For all his difficulties, Rafael Benitez ended his Chelsea career by guiding the Blues to Champions League qualification and Europa League glory.

Now the Spaniard has departed with his head held high, Chelsea fans have turned their attention to his successor.

If the papers are to be believed, Jose Mourinho is in line for an emotional return to Stamford Bridge, having announced he will depart Real Madrid just a couple of days ago.

All the talk will now be about who Mourinho will bring with him, but undoubtably there will be several outgoings at Stamford Bridge, and probably a few that are unexpected.

Here we have compiled a list of five players we feel may be following Rafael Benitez out of the exit doors shortly.

Click on Stamford Bridge to reveal the top 5 Chelsea stars set for the exit door.

Barcelona player Thiago Alcantara has become one of the most wanted players in Europe this summer given the fact he is set to leave the Catalan giants and it had initially been thought that the bank would literally have to be broken in order to land the player whose new contract had a release clause of around £75 million.

Now however as the player has not played the number of games specified in his contract to attract such a release clause, he could be available for as little as £15 million this summer and now Manchester United are thought to be ready to swoop for the star.

Given that midfield reinforcements are something United have long been looking for, it seems that Thiago could well be perfect for David Moyes. However it will not be easy for United to land the player – a host of other sides are also on the trail for the player and are willing to pay big money to land him.

Barcelona are reluctant to let the player leave yet in order for him to gain first team experience and actually move forward in his career it seems inevitable a move will occur. The club will also insist on a buy back clause for the player meaning should he progress as expected, they have the option to bring him home to the Camp Nou.

Do you think United should move for Alcantara? Rate this rumour below.

The player had been set to pen a new deal at Spurs worth around £150,000 per week and given that he has been one of the best if not the very best player in England this season, it is no shock that Daniel Levy wants to tie the former Southampton man down to the club for at least one more season before selling for mega bucks in the summer of 2014.

Now however, fresh doubt has been cast on the player’s future in the Premier League after Real Madrid were claimed to be preparing a bid of £43 million plus mega wages and huge endorsement deals for the Welshman. The new contract that Spurs are trying to get him to sign would mean that a release clause of at least £50 million is placed there to prevent the forward from leaving for less than that and Real are mindful of this issue.

For now, Spurs value the player at significantly more than the £43 million the Spanish giants are looking to pay and are hopeful that Bale will sign a new deal to keep him for at least 12 more months as Andre Villas-Boas’ side look to finally finish above Arsenal next season.

Would Spurs consider parting with Bale for £43 million? Rate this rumour below.

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It was a day United fans knew would soon come, but simply hoped it never would. Now the task of replacing the greatest club manager of all time has been handed to David Moyes, whose immediate task is to navigate his way through the upcoming summer transfer window.

Before Moyes can decide who he wants to bring in, he must deal with possible outgoings at the club. There have been several players linked with a move away from Old Trafford for some time, as well as the odd big name transfer request.

Here we have compiled a list of five players that we expect to follow Sir Alex Ferguson out of the club this summer.

Click on Old Trafford to reveal the top 5 Manchester United stars set for the exit door.

The Italian champions are looking to move for the defender who has been a key part of the Inter Milan side over the last couple of seasons and now could well be set for a move away from the San Siro.

Sir Alex Ferguson had placed the defender on the top of his list of summer targets for the club and this has been passed on to David Moyes who is also a fan of the player.

Juventus however has used Fergie stepping down as their chance to persuade the player to make a move across Italy to Turin and feel that the 6 ft 5 in player could be perfect adding solidity to their back line.

Having made 45 appearances for the Inter side this season not to mention having nine caps for the senior Italian international side, he has bags of experience and is thought to want to kick his career up a notch and play in the Champions League – something both Juve and United can offer.

Who do you think will win the battle for the player? Rate this rumour below.

It is alleged that prior to his retirement, Sir Alex Ferguson was eyeing a deal involving City keeper Joe Hart, attempting to lure the player to Old Trafford by including wantaway forward Wayne Rooney and some cash for the stopper.

