Chelsea transfer news: Branislav Ivanovic faces fight for Blues future as Antonio Conte plots defensive reshuffle
Long-serving Serbian defender will be in direct competition with natural right-back Cesar Azpilicueta
BRANISLAV IVANOVIC faces a fight for his future with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte plotting a defensive reshuffle.
Conte is planning to switch current left-back Cesar Azpilicueta back to his more traditional right-back role and into direct contention with veteran Ivanovic.
Chelsea also splashed £23million on new left back Marcos Alonso during the later stages of the transfer window last month as the plans begin to unfold for a new era at Stamford Bridge.
Switching the full backs means Ivanovic, 32, looks likely to be squeezed out more and more as he moves through the remaining months of his one-year contract which expires next June.
The return of former centre-half David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain also means opportunities for Ivanovic in his secondary position will be ever more limited as the season progresses.
Conte had mainly targeted central defenders, a midfielder and a striker when he starting work officially in mid-July after leaving his post as Italy boss.
But after closer contact with his new squad the Italian decided to change tactics and opt for a full-blown rejig of his defence to form the bedrock of his plans to rebuild Chelsea after last season’s disastrous performance.
Alonso’s signature was only confirmed on the final day of the transfer window a week ago on Wednesday.
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Ivanovic has forged a close relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich since signing in 2008 but now has to battle against age and a struggle to convince a new manager that he is still worthy of his first-team place.
Conte will slowly start to show his hand in the coming weeks and it means Ivanovic faces a tough winter ahead.
The Blues boss also has emerging right-back Ola Aina waiting in the wings as part of the next generation of Chelsea stars.
There is also the looming prospect of the return from injury of France defender Kurt Zouma in the next few weeks following knee surgery.
Ivanovic has been a key figure for Chelsea in the past eight years and won every honour possible to cement his place in the club’s hall of fame.
But he endured a wobbly first half of last season and only earned a one-year extension to his contract after Christmas.
Boss Conte has been away for a few days’ holiday after working straight through from leading Italy to the last-eight of Euro 2016 to taking Chelsea into a new season.
His international players who have also been away will finalise their returns today following World Cup duty where they will start plotting how to tackle Swansea in the Premier League this Sunday.