Ranieri set to start clear-out
Chelsea will begin their summer clear-out as soon as their European fate is decided.
Coach Claudio Ranieri has already decided which players he will discard and he will start the process of moving them on and bringing in new faces once the club have determined whether or not they will be playing in the UEFA Cup next season.
Two points from their remaining games against Liverpool at Anfield tonight and relegated Manchester City on the final day of the season will clinch a place in the competition. However, if they fail to finish in the top six many of the players will face the prospect of returning early from their summer break to take part in the InterToto Cup.
French defender Frank Leboeuf, Dutch goalkeeper Ed de Goey and Spanish full-back Albert Ferrer look set to lead the Stamford Bridge exodus and the club have already been linked with Barcelona's Patrick Kluivert and Emmanuel Petit, Tottenham's England defender Sol Campbell and Nantes midfielder Eric Carriere.
Chairman Ken Bates confirmed that Ranieri plans a host of personnel changes when he said: "We have a busy summer ahead. Plans to strengthen the squad are well advanced.
"After eight months Claudio has completed his assessment of the players at all levels and knows their strengths and weaknesses.
"You can expect to see quite a lot of movement, both in and out, over the next few months. This season has been one of mixed fortunes. Younger players have been given their chance and the average age of the team has fallen.
"We intend to continue this trend to ensure that we will soon have a squad that will be together for a few seasons ahead."
Ranieri will continue to look abroad for new players after admitting he has been frustrated in his search for fresh English talent.
Ranieri said: "Nobody sells good young English players. I don't think Liverpool are about to release their youngsters and Leeds are not about to release theirs. Whoever has good youngsters, doesn't get rid of them, just as we would never sell John Terry." Ranieri knows that UEFA Cup qualification is crucial to the next stage of his rebuilding plans and for the club's finances and he is ready to achieve it via the unpopular Inter-Toto route if necessary.
Ranieri added: "It's very important to qualify for Europe in these last two games. It's better to build when you are playing in Europe.
"Let's hope we don't have to go into the InterToto but if we have to, then we will."
