Chelsea have made an excellent start to the season, and as a result, find themselves top of the Premier League at Christmas.

New manager Antonio Conte has managed to implement his style of play quickly, gaining the trust of the players and bring that feel-good factor back to Bridge.

The Italian took a few weeks to settle on his preferred formation of 3-4-3, but since then their form has been flawless, the Blues have just equalled a club record 11 straight Premier League wins. Conte has brought passion and flair back into a Chelsea side that looked quite frankly clueless last term.

But the Blues shouldn’t rest on their laurels just yet, there’s a long way to go in the title race and much can change.

They need to make additions this January to cement their position, and to do so they will have to move on some deadwood to make room.

With that said here’s TWO players we here at Shoot! reckon Chelsea should be looking to ship out this January…

Branislav Ivanovic

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Ivanovic has been cut out of this Chelsea side in brutal fashion, going from mainstay to benchwarmer, despite Chelsea’s change of formation to three centre backs, a position in which he is equally as comfortable as on the right.

It seems the right time to move the 32-year-old on, who you could still imagine performing effectively in a slower paced league such as Serie A.

The pace and directness of the Premier League seems to be too much for the Serbian’s ageing legs, wingers regularly ran rings round him last season and the start of this. Branislav it’s been fun, but it’s time to for you to go.

Oscar

Photo: Charlotte Wilson / Offside

Oscar is being relentless linked with a move to China and in rumoured £60m deal to Shanghai SIPG, where he would link up with former coach Andre Villas-Boas.

This is a huge amount of money for a bit-part player, and if such an offer has come in then Chelsea should bite Shanghai’s hand off. The Brazilian undoubtedly has talent, but consistency and attitude have limited his progression at the Bridge in recent years. Chelsea could easily find an able replacement with the cash from his sale.