Michael Essien to Fenerbahce? Yep, it's time for the departure rumours to start

Chelsea have made some major upgrades this summer. We've added some great new attacking players and a new right back, and although we're a touch weak in certain positions I'd be shocked if there was another significant purchase made by the club between now and the close of the transfer window. But that doesn't mean that we'll be at the end of the week.

Instead of buyers, there's every chance Chelsea end up pruning the squad list substantially on Friday. Although the club doesn't strictly need to recoup the cash that they've spent on the incoming players this summer, they're sitting on some reasonably valuable pieces who aren't going to see much playing time, and it might make sense for all parties if they're moved on.

That means you're going to see stories like this one, which indicates that Turkish side Fenerbahce are interested in giving Chelsea lots of money for Michael Essien and Raul Meireles. Personally, I think that's nonsense (at least the Meireles part), but it's an indication of the sort of moves that the Blues are expected to make. The likes of Essien, Yossi Benayoun, Florent Malouda and Gael Kakuta are all going to be linked to moves away over the next couple of days, so be prepared for the transfer deadline to have a very selly (and probably silly) bent.