Chelsea winger Florent Malouda to leave Stamford Bridge with Brazil his likely destination
Florent Malouda is expected to leave Chelsea this summer – but Raul Meireles is now understood to want to stay at the club.
Malouda has one year left on his contract and has been informed that he can move. The 32-year-old is considering a number of offers including at least one from Brazil where he has already expressed an interest in playing.
The French international, who signed for Chelsea for £13m in 2007, has a Brazilian wife and is wanted by Vasco Da Gama where he reunite with his former Lyon team-mate Juninho Pernambucano.
Brazilian football is receiving a huge financial boost with money flowing into the game ahead of the 2014 World Cup Finals.
It’s believed that Michael Essien is also hoping to leave Chelsea this summer but another midfielder, Meireles, is keen to stay.
The Portuguese international was unsettled by the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas and has struggled to command a regular first-team place. He has been linked with a several clubs but would prefer to remain at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have already released Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Jose Bosingwa, after their contracts expire, and there are expected to be more departures. The future of Daniel Sturridge, for whom Chelsea could command a sizeable fee, remains the most interesting.