The Daily Express says angry owner Roman Abramovich has ordered a brutal purge of fringe players - and with several top stars such as Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard also set to depart, Chelsea will see their squad ripped apart at the end of this troubled campaign.

Winger Florent Malouda, signed for £13m last summer, will be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in, as will £4m full-back Juliano Belletti, while long-serving goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, at fault for Barnsley's winner, is another who will be told he can go. Steve Sidwell, Claudio Pizarro and Tal Ben Haim will also be shipped out.

Ukrainian misfit Andriy Shevchenko, who has drifted further and further out of contention this year, may well rejoin former club AC Milan, while veteran Claude Makelele is expected to retire at the end of the season.