Chelsea fire sale: Antonio Conte right to sell these five in January?

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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Nemanja Matic of Chelsea is challenged by Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) /

1. Nemanja Matic

Is Nemanja Matic still a midfield enforced these days or a playmaker? He’s neither right now. And he won’t ever be whatever it is Antonio Conte wants him to be.

The Italian still persists with playing Matic in an advanced midfield position. The role doesn’t suit his strengths, though. He isn’t fit for purpose. That’s not necessarily his fault. Matic is only doing what Conte is asking him to do.

He’s been poor, but it probably should have been expected with Chelsea playing this 4-1-4-1 formation. Matic needs dropping from the team, absolutely. Playing both the Serbian and N’Golo Kante in the same midfield is far too negative with both deployed as defensive midfielders.

Whilst playing Matic as an attacking midfielder is not the answer, either. Also, with Conte now looking to play out from the back, through the centre-backs and into midfield, the writing is probably on the wall for Matic’s future at the club.

The 28-year-old is not finished by any means. He just doesn’t fit in the current setup. Things change. Kante is obviously the new signing this season, although everything’s not going swimmingly for him either.

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But even with Kante’s struggles, Matic is not the type of defensive midfielder to go and pick the ball up off the centre-backs and build attacks. That’s not his game. It’s not Kante’s either, but that’s a whole other story.

Matic, playing in a different type of team, could revitalize himself yet. But Antonio Conte needs the money and the squad spot for new midfielders urgently, so a sale wouldn’t be a bad move at the right price.

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