Conte open to Ivanovic exit in January

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is open to offloading Branislav Ivanovic when the transfer window reopens in the New Year. Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to be handed his preferred right-back position with summer signing Marcos Alonso occupying the left side of defence.

According to The Telegraph, Conte sees Ivanovic as an outsider to his first-team and he is likely to show him the exit door during the ongoing campaign.

The 32-year-old has started the opening fixtures for the Blues, but his position is likely to change following the arrivals of David Luiz and Marcos Alonso to bolster the backline.

Ivanovic will only have six months left on his contract at the turn of the year, and this would urge the Blues to accept a cut-price deal rather than lose him for nothing at the end of the season.

The defender has appeared in 364 games for Chelsea since arriving from Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2008.