After an injury-plagued season that saw him make just 12 appearances in the Premier League, it seems Ricardo Carvalho is contemplating the idea of moving on.

12 months ago, I’d have been gutted at the thought but then again, 12 months ago he was our best centre-back and certainly regarded as an integral part of the Chelsea side. Now though, not only has he hardly featured for us but his ambivalence about whether or not he stays suggests it’s probably best he doesn’t.

You see, last summer Carvalho made no secret of the fact he wasn’t exactly averse to linking up with Jose Mourinho at Inter and with so few returns from injury during our latest campaign, maybe it was his motivation rather than his physical condition at fault? Certainly, his recent comments would lend a bit of credence to that school of thought, because Carvalho has said “I am available for a club who wishes to have me.  But before being approached, an agreement must be found with Chelsea, although I am delighted that several clubs are interested in me.  I have had four extraordinary years at Chelsea till this year, which has not been very good, indeed the worst of my career. I wasn’t in great shape because I haven’t played.  But if there is no transfer, I will be fine at Chelsea.”

Looking at it from a squad point of view, we’d still have Branislav Ivanovic who can play across the back four and didn’t do himself any harm when he got the opportunity to play last season. And it wouldn’t do Ancelotti any harm to give Michael Mancienne a few more opportunities in the first team either.  So, with Carvalho hardly enthusiastic at the prospect of staying, and being another one of the over-30s anyway, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to let him go?

Filed under: Current Players, Rants, Rumours