Ranieri wants Wise to construct new Chelsea

Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri wants Dennis Wise to help him "construct a new Chelsea".

The statement comes after Wise agreed to stay on at Stamford Bridge, a decision which delighted Ranieri.

The Chelsea boss has now declared that he is happy at Wise staying put and he underlined the central role which he believes the 34-year-old can still play at the club.

Ranieri is committed to reducing the average age of the squad, although he also singled out three other veterans - Marcel Desailly, Gianfranco Zola and Gus Poyet - who still have important roles.

But the list did not include other thirtysomethings such as Ed de Goey and Frank Leboeuf, who have recently also been dropped amid speculation that the Frenchman, at least, may well be sold.

In a rare public statement, Ranieri told ClubCall: "I'm very pleased that Dennis is staying.

"I have already spoken to him about this and I want him to construct a new Chelsea with him, Poyet, Desailly and Zola as the basis.

"It made me very happy that he is staying. He is a player who is the heart of Chelsea and he is a very important player for us."