Premier League leaders Chelsea returned to winning ways on Saturday courtesy of a 3-0 victory over champions Leicester at the King Power Stadium.

The Blues, who were without star striker Diego Costa due to a reported bust-up with manager Antonio Conte over a back problem, lost to Tottenham in their last league outing on January 4, but a brace from Marcos Alonso and a strike from Pedro secured the visitors a 17th league win of the campaign.

It means that they remain seven points clear of second place Tottenham, who thumped West Brom 4-0, and indeed seven clear of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who dropped to third after drawing 1-1 at Manchester United on Sunday.

Conte’s men have re-asserted their authority in the Premier League title race with an impressive display against the champions, but the furore surrounding Costa is something they could really do without going into the second half of the season.

And some still feel that Chelsea need a few more signings to regain the Premier League title this season, so Conte may need to dip into the winter window in a bid to strengthen his squad.

Yet, that means that some players may need to leave the club to make room for new additions, so here are TWO Chelsea stars that need to leave the club this month for their own good…

Branislav Ivanovic

Out of favour, and indeed out of contract in the summer, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Branislav Ivanovic ended his nine-year stay at Chelsea this month.

The Serbian international struggled at the start of the campaign under new boss Conte, and hasn’t started in the Premier League for the Blues since they lost 3-0 to Arsenal on September 24, and thus since the Chelsea manager changed to a back three.

With just six substitute appearances since then, totalling 40 minutes of match time, the 32-year-old is clearly not in Conte’s first team plans, and thus could be moved on in January.

His contract comes to an end in June, so the Blues may look to cash in on a defender who has been excellent for Chelsea, helping them to win two Premier League titles and the Champions League, as well as personal accolades such as twice being named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

Ivanovic could still do a job for many a side in Europe, and his versatility and experience would be of huge interest to many managers, both as a first team player and indeed as a mentor to younger players.

Michy Batshuayi

When Belgian international Michy Batshuayi didn’t come in for the suspended Diego Costa against Bournemouth on Boxing Day, you sensed that his Chelsea future was already uncertain.

The 23-year-old was all set to replace the Spaniard, who had picked up a fifth yellow card in the preceding game at Crystal Palace, against Eddie Howe’s Cherries, yet Chelsea boss Conte plumped for Pedro to lead the line instead.

And, when Costa didn’t travel with the squad for the trip to Leicester at the weekend, Pedro was once again preferred to Batshuayi, who must wonder what he needs to do to get a Premier League start, especially given he scored and got an assist in the FA Cup win over Peterborough the weekend before.

Nonetheless, the young forward is clearly not first choice at Stamford Bridge, and it doesn’t appear that Conte has enormous faith in the striker, as he has already been linked with a move away from the club despite only moving there in the summer.

Even if Costa does end up leaving the club this month, it’s still unlikely that Batshuayi will play regular first team football, so a spell away from Stamford Bridge may be what he needs in the second half of the season.