‘A new, young Chelsea’ planned

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Andre Villas-Boas will be given the green light to clear out Chelsea’s ‘old guard’ in the summer, according to another report.

The Daily Mail suggested on Friday that a number of high-profile players could be shown the door if the manager wins his apparent battle with some of his squad.

Lampard has been linked with a move away from Chelsea.

And Saturday’s Daily Telegraph also reports that the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda may move on.

The paper quote a souce as saying that Villas-Boas will be able to build “a new, young team” – if he can last for the rest of the season.

The source also indicates that club owner Roman Abramovich holds the players responsible for Chelsea’s poor results.

“He’s not happy with any coach who has lost games,” the source said.

“But he is not happy with the players either. Some players are supporting him [Villas-Boas] but the old boys are on their way out.”

Both the Daily Mirror and Daily Express say Chelsea’s senior players have reminded Villas-Boas of the importance of the FA Cup ahead of the fifth-round tie against Birmingham.

The Express quote a Stamford Bridge source as saying: “Foreign managers often underrate the Cup, because it is not as important in countries like Spain, Italy or Portugal.

“Players were worried that Andre would treat it lightly and put out weakened sides, but they have persuaded him not to do that.”

The Sun claim the game against Birmingham is Chelsea striker Fernando Torres’ last chance to rediscover his scoring touch.

Meanwhile, the Mirror say former QPR boss Neil Warnock is at the centre of a tug-of-war between Yorkshire neighbours Leeds and Huddersfield, who both want to install him as manager.

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