Yossi Benayoun joined Liverpool from West Ham in
the summer of 2007
ESPNsoccernet understands that Chelsea are
considering making a move for Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun,
with the Israeli international touted as a possible replacement for
the out of contract Joe Cole.
There are ample suitors for Cole, but he would like to stay at
Stamford Bridge if he can come to an agreement over new terms.
However, a list of possible replacements has been put to manager
Carlo Ancelotti and the Israeli is highly thought of by the Italian
coach, who has now a much clearer picture of the players in the
Premier League after his first season in charge of the club.
He is also clearer about what is needed to improve the team that
won the Double, but fell short in the Champions League.
A Stamford Bridge insider told Soccernet: "There is no
doubt that Yossi Benayoun is highly thought of at the club, and it
wouldn't surprise me if he came to Chelsea."
Salomon Kalou has had plenty of opportunities to stake his claim
for a place but has been far too inconsistent. His performance in
the FA Cup final underlined the need for a different type of player
in his position, and with Cole failing to convince Ancelotti it
should be him, changes are likely to be afoot.
Abramovich would be interested in a major player exchange with
Liverpool, and though the Russian would primarily want that deal to
involve Fernando Torres, it could also include Benayoun.
Half a dozen of Chelsea's first team squad will be offloaded
this summer, which would give Liverpool a bigger choice of players
to potentially bring to Anfield.