?

Report from Sky:

"It is true that Anzhi officials contacted me and made a move to have me, but I have not given them my word yet," he told MTNFootball.

"I am still a Chelsea player, changing clubs is not a decision to rush into, I love Chelsea and I am taking my time.

"I want to play always and that has not been happening for a while now but I hope after my recent injury problem, I will get regular football action."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/7542066/

Just because he's young doesn't necessarily mean we should keep him

No, but the fact that he is young and talented means we should. Also £10m is about half of what we paid for him if I recall correctly?

No, but the fact that he is young and talented means we should. Also £10m is about half of what we paid for him if I recall correctly?

Not totally sure but I think we parted with about £16M for him. Some players go up in value and some go down. No-one can honestly expect us to get more than £16M for him?

For the style of play that AVB is trying to make us play I can't see Mikel having a future here. He kills the tempo of every play we have.

Not now, but in the Summer 100%. Nice guy but never rated him, perhaps he's been played out of position but I won't miss him.

Pretty sure we paid around £12m for him after the whole Man Utd fiasco.

5-10 million would be a nice amount tbh. I wouldnt care less if he leaves today!

I thought we had gotten quite a bit of cash back from FC Lynn?

Not totally sure but I think we parted with about £16M for him. Some players go up in value and some go down. No-one can honestly expect us to get more than £16M for him?

I wouldn't expect us to get more than that for him, but then I don't want to sell him.

AVB wants to play possession football and Mikel is very good (in fact the best we have) at keeping possession. He is a young player (and who can honestly name me one defensive midfielder who was at the peak of their game at 24?) and a good one in a squad which is in dire need of rejuvenation.

I will admit that he is a bit one-paced but it's not as if Sergio Busquets or Javier Mascherano are speed demons, neither was Claude Makélélé. It makes no sense whatsoever to me to get rid of a capable squad player when we have so many ageing, less capable players whose departures would help the team far more than Mikel's.

Mikel and Romeu could form an excellent partnership rotating the DM role. Romeu when we need a more aggressive, defensive tackler, and Mikel when we wish to have more delicate, longer passes and there is an emphasis on quality of possession.

I wouldn't expect us to get more than that for him, but then I don't want to sell him.

AVB wants to play possession football and Mikel is very good (in fact the best we have) at keeping possession. He is a young player (and who can honestly name me one defensive midfielder who was at the peak of their game at 24?) and a good one in a squad which is in dire need of rejuvenation.

I will admit that he is a bit one-paced but it's not as if Sergio Busquets or Javier Mascherano are speed demons, neither was Claude Makélélé. It makes no sense whatsoever to me to get rid of a capable squad player when we have so many ageing, less capable players whose departures would help the team far more than Mikel's.

Mikel and Romeu could form an excellent partnership rotating the DM role. Romeu when we need a more aggressive, defensive tackler, and Mikel when we wish to have more delicate, longer passes and there is an emphasis on quality of possession.

I said at the time, if we had been able to call upon Mikel during the 2nd half of the Utd match I think we would have run out fairly comfortable winners as he was exactly what we needed on the pitch at the time.

I wouldn't expect us to get more than that for him, but then I don't want to sell him.

AVB wants to play possession football and Mikel is very good (in fact the best we have) at keeping possession. He is a young player (and who can honestly name me one defensive midfielder who was at the peak of their game at 24?) and a good one in a squad which is in dire need of rejuvenation.

I will admit that he is a bit one-paced but it's not as if Sergio Busquets or Javier Mascherano are speed demons, neither was Claude Makélélé. It makes no sense whatsoever to me to get rid of a capable squad player when we have so many ageing, less capable players whose departures would help the team far more than Mikel's.

Mikel and Romeu could form an excellent partnership rotating the DM role. Romeu when we need a more aggressive, defensive tackler, and Mikel when we wish to have more delicate, longer passes and there is an emphasis on quality of possession.

Stop making sense you bar steward, now I'm questioning whether I really want Mikel gone or not.

Think I'll post this again..

Some fans on here seem to forget anything past the last 6 months or so. Mikel started more than half our games in the double season and was generally not thrown abuse at during those. He was third behind Lampard and Cech in the MOTM polls in the Hiddink season(yes, I checked). Played every minute of our Cup final wins over United and Everton and every game till the final in the double season. I think the constant changing of managers has also had an effect on players like him and Kalou who have looked like having very good spells under one manager(Hiddink mainly) only for a new one to come in. Mikel has not lived up to the hype or even close to it, for whatever reason, but he's been a useful part of our squad. I'd be happy for him to stay, but If AVB decides that he doesn't fit into whatever he's trying to implement, then I'll understand letting him go and wish him the best.

For the style of play that AVB is trying to make us play I can't see Mikel having a future here. He kills the tempo of every play we have.

Just the type of player we were lacking on Tues against Napoli. I'm not his greatest fan but in some games the tempo needs killing to see the result out.

I wouldn't expect us to get more than that for him, but then I don't want to sell him.

AVB wants to play possession football and Mikel is very good (in fact the best we have) at keeping possession.

Sorry, but in IMO it is a complete fallacy that Mikel is good at keeping possession. In recent times when he has played, I have seen him lose the ball as much as any of our midfielders (okay, maybe not quite as often as Miereles!). Lets not forget that most of his passes are 5-10 yards sideways / backwards ones so you shouldn't be losing the ball that often on that basis.

The best person we currently have at retaining possession is a certain youngster out on loan in sheep-shagger country, closely followed by Romeu. With them and a fit Essien and one or two additions, there will be zero need for Mikel next season.