9 Jan 2013

Benetiz heralds changing of the guard at Chelsea

5:40 pm on 9 January 2013

Chelsea's interim coach Rafael Benitez has heralded a changing of the guard at the English Premier League football club by saying that new players are needed for them to carry on winning.

The Londoners' joint-second top scorer of all time, Frank Lampard, appears unlikely to be offered a new deal with the 34-year-old's contract expiring at the end of the season, his agent says.

Media reports have suggested other fan favourites Ashley Cole and captain John Terry could also be let go in the next two years after Chelsea showed they meant business by letting Champions League-winning hero Didier Drogba leave in May.

The European champions, fourth in the Premier League, also have an eye on big wage earners given the onset of UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules where they have to break even or risk exclusion from European competition.