Bosingwa was only asked to take throw-ins the once.

They may be champions of Europe but make no mistake Chelsea are a club in transition with both eyes on the future. The imminent departure of the totemic Drogba for China and the releasing of Bosingwa and Kalou hints at further new arrivals at the Bridge and they’ll be in addition to recently purchased young talent in Marin, De Bruyne, Lukaku who are expected to shape the new-look blues in the seasons ahead.

A fierce entanglement with both Manchester clubs for the signature of Hazard and a opening bid of £32m for São Paulo midfielder Lucas Moura shows that the London club are flexing their financial muscles once more and very much mean business.

But what of the old guard? Where to now for those who laid down the original template for Chelsea success?

Didier Drogba

The Ivorian battering ram has more than paid his dues during his time at Chelsea and is now hoping for a final big pay-day before retirement. Though nothing has yet been confirmed it’s no secret that his likely destination is Shanghai Shenhua despite his proposed reunion with Anelka now being in doubt due to Le Sulk acting true to form and throwing a wobbly. He leaves with a Champion’s League medal and nothing but goodwill from the fans who recognize his remarkable achievements since his £24m move from Marseilles in 2004.

Salomon Kalou –

Pushed further down the pecking order by the sensational emergence of Daniel Sturridge the Ivorian was a surprise target for Arsenal back in January and is said to prefer a switch to another English top flight club. However expect plenty to baulk at his £70,000 wages.

Juventus’ sporting director Fabio Paratici personally ran the rule over the 26 year old during April’s clash with Barcelona whilst mega-rich Anzhi Makhachkala are rumoured to be interested in a double-swoop for Kalou and Malouda.

Though the player has never quite set the Premier League alight he’s produced enough quality cameos to warrant such interest with a grafting performance away at Benfica in March of particular note.

Florent Malouda –

The French wide man’s Chelsea career has lay in tatters for quite some time now after a frustrated outburst aimed at the club’s hierarchy and his exit this summer borders on the inevitable. Paris St Germain showed genuine interest during the last window and may return once more (where the French winger would join up with fellow Chelsea cast-off Alex).

The out-of-favour Malouda has only a year left on his contract and possesses sufficient quality to attract any number of interested parties. In addition to PSG and the aforementioned Anzhi current Europa champs Atletico Madrid have also been mooted.

Paulo Ferreira –

The Portugese defender has been inconsistent for much of his seven year spell in the capital and its testament to his usefulness as a utility man that it has taken this long for his exit to be so imminent.

It is highly unlikely he will remain in Britain but there will be no shortage of interest in a capable, if limited, player with over sixty international caps to his name who will be made available on the cheap due to his contract shortly expiring.

Ferreira’s future presumably lies back in his homeland with Benfica regularly being linked.

Jose Bosingwa –

Villas-Boas was fairer to the Portugese full-back than any of his predecessors, initially giving him a regular run in the side and an opportunity to show his worth. Unfortunately Bosingwa failed to reproduce the form that enticed Mourinho into splashing out £16m to bring his name-sake over with him from Porto. Demoted to the bench it was inconceivable at that stage to imagine him a matter of months later hogging the celebration pictures with a Champion’s League medal proudly dangling from his neck. Di Matteo however brought him back from the cold and on this occasion the attacking full-back did not disappoint.

After only being given a one-year extention to his contract last summer (something that greatly disappointed the Congolese-born defender) Besiktas began sniffing around and their interest hasn’t waned.

Aside from the Turkish outfit there has thus far been little interest to report.

Raul Meireles

Though the tough-tacking Portuguese midfielder cannot find a way past Ramires into the first XI Chelsea will not want to lose his services. Unfortunately for them though this may yet be something out of their control as Scudetto holders Juventus circle no doubt whispering promises of a starting place.

Michael Essien

Like Meireles another potential loss Chelsea would hardly suffer voluntarily but something that may yet play out in the weeks ahead. Essien was incredible for the blues for his first three seasons but succumbed to a hideous cruciate ligament injury whilst on international duty for Ghana in 2008. Since then it’s been a protracted stop-start series of false dawns as the player who was once almost the complete modern midfielder has endured one set-back after another and a struggle to regain form and fitness. With twelve months remaining on his present contract Chelsea will be determined to tie him down to an extension but in what form this takes remains to be seen. Should they be reluctant to commit to a long-term deal – based on his injury record – there will be a swarm of clubs who certainly will.