New deal for Chelsea defender?

If I asked your opinion on Branislav Ivanovic, what would your answer be? Solid Defender? Powerful? Reliable? Well, it appears he is all those things to Jose Mourinho and is about to be handed a new four year contract. 

If reports that have surfaced in the last day or so are true, Branislav Ivanovic (30), who has two years remaining on his current deal, is about to be rewarded with a bumper four year deal that will move him on a par with the likes of Frank Lampard and John Terry and their earnings. 

It's a massive statement of trust from the manager and the club and would take Ivanovic into the realms of around £120,000 - £130,000 per week. 

Everyone will have an opinion on the Serbian international as to what his best position is but you cannot deny the fact that he has made the right back position his own. So much so, Cesar Azpilicueta has been moved over to the left hand side of our defence. 

Of course, as with any defender, Ivanovic has had his dodgy moments but you can pretty much count the number of games that has happened on one hand this season. Although I still believe his crossing needs to be much, much better when going forward, he has become a vital part in the make up of Mourinho's defensive unit. 

I believe if you were to ask the player himself, still his preferred position would be in the middle of the back four but with JT and Gary Cahill outstanding in recent weeks, there isn't room for Ivanovic in that position at the moment. 

Whether or not that will change moving forward to next season and of course dependant on what happens with JT's contract expiring at the end of the season, we will just have to see but for now, defensively, you would be hard pushed to find someone better. 

You sit in the stands and see Ivanovic close up and he is solid. His physical strength gives him an advantage against wingers he comes up against and very rarely does someone beat him more than once. 

You also have to consider his ability to score goals with his last being at Eastlands against Man City, a fabulous strike hard and low with his left foot from outside the box. 

Let's also not forget his aerial ability in both attacking and defensive areas. He is such an asset to the Chelsea team. 

I agree with the decision to reward Ivanovic with a new contract. He has already proven himself under Mourinho once again and will also prove to be an important part of the managers plans over the next few seasons as Jose looks to build a second wave of dominance in the Premier League. 

What do you people think of Ivanovic, his performances this season and this reported new deal?