Chelsea FC Transfer Rumours: Real Angling For Ivanovic

Chelsea might do a summer clearing out this season, having already let three players leave at the end of their contracts, but I don't think anyone's expecting Branislav Ivanovic to be going anywhere. The Serbian was used as a centre half early on in the season but reverted to his more usual position of right back under Roberto di Matteo, excelling in the second half of the season and putting in some monumental performances in important games.

So, naturally, rumour has it that Real Madrid are after him:

Yes, I know that a lot has been said about my future and that Madrid are interested and tracking me. But now isn't the time to be talking about that. I'm focused on the national team at the moment and I'm really happy at Chelsea and in London. I just won the Champions League a week ago and changing teams is not in my thoughts right now.

-Branislav Ivanovic. Source: Marca via ESPN Soccernet.

Real Madrid's defence does need help, but I'm not entirely sure why they'd be going for Ivanovic, who's a hybrid CB/RB in basically the same mould as Sergio Ramos. They probably need either a pure centre half or a pure right back, and Ivanovic is neither. He's also under contract at Chelsea through the end of the 2015/16 season, meaning that Madrid basically have no leverage whatsoever. I don't see anything coming from this at all.