• Ivanovic will not start FA Cup tie against Brentford
Antonio Conte has offered no guarantees over Branislav Ivanovic’s future at Chelsea and said the defender will not start Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Brentford, with Zenit St Petersburg having expressed an interest in luring him to Russia.
Ivanovic has not started a Premier League game since the defeat at Arsenal towards the end of September, having lost his place in Conte’s 3-4-3 formation to Victor Moses. The 32-year-old, who has entered the final six months of his contract, was included in the starting lineup for the third-round victory over Peterborough but was omitted from the matchday squad against Hull City last Sunday.
He will not start on Saturday having apparently failed to play a full part in training with the first team, though Conte has indicated Ivanovic is not injured. Zenit are understood to be willing to grant the former Lokomotiv Moscow defender a deal to 2019, with English clubs, including West Bromwich Albion, also monitoring his availability.
Ivanovic has been at Stamford Bridge for nine years. He has won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup, a Champions League and scored the winning goal in a Europa League final. “This season Ivanovic has played with me,” Conte said. “He has been in the starting XI. When I switched to three at the back, something changed, for sure, I have to make decisions as I can pick only 11 players. But, until now, he’s always involved in our squad.
“For sure, about this situation it’s better to talk with the player, no? To know if there are different ideas, different visions for the future to the present. To reply for another person is not the right thing to do.”
Chelsea are expected to return to Celtic with an improved offer for their Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, having had a bid worth about £3m rejected. If the 34-year‑old can be secured Asmir Begovic, who will start against Brentford, will be permitted to move to Bournemouth for about £10m in order to play first-team football. Should no agreement be struck with Celtic then, barring a late bid for Paris Saint-Germain’s Salvatore Sirigu who is on loan at Sevilla, Begovic will stay until the summer.
“Begovic starts [against Brentford] and he is a Chelsea player,” Conte said. “It’s important to understand this. We are open to help him if there is the opportunity to replace him in the best way. If it’s not possible, Begovic stays with us until the end of the season. Then we’ll evaluate his situation right away. I’m very happy with his commitment, his behaviour on and off the pitch. He’s also very important in the changing room for me. Only if we have a good substitution [replacement] can he go. Otherwise he stays here.”
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