Transfer Rumours: Jose Bosingwa Is Not Going To AC Milan... Yet

Chelsea right-back Jose Bosingwa has been repeatedly linked to Serie A side AC Milan, but rumours don't seem to be coalescing into fact just yet. Bosingwa, who joined the team in 2008 alongside Deco and ill-fated manager Felipe Scolari is out of contract in the summer and may leave on a Bosman free transfer at the end of the season. Milan have expressed admiration for the fullback but have distanced themselves from any move in the winter transfer window:

We always like good players and Bosingwa definitely falls into that category, but we're just on standby. At the moment, there is no interest from us in the player, but who knows when it comes to June?

-AC Milan director Ariedo Braida. Source: ESPN

Although the Portuguese international has suffered through a series of injuries over the last two seasons, his play was one of the few real bright spots to come from the 2008/09 season which saw Chelsea finish third in the table, their lowest position since 2003. Bosingwa's attacking style of play allows his team to pack their forwards and midfielders into the centre while he provides width and pace on the right  - in much the same way Ashley Cole plays on the left - but Chelsea have regularly featured the more defensively inclined Branislav Ivanovic in Bosingwa's place after the Portuguese suffered a severe knee injury at Villa Park in October 2009.

Despite the prospect of losing Bosingwa for free in the summer thanks to the Bosman free transfer rules, Chelsea may well be forced to hold onto him through this transfer window. With Brazilian centre-back Alex injured and out of action, they've been playing Ivanovic primarily as a centre back, leaving only Bosingwa and Paulo Ferreira available on the right. Any transfer involving Bosginwa would have to come after Chelsea have addressed their defensive mess, leaving this whole thing a lot more complicated than it might appear at first glance. Bosingwa has featured in 54 games for Chelsea, scoring twice.