Fergie had noted the tension between Roberto Mancini and the England international who had been heavily criticised by the Italian after his performance and comments after the Real Madrid group tie all the way back at the start of the season and their relationship never fully recovered.

Whilst David De Gea has improved his form this season, he is still not fully convincing between the posts, whereas someone like Joe Hart is a tried and tested keeper and has proven his ability time and time again.

The swap deal would have made serious waves in Manchester yet now it seems that given the departure of Roberto Mancini that could well be off the cards with a new manager and a clean slate for Joe Hart on the cards. Despite Joe Hart claiming to now be happy to stay at the Etihad, Wayne Rooney is still looking for a move away and depending on who you believe he is either being pushed out the door or actively looking for pastures new.

Was this swap deal really being lined up behind the scenes? Rate this rumour below.

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However news today from Mail Online that the Portuguese manager is ready to offload Brazilian defender David Luiz in his first act at the club has been met with a muted reaction.

The former Inter Milan boss is understood to believe that the 26-year-old is a risk due to his lack of defensive abilities and he may not fit the style of play Mourinho likes.

Unsurprisingly there will be a whole host of suitors for the former Benfica man, who has enjoyed a stellar year with the Blues, with Real Madrid and Barcelona heading the list.

Most in the tavern believe that this is a rumour to take with very a large pinch of salt as Luiz has emerged as something of a talisman for the Blues this season with impressive performances across the pitch.

Would Mourinho really let Luiz leave the club? Rate this rumour below.

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Both clubs have shown a huge deal of interest in Borussia Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski who looks set to leave the German side this summer given his contract is up in 2014. Now the player has admitted that the only club he wishes to join is Bayern Munich and will refuse a move elsewhere, waiting to join the German champions on a free transfer next summer.

Chelsea had been thought to be keen on the Polish forward who is one of Jose Mourinho’s favourite forwards and given he put four past his Real Madrid’s side in the semi-finals of the Champions League, that is little surprise. United have long been linked with the forward and it seemed that the club were in pole position to land the forward especially given Borussia Dortmund’s stance over the transfer of Mario Gotze to Bayern.

Realistically, Dortmund know that Lewandowski holds all the cards and should he ask for a move to Bayern, if they want to get the transfer fee they deserve for the player, this will have to be the case.

Is this the end of Chelsea and United’s interest in Lewandowski? Let us know your thoughts below.

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And today Hammers supporters in the Football Transfer Tavern have been left delighted with speculation from Mirror Football that Sam Allardyce is planning to team up Chelsea youngster Romeu Lukaku with Carroll next season.

The Belgian youngster is set to spend another season out on loan with Chelsea viewing him as one for the future and the Irons are hoping to beat Swansea City to his services during the new season.

Hammers joint-chairman David Sullivan confirmed: “Lukaku would be a loan again. We’d maybe buy him a year later if Chelsea decide they don’t want him.”

The 20-year-old youngster had an impressive time on loan at West Bromwich Albion which included a perfect hat-trick against Manchester United on the final day of the season.

Joint-owner Sullivan told the Mirror: “If we sign Andy, it will be a record signing for the club. Having said that, he is just our type of player and it has been an exciting time watching him.

“He and Romelu would be devastating. The best strike- force outside of the top six or seven.

“Lukaku has been amazing for West Brom this season and I’d hope that he would prefer to live in London.”

How realistic is the prospect of West Ham teaming up Carroll with Lukaku? Rate this rumour below.

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talkSPORT reports that City have had a £4 million offer turned down for the exciting youngster by the Portuguese side.

The 18-year-old winger has been attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs after some impressive displays for Lisbon but reports from Portugal suggest that the Citizens have already made their move for the teenager, but their offer was not sufficient.

Sporting are thought to be ready to sell at the right price due to their financial problems but are looking for around £12 million for the Guinea-Bissau-born starlet.

Manuel Pellegrini was thought to be following his progress while at Malaga and is expected to continue this interest upon his arrival at the Etihad Stadium in the next few weeks.

City may yet face competition for the up and coming Sporting kid from German side Schalke who have also seen a bid rejected in the past.

Can City lure the wonderkid eventually? Is he worth £12 million? Rate this rumour below.

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